The South Carolina Gamecocks football program does not have a deep history in respect to bowl games. The Gamecocks have been fielding a football team for 118 seasons, dating back to 1892.  It is a program with things to celebrate but their bowl history is not one.The Gamecocks are 4-12 in bowl games all time and Carolina owns an all-time record of 549-542-44.The future is a lot brighter than the past, thanks to Coach Lou Holtz and Coach Steve Spurrier laying the foundation for a ‘New Carolina’ as evidenced by their 2010 SEC East crown. Hope is now stronger in the hearts of diehard Gamecock fans for better postseason showings, as it should but before you think of the future, let’s look back.Here are the top 10 bowl games in school history:Begin Slideshow

The South Carolina Gamecocks football program does not have a deep history in respect to bowl games. The Gamecocks have been fielding a football team for 118 seasons, dating back to 1892.  It is a program with things to celebrate but their bowl history is not one.The Gamecocks are 4-12 in bowl games all time and Carolina owns an all-time record of 549-542-44.The future is a lot brighter than the past, thanks to Coach Lou Holtz and Coach Steve Spurrier laying the foundation for a ‘New Carolina’ as evidenced by their 2010 SEC East crown. Hope is now stronger in the hearts of diehard Gamecock fans for better postseason showings, as it should but before you think of the future, let’s look back.Here are the top 10 bowl games in school history:Begin Slideshow

Conference expansion is coming for the third time since the 1990's, and insiders and fans expect it to be the biggest move in history for the Bowl Championship Subdivision of College Football.
Nobody knows when it is coming, but Big 10 Bosses have hired a financial firm that will help determine the deciding factors that could choose the best fit universities to expand the Big 10 to twelve teams or beyond.
If enough dominoes fall, then AD Eric Hyman must choose the fate of the city favorite college of Columbia, South Carolina. What will he decide? To make up my mind, let’s look at some history.
As early as 1922, the Gamecocks joined the Southern Conference , which formed from the roots of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association . A meeting was held on February 25, 1921 in Atlanta, Georgia. 14 member schools split from the SIAA in 1921, while USC joined the conference in 1922.
23 member schools made up the conference from 1922-1953. 13 members split from the SOCON in 1933, forming the SEC. In 1953, South Carolina Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, and Wake Forest formed the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Gamecocks would not accomplish much in the ACC from a football standpoint, only winning two ACC Championships. The 1969 Carolina squad went 7-4 and was undefeated in conference play. The 1971 ACC title was taken away due to an ineligible player. The Gamecocks almost were invited to the Orange Bowl in 1956, but the bid did not come. Overall, the Gamecocks were mediocre at best.
In basketball, South Carolina was another story. Coach Frank McGuire led the Gamecock Ballers to an undefeated 1970 ACC season, along with an ACC Tournament Championship in 71'. Carolina qualified for three straight Sweet 16 appearances from 71-73.'
Hostility of road crowds on "Tobacco Road" in North Carolina and unfair economic treatment prompted South Carolina to become an Independent after 1971.
While operating as an independent in earlier years, the Gamecocks would see Jim Carlen and Joe Morrison reach new heights.
The Gamecocks reached six bowl games and saw six teams with eight wins or more. South Carolina finished 1984 10-2 and ranked 11th in the nation. Joe's teams were called "Fire Ants and Black Magic" due to the swarming defense wearing black jerseys
Coach Morrison died in 1989 and so did the Gamecocks.
After many tough seasons as an independent, the Gamecocks joined the SEC in 1991. Although it is a challenging conference, South Carolina has fielded a consistent football program under Brad Scott, Lou Holtz, and Steve Spurrier.
 
 
ACC-Pros
·         The South Carolina Gamecocks are from the roots of the ACC, with natural rivals such as arch-rival Clemson and former nemesis North Carolina.
·          The Gamecocks would have a better shot at playing in the conference championship game in a weaker conference.
·          The ACC Championship Game is in Charlotte, which is in close proximity to Columbia.
ACC-Cons
·         Basketball would be a tough shot in the ACC. Making the NCAA Tournament would be harder with teams such as North Carolina and Duke crowding the standings.
·         The Gamecocks could gradually become worse- they did not do much in the ACC in those days.
·         Football is not as seriously taken in the ACC. South Carolina would be looked down upon by former SEC rivals.
·         South Carolina could lose money and recruits by re-joining the ACC to fellow SEC rivals.
·         It is a step down- Clemson dreams of joining the SEC one day.
SEC-Pros
·         South Carolina is pulling in millions of dollars in the SEC.
·         It's South Carolina's identity- The Gamecocks have been playing in the SEC for 18 years
·         The Gamecocks' natural rivals are Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee- not North Carolina or Duke
·         South Carolina runs circles around Clemson in revenue- by millions
·         Steve Spurrier is an SEC man. He wants an SEC Championship with the Gamecocks before he retires.
·         The recruits came to be winners in the SEC
·         Better bowl games
·         More fanfare in the SEC
·         Tougher schedules bring more BCS Bids
SEC-Cons
·         It would be interesting to play in the same conference as Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Miami, or North Carolina-all good football teams
 
Prediction: The Gamecocks will stay in the SEC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

