This was the game that put the South Carolina Gamecocks back on the college football map. From 2005 to 2009, Steve Spurrier toiled in mediocrity in Columbia posting a record of 35-28. 2010 was the year that the Gamecocks broke through and took first place in the SEC East for the first time under Spurrier.
Earlier in the season, the Gamecocks knocked off #22 Georgia in William-Brice Stadium but then they lost at #17 Auburn. Next, the Gamecocks faced off with an Alabama team that was coming off of a National Championship victory in 2009, was riding a 19 game winning streak and was ranked #1 in the country.
On October 9th of 2010, the Tide ran into a team on a mission. Led by Stephen Garcia, he of “bro” fame, the Gamecocks jumped out to a 21-3 lead in the second quarter and took a 21-9 lead into halftime. The Tide fought hard in the second half, twice pulling to within a touchdown. Each time the Tide pulled close, it was Marcus Lattimore that dashed their dreams with TD runs.
Garcia threw for 3 TDs (as well as going 17 of 20), Lattimore ran for 2 and Alshon Jeffrey caught 7 passes for 127 yards (with 2 TDs). While this game didn’t signal a changing of the guard in the SEC, it did signal that South Carolina had finally arrived under Steve Spurrier.
