Spurrier: "My expiration date had arrived."

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We began turning the corner when we were able to start keeping some of the blue-chip talent at home, away from other rivals—especially Marcus Lattimore and Jadeveon Clowney, our two most notable recruits. Marcus was just a superb player and person. We were going 7-5 and 7-6 every year until he came along. Against Georgia in his second game he rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns, breaking forty-two tackles on thirty-seven carries. I had an opportunity to introduce him at one of his speaking engagements years later and said, “Marcus Lattimore changed the face of South Carolina football.” He really upgraded our team.

As we progressed, we also established more consistency at the quarterback position. Stephen Garcia got us started, but along came Connor Shaw and then Dylan Thompson at the peak of our ascent.

We won some big games, especially at Williams-Brice Stadium, probably none bigger than when we knocked off No. 1 Alabama in 2010. The week before, we’d just lost a tough one, 35–27, to Auburn and were 3-1 with an open date before Nick Saban brought his defending national champions to Columbia. South Carolina had never beaten a No. 1.


Read more here: https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article98497907.html#storylink=cpy

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