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2011 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

American college football season

American college football season

FieldValue
year2011
teamSouth Carolina Gamecocks
sportfootball
imageSouth Carolina Gamecocks logo.svg
image_size125
conferenceSoutheastern Conference
divisionEast Division
short_confSEC
CoachRank8
APRank9
record11–2
conf_record6–2
head_coachSteve Spurrier
hc_year7th
off_schemeFun and gun
def_coachEllis Johnson
dc_year4th
def_scheme4–2–5
stadiumWilliams-Brice Stadium
bowl[Capital One Bowl](2012-capital-one-bowl)
bowl_resultW 30–13 vs. [Nebraska](2011-nebraska-cornhuskers-football-team)
championPalmetto Bowl champion

The 2011 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gamecocks were led by seventh-year head coach Steve Spurrier and played their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium. They were a member of the East Division of the Southeastern Conference and finished 11–2 for the season and 6–2 in SEC play.

The defending SEC East champions, South Carolina started the season 4–0 and ranked No. 10 in the country. However, in the fifth game of the season, they lost at home to unranked defending national champion Auburn, resulting in long-time starting quarterback Stephen Garcia being replaced by Connor Shaw. Shaw would subsequently start almost every game until the end of the 2013 season, becoming the winningest quarterback in school history along the way, and never losing at home. South Carolina would only lose one more game the rest of the season, a blowout on the road at No. 8 Arkansas. While the Gamecocks finished undefeated against the East Division, the losses to Auburn and Arkansas left them second in the division standings behind Georgia. In the Capital One Bowl, they defeated No. 21 Nebraska 30–13, the program's first bowl victory since 2006. The eleven wins were a school record; it was only the second time in the school's 119-year football history that it won as many as ten games. They also finished eighth in the final Coaches' Poll and ninth in the final AP Poll—their first-ever top-10 finishes in any major poll.

The 2011 Gamecocks were arguably the most talented team in school history. They are the only team in South Carolina's history with two future retired jerseys (Alshon Jeffery and Jadeveon Clowney). Melvin Ingram was a consensus All-American, only the third in program history. Marcus Lattimore was a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy until a season-ending injury. Clowney, the highest-rated high school football recruit of all time, was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. The team had three future first-round NFL draft picks and sixteen total future NFL draft picks, the most in program history.

Preseason

On April 10, 2011, the Garnet squad defeated the Black squad, 21–17, in the annual Garnet & Black Spring Game, in front of a crowd of 30,100.

Schedule

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Game summaries

East Carolina

Georgia

Vanderbilt

Auburn

Kentucky

Mississippi State

Marcus Lattimore was injured during this game and he remained out for the remainder of the season.

Tennessee

Arkansas

Florida

The Citadel

vs No. 17 Clemson ([[Clemson-South Carolina rivalry#Football|rivalry]])

;First quarter

  • (10:23) SC – Jay Wooten 47-yard field goal (''Drive: 10 plays, 48 yards, 4:37; '''South Carolina 3-0''''')
  • (6:36) SC – Bruce Ellington 49-yard pass from Connor Shaw (Jay Wooten kick) (''Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:52; '''South Carolina 10-0''''') ;Second quarter
  • (11:32) CLEM – Dwayne Allen 9-yard pass from Tajh Boyd (Chandler Catanzaro kick) (''Drive: 12 plays, 61 yards, 4:47; '''South Carolina 10-7''''')
  • (6:14) CLEM – Chandler Catanzaro 32-yard field goal (''Drive: 5 plays, 11 yards, 1:01; '''Tied 10-10''''')
  • (1:55) SC – Connor Shaw 15-yard run (Jay Wooten kick) (''Drive: 9 plays, 60 yards, 4:19; '''South Carolina 17-10''''') ;Third quarter
  • (9:52) SC – Rory Anderson 2-yard pass from Connor Shaw (Jay Wooten kick) (''Drive: 5 plays, 66 yards, 2:18; '''South Carolina 24-10''''') ;Fourth quarter
  • (13:48) CLEM – Chandler Catanzaro 40-yard field goal (''Drive: 8 plays, 13 yards, 2:39; '''South Carolina 24-13''''')
  • (6:26) SC – Jay Wooten 37-yard field goal (''Drive: 14 plays, 50 yards, 7:22; '''South Carolina 27-13''''')
  • (5:20) SC – Alshon Jeffery 18-yard pass from Connor Shaw (Jay Wooten kick) (''Drive: 2 plays, 19 yards, 0:41; '''South Carolina 34-13''''')
StatisticsClemson Tigersborder=1}}"CLEMSouth Carolina Gamecocksborder=1}}"SC
First downs1219
Total yards60–15373–420
Rushing yards30–7053–210
Passing yards117226
Passing: Comp–Att–Int11–30–114–20–0
Time of possession14:0322:37
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Clemson Tigersborder=1}}; text-align:center;"**Clemson**PassingTahj Boyd11/29, 83 yards, TD, INT
RushingAndre Ellington13 carries, 66 yards
ReceivingSammy Watkins4 receptions, 39 yards
South Carolina Gamecocksborder=1}}; text-align:center;"**South Carolina**PassingConnor Shaw14/20, 210 yards, 3 TD
RushingConnor Shaw19 carries, 107 yards, TD
ReceivingBruce Ellington3 receptions, 71 yards, TD

