1987 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1987

| team = South Carolina Gamecocks

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Independent

| CoachRank = 15

| APRank = 15

| record = 8–4

| head_coach = Joe Morrison

| hc_year = 5th

| off_coach =

| oc_year =

| off_scheme = Run N' Shoot

| def_coach = Joe Lee Dunn

| dc_year = 1st

| def_scheme =

| captain =

| stadium = Williams–Brice Stadium

| bowl = Gator Bowl

| bowl_result = L 13–30 vs. LSU

}}

The 1987 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as an independent during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team played its home games at Williams–Brice Stadium. Led by fifth-year head coach Joe Morrison, the Gamecocks compiled a record of 8–4 with a loss against LSU in the Gator Bowl.

After two consecutive losing seasons, the Gamecocks returned to success under Morrison in 1987.{{Cite web |title=South Carolina Gamecocks College Football History, Stats, Records |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/south-carolina/ |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}} Led by quarterback Todd Ellis, wide receiver Sterling Sharpe, and the "Black Death" defense, the 1987 Gamecocks were considered "maybe the best South Carolina team ever" until then.{{Cite web |last=Kendall |first=Josh |date=December 20, 2014 |title=When swagger ruled: USC, Miami involved in 'wild melee' in '87 game |url=https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article18198998.html |access-date=October 2, 2024 |website=The State}} Their four losses were all on the road against teams that would finish in the top-15 in the AP Poll, including eventual national champion Miami.{{Cite web |title=1987 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/south-carolina/1987-schedule.html |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1987 College Football Polls |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1987-polls.html |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}} The Gamecocks were ranked as high as No. 8 in the country in their final two games. South Carolina finished the season ranked No. 15 in the AP Poll, which was the third final ranking in school history and the second-highest final ranking in school history until then.{{Cite web |title=South Carolina Gamecocks Poll History |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/south-carolina/polls.html |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}

The "Black Death" defense was statistically the best in school history. They gave up an average 11.8 points and less than 240 yards per game. They held seven teams to less than eleven points, and held nine teams to less than fourteen points.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-26 |title=South Carolina Football's GOAT Series: Top-10 greatest defenses of all-time |url=https://garnetandcocky.com/2023/05/26/south-carolina-footballs-goat-series-top-10-defenses/11/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=Garnet and Cocky |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-05-12 |title=South Carolina Football's GOAT Series: Top-10 greatest Gamecock football seasons of all-time |url=https://garnetandcocky.com/2023/05/12/south-carolina-footballs-goat-series-top-10-seasons-all-time/4/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=Garnet and Cocky |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Gall |first=Braden |date=2013-05-23 |title=5 Greatest Moments in South Carolina Gamecocks Football History |url=https://athlonsports.com/college-football/5-greatest-moments-south-carolina-gamecocks-football-history |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=Athlon Sports |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1987 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/south-carolina/1987-schedule.html |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1987

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 5

| w/l = w

| opponent = Appalachian State

| site_stadium = Williams–Brice Stadium

| site_cityst = Columbia, SC

| score = 24–3

| attend = 68,830

| source = {{cite news|title=Gamecocks solid in win over Appalachian State|newspaper=The Item|date=September 6, 1987|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89183616/gamecocks-solid-in-win-over-appalachian/|accessdate=November 18, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 12

| w/l = w

| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1987|team=Western Carolina Catamounts football|title=Western Carolina}}

| site_stadium = Williams–Brice Stadium

| site_cityst = Columbia, SC

| score = 31–6

| attend = 66,573

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-gamecocks-blister-western-316/140070689/|work=The State|title=Gamecocks blister Western 31–6|date=September 13, 1987|accessdate=February 1, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 26

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Georgia

| opprank = 20

| site_stadium = Sanford Stadium

| site_cityst = Athens, GA

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 6–13

| attend = 82,122

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-georgia-pressure/135009909/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Georgia pressure wears down Gamecocks|date=September 27, 1987|accessdate=November 11, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 3