When he came to Columbia, South Carolina, to be USC's (that other USC) new head football coach, Joe Morrison was the next great thing; a new hot coaching prospect.
Toiling for three years at the University of New Mexico, Morrison had led the Lobos to a 10-1 record in 1982.
And so it was, as it always is, that he climbed a ladder and was hired to coach the Gamecocks in 1983.
Joe Morrison played professional football for the New York Giants. As a running back and wide receiver, he set receiving records and had his number 40 retired by the team.
As South Carolina's coach, he introduced a number of traditions that still are incorporated by the team today.
The Gamecocks take the field on game day to the sound of Also Sprach Zaratustra, a  tradition still regarded today as one of the great entrances in college football.
That was a Morrison dramatic flourish.
He also ushered in the 1984 Black Magic Year as the Gamecocks' football success matched the all black attire Morrison became famous for. Additionally, black was added to the South Carolina football jersey repertoire. 
He could coach and play the haberdasher too.
But something blacker loomed on the not too distant horizon and perhaps, seemed a terrible omen for USC's touch with success.
Talking over the years with a friend and Carolina alum, I couldn't help but notice the yearly sense of resignation in his voice whenever his alma mater gets themselves on any sort of run.
"You know," he'd tell me. "We always seem to almost get there. Almost get over the hump. And then, wham! We come crashing back to earth. Reminds me of the Morrison era."
That era would end abruptly in 1989.
At the age of 51, South Carolina's Man in Black, Head Football Coach Joe Morrison would collapse after playing racket ball and die of a heart attack.
And even with the passing of the years, there are still those Gamecocks that consider him to be the school's greatest football coach.
 
 Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

When he came to Columbia, South Carolina, to be USC's (that other USC) new head football coach, Joe Morrison was the next great thing; a new hot coaching prospect.
Toiling for three years at the University of New Mexico, Morrison had led the Lobos to a 10-1 record in 1982.
And so it was, as it always is, that he climbed a ladder and was hired to coach the Gamecocks in 1983.
Joe Morrison played professional football for the New York Giants. As a running back and wide receiver, he set receiving records and had his number 40 retired by the team.
As South Carolina's coach, he introduced a number of traditions that still are incorporated by the team today.
The Gamecocks take the field on game day to the sound of Also Sprach Zaratustra, a  tradition still regarded today as one of the great entrances in college football.
That was a Morrison dramatic flourish.
He also ushered in the 1984 Black Magic Year as the Gamecocks' football success matched the all black attire Morrison became famous for. Additionally, black was added to the South Carolina football jersey repertoire. 
He could coach and play the haberdasher too.
But something blacker loomed on the not too distant horizon and perhaps, seemed a terrible omen for USC's touch with success.
Talking over the years with a friend and Carolina alum, I couldn't help but notice the yearly sense of resignation in his voice whenever his alma mater gets themselves on any sort of run.
"You know," he'd tell me. "We always seem to almost get there. Almost get over the hump. And then, wham! We come crashing back to earth. Reminds me of the Morrison era."
That era would end abruptly in 1989.
At the age of 51, South Carolina's Man in Black, Head Football Coach Joe Morrison would collapse after playing racket ball and die of a heart attack.
And even with the passing of the years, there are still those Gamecocks who consider him to be the school's greatest football coach.
 
 Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

Just a quick reminder that South Carolina LB Eric Norwood tied the school record for career sacks against Florida Atlantic on Saturday, leaving him only half a sack away from holding the record all for himself.
Norwood tied the record with a sack (and forced fumble) of FAU quarterback Rusty Smith in the third quarter on Saturday.  He now has 26, along with former Gamecock Andrew Provence.
Norwood was trying to step it up after a relatively quiet game against Georgia (other than the pick six), and he certainly did.
Now he gets to try for the record against Jevan Snead and Ole Miss. It would be fitting for one of the best LBs in the country to set the record with a sack of one of the best QBs in the country.
Should Norwood get it tonight, he will be helping the team in more ways than just a sack.  The surge from the crowd once he breaks the record could make it difficult for Ole Miss to think, let alone hear, potentially sparking the Gamecocks to victory.
I think Norwood will get it tonight, and he won't stop there, leaving school with a total somewhere in the 30s.
Watch Norwood try to break the record tonight on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET.Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

Just a quick reminder that South Carolina LB Eric Norwood tied the school record for career sacks against Florida Atlantic on Saturday, leaving him only half a sack away from holding the record all for himself.
Norwood tied the record with a sack (and forced fumble) of FAU quarterback Rusty Smith in the third quarter on Saturday.  He now has 26, along with former Gamecock Andrew Provence.
Norwood was trying to step it up after a relatively quiet game against Georgia (other than the pick six), and he certainly did.
Now he gets to try for the record against Jevan Snead and Ole Miss. It would be fitting for one of the best LBs in the country to set the record with a sack of one of the best QBs in the country.
Should Norwood get it tonight, he will be helping the team in more ways than just a sack.  The surge from the crowd once he breaks the record could make it difficult for Ole Miss to think, let alone hear, potentially sparking the Gamecocks to victory.
I think Norwood will get it tonight, and he won't stop there, leaving school with a total somewhere in the 30s.
Watch Norwood try to break the record tonight on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET.Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com