Top 50 Gamecocks of all time: 20-11

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[SIZE= 24px][COLOR= rgb(178, 34, 34)]Top 50 Gamecocks of all time: 20-11[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[COLOR= rgb(178, 34, 34)]June 3, 2015[/COLOR]

How to determine the best?

Is it career honors, career records, that one standout performance that keyed a crucial victory? Is it a banner or retired jersey hanging in the stadium? Is it because those are the names answered when asked, “Who was the greatest?”

 
Research plus interviews with former players, staff and fans have yielded a list of the top 50 South Carolina football players of all time. Be sure to weigh in on where you agree or disagree with our list.

Note: Professional careers were not taken into account. The list reflects what each did at USC. We will reveal the next 10 in the list each day this week.

 






20

TOMMY SUGGS, QB, 1968-70 An outstanding signal-caller who holds one of the most honored nicknames in program history – “Clemson Killer.” The little-’un from Lamar never lost to the Tigers, and was so revered that that accomplishment – a rare statement across USC athletics – overshadowed what else he did. Suggs ranks eighth with 4,916 passing yards, tossed 34 touchdowns and led the Gamecocks to the 1969 ACC championship.



19

MIKE MCCABE, OL, 1973-75 A Jacobs Blocking Award winner for his work laying waste to defensive lines, McCabe helped anchor the veer system that turned Kevin Long, Clarence Williams and Jeff Grantz into a relentless rushing trio. McCabe morphed from a standout guard to a standout center, snapping the ball to Grantz to begin an attack that spawned 18 wins in three seasons.



18

ANDREW PROVENCE, DL, 1980-82 A prototype of what all defensive linemen strive to be, Provence tallied 401 tackles, 26 sacks and 35 tackles for loss during his career. Each was a school record when he left and while each has been surpassed, Provence still appears in the top four of each category. An All-American as a senior, he is one of only two Gamecocks to record 400 tackles.



17

BRAD EDWARDS, DB, 1984-87 With sprinter’s speed and a dump truck’s brute force, Edwards sparkled in his final three years. As a senior, he had 130 tackles to lead the team, recorded 13 of his 21 career pass breakups and had eight interceptions to be named All-American. Mimicking a performance he had in the 1986 rivalry game, Edwards took one of two interceptions of Clemson’s Rodney Williams to the house in 1987, where he was welcomed by chants of “Rahhhhdddd-neeeee” from the Williams-Brice faithful.



16

STEVE WADIAK, RB, 1948-51 The Gamecocks’ fourth-leading career rusher (2,878) who averaged 5.3 a carry, Wadiak was a two-time all-Southern Conference selection who was an All-American as a senior. “The Cadillac” still holds the record for USC’s longest run from scrimmage (96 yards for a touchdown against George Washington, 1950). His retired number 37 is one of four in program history.



15

DOMINIC FUSCI, OL/DL, 1942-43, 1946 A two-way lineman nicknamed “Dynamite,” Fusci took a break from football to fight in World War II and after rejecting a professional offer, returned to play his senior year. New York by birth, Fusci often said he was meant to be at USC – the school’s initials were the middle three letters of his last name and one of his childhood friends was Frank McGuire. An outstanding player and representative of the Gamecocks’ brand, Fusci was elected to the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.



14

ERIC NORWOOD, DE, 2006-09 Good as an every-down linebacker and better as an every-down end, Norwood made it simple for his coaches – he rushed the passer. Nobody did it better in his four years, Norwood leading or tying for the team’s lead in sacks every season and never posting less than six per year. Norwood set a standard with 29 sacks and 54.5 tackles for loss, marks that were challenged but not passed by some kid named Clowney.



13

DICKIE HARRIS, DB/KR, 1969-71 Strong in the secondary and elite at kick return, Harris was a first-team All-American in 1970. His 2,767 return yards (kicks, punts and interceptions) may never be challenged and during that 1970 season, he returned one of each for a touchdown. The return records at USC are mostly his name repeated.



12

KENNY MCKINLEY, WR, 2005-08 He caught one pass in high school but thought he could make a go of it in college. It worked. McKinley, who caught balls as easily as he smiled, set the standard with 207 career receptions. With 2,781 career yards (second) and a record 43 straight games with a reception, he proved receivers didn’t have to be that big, that strong or that fast – hands and heart are plenty.



11

DAVE DECAMILLA, OL, 1968-70 A two-time All-ACC lineman, DeCamilla sturdied the line for USC’s 1969 ACC champions and like most linemen, always credited his backs. The backs, such as Warren Muir, heaped the praise right back on he and his mates. DeCamilla was one of the most technically sound linemen in program history, hardly ever missing assignments. He remembered only one false start in his career – on a punt.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article26043385.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Stewie]

These were the players that made history