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Nebraska

| opprank = 2

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Lincoln, NE

| tv = ESPN

| score = 21–30

| attend = 76,061

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent-huskers-sur/140070787/|work=The Grand Island Independent|title=Huskers survive Gamecock test|date=October 4, 1987|accessdate=February 1, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 10

| w/l = w

| opponent = Virginia Tech

| site_stadium = Williams–Brice Stadium

| site_cityst = Columbia, SC

| score = 40–10

| attend = 73,150

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-ellis-passes-ga/140069922/|work=The Atlanta Journal & Constitution|title=Ellis passes Gamecocks over Virginia Tech 40–10|date=October 11, 1987|accessdate=February 1, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 17

| w/l = w

| opponent = Virginia

| site_stadium = Williams–Brice Stadium

| site_cityst = Columbia, SC

| score = 58–10

| attend = 67,638

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/florence-morning-news-gamecocks-use-bala/140070907/|work=Florence Morning News|title=Gamecocks use balanced offense to shell Cavs, 58–10|date=October 18, 1987|accessdate=February 1, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 24

| w/l = w

| opponent = East Carolina

| site_stadium = Williams–Brice Stadium

| site_cityst = Columbia, SC

| score = 34–12

| attend = 69,131

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72738680/ellis-south-carolina-toss-around/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Ellis, South Carolina toss around Pirates|date=October 25, 1987|accessdate=March 5, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 31

| w/l = w

| rank = 19

| opponent = NC State

| site_stadium = Williams–Brice Stadium

| site_cityst = Columbia, SC

| score = 48–0

| attend = 74,200

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/statesville-record-and-landmark-gamecock/140071030/|work=Statesville Record and Landmark|title=Gamecock's defense leads way in 48–0 victory over Wolfpack|date=November 1, 1987|accessdate=February 1, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 14

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 14

| opponent = Wake Forest

| site_stadium = Groves Stadium

| site_cityst = Winston-Salem, NC

| score = 30–0

| attend = 34,720

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-gamecocks-overwhe/140071134/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Gamecocks overwhelm Deacons|date=November 15, 1987|accessdate=February 1, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 21

| w/l = w

| rank = 12

| opponent = Clemson

| opprank = 8

| site_stadium = Williams–Brice Stadium

| site_cityst = Columbia, SC

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = ESPN

| score = 20–7

| attend = 75,043

| source = {{cite news|title=Carolina defense prevails: Gamecocks 20, Tigers 7|newspaper=The Greenville News|date=November 22, 1987|pages=1C, 5C |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36847959/carolina_defense_prevails_gamecocks/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 5

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank = 8

| opponent = Miami (FL)

| opprank = 2

| site_stadium = Miami Orange Bowl

| site_cityst = Miami, FL

| tv = ESPN

| score = 16–20

| attend = 63,318

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-hurricanes-squ/140071251/|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|title=Hurricanes squeeze past Gamecocks|date=December 6, 1987|accessdate=February 1, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 31

| w/l = l

| neutral = y

| rank = 8

| opponent = LSU

| opprank = 7

| site_stadium = Gator Bowl Stadium

| site_cityst = Jacksonville, FL

| gamename = Gator Bowl

| tv = CBS

| score = 13–30

| attend = 82,119

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-item-tigers-crush-carolina-3013/135006676/|work=The Item|title=Tigers crush Carolina 30–13|date=January 1, 1988|accessdate=November 11, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

}}{{cite web|title=1987 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=February 1, 2024|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/south-carolina/1987-schedule.html}}

Roster

{{American football roster/Header

| year = 1987

| team = South Carolina Gamecocks

| teamcolors = f

| offensive_players =

{{American football roster/Player|num=9|class=|first=Todd|last=Ellis|dab=Todd Ellis (American football)|pos=QB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=78|class=|first=Mark|last=Fryer|pos=T}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=57|class=|first=Woody|last=Meyers|pos=C}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=2|class=|first=Sterling|last=Sharpe|pos=WR|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=71|class=|first=Paul|last=Shivers|pos=G}}

| defensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=27|class=|first=Brad|last=Edwards|dab=Brad Edwards (American football)|pos=DB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=54|class=|first=Roy|last=Hart|dab=Roy Hart (gridiron football)|pos=DT|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=95|class=|first=Brendan|last=McCormack|pos=DT}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=48|class=|first=Matt|last=McKernan|pos=LB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=92|class=|first=Kurt|last=Wilson|pos=DE}}

| special_teams_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=8|class=|first=Collin|last=Mackie|pos=K}}

{American football roster/Player|num=3|class=|first=Patrick|last=Gareigan|pos=QB}}

{{American football roster/Footer

| head_coach = *Joe Morrison

| asst_coach =

Joe Lee Dunn (Defensive coordinator)

| accessdate= 2015-12-20

}}

References

South Carolina

Category:South Carolina Gamecocks football seasons

South Carolina Gamecocks football

Category:Long stubs with short prose