Capital One Bowl

Players

Depth chart

Projected starters and primary backups versus Clemson on November 26, 2011.

Awards

  • Antonio Allen – AP Second-Team All-SEC; AP Second-Team All-American
  • A.J. Cann – Coaches SEC All-Freshman Team
  • Jadeveon Clowney – Coaches Second-Team All-SEC; Coaches SEC All-Freshman Team; SEC Freshman of the Year; Sporting News All-Freshman Team
  • Bruce Ellington – SEC Co-Freshman of the Week, 10/17/11; Coaches SEC All-Freshman Team
  • Melvin Ingram – Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, 9/11/11; SEC Special Teams Player of the Week, 9/12/11; SEC Defensive Player of the Week, 9/26/11; SEC Defensive Player of the Week, 10/3/11; AP & Coaches First-Team All-SEC; AFCA All-American Team; Walter Camp First-Team All-American; AP First-Team All-American; Sporting News All-American Team
  • Alshon Jeffery – AP Second-Team All-SEC; Capital One Bowl MVP
  • Marcus Lattimore – SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, 9/19/11; AP & Coaches Second-Team All-SEC
  • Mike Matulis – Sporting News All-Freshman Team
  • Travian Robertson – SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week, 10/14/11
  • Connor Shaw – SEC Offensive Player of the Week, 10/10/11; SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, 11/28/11
  • D.J. Swearinger – SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week, 10/17/11
  • Rokevious Watkins – SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week, 9/5/11; AP First-Team All-SEC; Coaches Second-Team All-SEC
  • Brandon Wilds – SEC Freshman of the Week, 10/31/11
  • Dalton Wilson – Capital One Academic All-America Second Team

2011 recruiting class

NCAA investigation

The University of South Carolina was investigated in 2011 by the NCAA after it came to light that student-athletes (including some football players) had received an estimated $59,000 in impermissible benefits, mainly the result of discounted living expenses at a local hotel. The school imposed its own punishment, paying $18,500 in fines and cutting three football scholarships in each of the 2013 and 2014 seasons. The school also reduced its official visits for the 2012–13 year, from 56 to 30. The NCAA ruled this self-imposed punishment as adequate, stating that "the violations were limited in scope" and "there was no unethical conduct in this case", and went on to praise the school's handling of the affair, with the chairman of the NCAA infractions committee stating, "This has been one of the best cases I have seen from a process standpoint. . . . In this case, it was obvious to the committee that the university wanted to get to the truth." The commissioner went on to state that USC "wanted to ask all the hard questions of all the right people and, in some cases, they even went beyond what the NCAA staff was doing."

