1977 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1977
| team = South Carolina Gamecocks
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Independent
| record = 5–7
| head_coach = Jim Carlen
| hc_year = 3rd
| off_coach =
| oc_year =
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = Richard Bell
| dc_year = 3rd
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = Williams–Brice Stadium
}}
{{1977 NCAA Division I independents football records}}
The 1977 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as an independent during the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. Led by third-year head coach Jim Carlen, the Gamecocks compiled a record of 5–7. The team played its home games at Williams–Brice Stadium.
South Carolina almost made a 24-point comeback against archrival No. 15 Clemson at home, but ultimately lost after Tigers wide receiver Jerry Butler made "The Catch" to retake the lead with twenty seconds left in the game.{{Cite web |date=2016-11-26 |title=The Catch, 1977 CU-USC Game |url=https://clemsontigers.com/the-catch-1977-cu-usc-game/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Clemson Tigers Official Athletics Site |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=1977 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/south-carolina/1977-schedule.html |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}} ESPN would later rank this as the 112th greatest college football game of all time, the only time South Carolina appeared on the list.{{Cite web |date=2019-11-04 |title=The 150 greatest games in college football history |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/page/CFB150games/the-150-greatest-games-college-football-150-year-history |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} The Gamecocks finished with their first losing season since 1974.{{Cite web |title=South Carolina Gamecocks College Football History, Stats, Records |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/south-carolina/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1977
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 3
| w/l = w
| opponent = Appalachian State
| site_stadium = Williams–Brice Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbia, SC
| score = 32–17
| attend = 50,114
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89983835/georgians-help-key-3217-win-for-gamecoc/|work=The Atlanta Constitution|title=Georgians help key 32–17 win for Gamecocks|date=September 4, 1977|accessdate=December 3, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 10
| w/l = w
| opponent = Georgia Tech
| site_stadium = Williams–Brice Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbia, SC
| score = 17–0
| attend = 55,934
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-gamecocks-gobble-up-fumbled/139643736/|work=Daily Press|title=Gamecocks gobble up fumbled to win 17–0|date=September 11, 1977|accessdate=January 26, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 17
| w/l = w
| opponent = Miami (OH)
| site_stadium = Williams–Brice Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbia, SC
| score = 42–19
| attend = 46,234
| source = {{cite news|title=Furious USC Assault Bombs Miami, 42–19|newspaper=The State|location=Columbia, South Carolina|author=Bob Spear|date=September 18, 1977|pages=1D, 5D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92552419/furious-usc-assault-bombs-miami-42-19/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 24
| w/l = l
| opponent = Georgia
| site_stadium = Williams–Brice Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbia, SC
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 13–15
| attend = 56,784
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/florence-morning-news-georgia-beats-game/134273640/|work=Florence Morning News|title=Georgia beats Gamecocks|date=September 25, 1977|accessdate=October 29, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 1
| w/l = w
| opponent = East Carolina
| site_stadium = Williams–Brice Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbia, SC
| tv = ABC
| score = 19–16
| attend = 52,813
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72657123/parrish-fgs-lift-gamecocks-past-ecu/|work=The Times and Democrat|title=Parrish FGs lift Gamecocks past ECU, 19–16|date=October 2, 1977|accessdate=March 4, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 8
| w/l = l
| opponent = Duke
| site_stadium = Williams–Brice Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbia, SC
| score = 21–25
| attend = 49,385
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chapel-hill-news-duke-comes-back-aga/139643855/|work=The Chapel Hill News|title=Duke comes back again|date=October 9, 1977|accessdate=January 26, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 15
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Ole Miss
| site_stadium = Hemingway Stadium
| site_cityst = Oxford, MS
| score = 10–17
| attend = 30,100
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-news-ole-miss-downs-gamecocks/134277138/|work=The Sun-News|title=Ole Miss downs Gamecocks|date=October 16, 1977|accessdate=October 29, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 22
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = North Carolina
| site_stadium = Kenan Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Chapel Hill, NC
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 0–17
| attend = 48,250
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-news-tar-heels-blank-gamecocks/139643944/|work=The Sun-News|title=Tar Heels blank Gamecocks|date=October 23, 1977|accessdate=January 26, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 29
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = NC State
| site_stadium = Carter Stadium
| site_cityst = Raleigh, NC
| score = 3–7
| attend = 40,800
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/rocky-mount-telegram-pack-holds-off-s-c/139644082/|work=The Rocky Mount Telegram|title=Pack holds off S. Carolina|date=October 30, 1977|accessdate=January 26, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 12
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Wake Forest
| site_stadium = Groves Stadium
| site_cityst = Winston-Salem, NC
| score = 24–14
| attend = 13,150
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-robesonian-south-carolina-downs-wake/139644173/|work=The Robesonian|title=South Carolina downs Wake Forest by 24–14|date=November 13, 1977|accessdate=January 26, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 19
| w/l = l
| opponent = Clemson
| opprank = 15
| site_stadium = Williams–Brice Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbia, SC
| gamename = rivalry
| tv = ABC
| score = 27–31
| attend = 56,410
| source = {{cite news|title=Clemson Dashes USC Comeback Try, 31–27|newspaper=The Times and Democrat|author=Ed Rowland|date=November 20, 1977|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36785388/clemson_dashes_usc_comeback_try_3127/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 26
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Hawaii
| site_stadium = Aloha Stadium
| site_cityst = Halawa, HI
| score = 7–24
| attend = 30,146
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-honolulu-advertiser-rainbows-shock-g/139644270/|work=The Honolulu Advertiser|title=Rainbows shock Gamecocks, 24–7|date=November 27, 1977|accessdate=January 26, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{South Carolina Gamecocks football navbox}}
Category:South Carolina Gamecocks football seasons
South Carolina Gamecocks football
{{collegefootball-1977-season-stub}}
{{SouthCarolina-sport-team-stub}}