Why Steve Spurrier said one of his best South Carolina moments was against Tennessee

COLUMBIA — Steve Spurrier did a lot in 11 seasons as South Carolina football 's coach but when asked which signature moment stands out, he immediately thought of 2005. In his first season as coach of the Gamecocks he went to Knoxville and returned having done something no other Gamecocks coach had: Win a game in Neyland Stadium against Tennessee. South Carolina was 0-12 at Tennessee before that.

With just under three minutes left, South Carolina failed to convert on third down. Spurrier then decided to send Josh Brown out for a 49-yard field goal. Despite his career-long being just 45, Brown drilled the game-winning kick for a 16-15 victory.

Spurrier reflected on that game ahead of his South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame induction as part of the 2026 class on May 18. Spurrier is from Johnson City, Tennessee, which is about 100 miles from Knoxville, and was a star at Science Hill High School. Part of what makes that game so special is that two weeks later, the unthinkable happened yet again.

South Carolina faced 12th-ranked Florida, where Spurrier won a Heisman Trophy and also coached for 12 seasons with one national championship. He contributed to the 14-game win streak for the Gators in the series with the Gamecocks, but once Spurrier switched to the home sideline in Williams-Brice Stadium, things changed. The Gamecocks beat Florida for the first time since 1939, coming away with a 30-22 victory.