Rankings

Coaching staff

  • Steve Spurrier – Head coach
  • Ellis Johnson – Assistant head coach, defensive coordinator
  • Lorenzo Ward – Defensive coordinator, cornerbacks coach
  • John Butler – Special teams coordinator
  • Shawn Elliott – Offensive line coach, running game coordinator
  • Craig Fitzgerald – Strength & conditioning coach
  • Jay Graham – Running backs and tight ends coach
  • Jeep Hunter – Safeties coach
  • Brad Lawing – Defensive line coach
  • G. A. Mangus – Quarterbacks coach
  • Steve Spurrier, Jr. – Wide receivers coach

References

References

  1. "2011 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results".
  2. (2011-10-03). "Shaw Named Starter For Saturday".
  3. "Stephen Garcia College Gamelog".
  4. (2011-10-11). "Garcia Dismissed from Football Team".
  5. (2018-06-22). "Connor Shaw".
  6. "2011 Southeastern Conference Year Summary".
  7. "South Carolina Gamecocks Bowls".
  8. "South Carolina Gamecocks College Football History, Stats, Records".
  9. (2023-05-12). "South Carolina Football’s GOAT Series: Top-10 greatest Gamecock football seasons of all-time".
  10. (2023-08-14). "South Carolina To Retire Alshon Jeffery’s Jersey".
  11. "South Carolina Gamecocks All-America Selections".
  12. Yim, Miles. "Heisman Trophy 2011: What Marcus Lattimore Injury Means for All Heisman Hopefuls".
  13. "All TimeFootball Players".
  14. (2011-12-07). "Clowney Named Freshman of the Year".
  15. "DraftHistory.com".
  16. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120511aae.html Five Gamecocks Named All-SEC]
  17. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121411aaa.html Ingram Named First-Team AP All-American]
  18. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120811aac.html Gamecocks Place Three on SEC All-Freshman Team]
  19. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120611aaa.html Ingram Named to SEC Coaches' First Team]
  20. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120811aac.html Gamecocks Place Three on SEC All-Freshman Team]
  21. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120711aaa.html Clowney Named Freshman of the Year]
  22. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121511aaa.html Ingram Named to Sporting News Squad]
  23. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101711aab.html Swearinger, Ellington Honored by SEC]
  24. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120811aac.html Gamecocks Place Three on SEC All-Freshman Team]
  25. [http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091111aaa.html Ingram Honored as Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week]
  26. [http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091211aab.html Ingram Honored by SEC]
  27. [http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/092611aaa.html Ingram Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week]
  28. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/100311aab.html Ingram Earns SEC Honors Again]
  29. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120511aae.html Five Gamecocks Named All-SEC]
  30. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120611aaa.html Ingram Named to SEC Coaches' First Team]
  31. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120511aaa.html Ingram Named AFCA All-American]
  32. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120811aaf.html Ingram Named to First Team Walter Camp All-America Squad]
  33. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121411aaa.html Ingram Named First-Team AP All-American]
  34. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121511aaa.html Ingram Named to Sporting News Squad]
  35. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120511aae.html Five Gamecocks Named All-SEC]
  36. [http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091911aaa.html Lattimore Honored For Performance]
  37. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120511aae.html Five Gamecocks Named All-SEC]
  38. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120611aaa.html Ingram Named to SEC Coaches' First Team]
  39. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121511aaa.html Ingram Named to Sporting News Squad]
  40. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/111411aab.html Robertson Honored By SEC]
  41. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101011aaa.html Shaw Earns SEC Accolades]
  42. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112811aaa.html Shaw Honored by SEC]
  43. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101711aab.html Swearinger, Ellington Honored by SEC]
  44. [http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/090511aaa.html Watkins Named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week]
  45. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120511aae.html Five Gamecocks Named All-SEC]
  46. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120611aaa.html Ingram Named to SEC Coaches' First Team]
  47. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/103111aab.html Wilds Named Freshman of the Week]
  48. [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120811aaa.html Dalton Wilson Named to Capital One Academic All-America Second Team]
  49. (14 December 2011). "S. Carolina imposes cuts over NCAA violations".
  50. "NCAA hits South Carolina with failure to monitor; penalties mild".
  51. (July 2018). "University of South Carolina Sports news by GoGamecocks.com – Columbia, South Carolina".
  52. "Bio: Steve Spurrier".
  53. "Bio: Ellis Johnson".
  54. "Bio: Lorenzo Ward".
  55. [http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/butler_john00.html Bio: John Butler]
  56. [http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/elliott_shawn00.html Bio: Shawn Elliott]
  57. "Bio: Craig Fitzgerald".
  58. "Bio: Jay Graham".
  59. [http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/hunter_jeep00.html Bio: Jeep Hunter]
  60. "Bio: Brad Lawing".
  61. "Bio: G.A. Mangus".
  62. "Bio: Steve Spurrier, Jr.".
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