Sept. 9, 2002

| Game Notes in .pdf format

The South Carolina Gamecocks (1-1/0-0 SEC) open Southeastern Conference play by hosting the 9th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (1-0/0-0 SEC) this Saturday, Sept. 14 at Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250) in Columbia. The game will be televised nationwide by CBS-TV, with kickoff set for shortly after 3:30 p.m. Verne Lundquist (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (color) and Jill Arrington (sideline analyst) will handle the commentary. The game is a complete sellout.

A Closer Look

• The Gamecocks are coming off of a 34-21 non-conference defeat last Saturday night against Virginia in Charlottesville. USC turned the ball over seven times against the Cavaliers, including six fumbles and one interception. Carolina opened its 2002 season Aug. 31 at Williams-Brice Stadium, with a 34-24 victory over New Mexico State. Senior quarterback Corey Jenkins, making his first collegiate start, racked up 279 yards of total offense to lead the Gamecocks to the win. The fourth largest crowd in Williams-Brice Stadium history – 83,717 – and the largest home opening crowd ever for the school was on hand. Georgia opened its 2002 season at home on Aug. 31 with a 31-28 victory over the Clemson Tigers. The Bulldogs were idle this past weekend.
• With the loss at UVA, the Gamecocks have dropped out of the national polls. Carolina had been ranked 22nd in the writers’ poll and 19th in the coaches’ poll heading into the Virginia game. Dating back to the final 2000 national rankings, Carolina had been ranked in 20 consecutive national rankings, which is a school record. The last poll that USC wasn’t ranked in came on Dec. 3, 2000. Following its Outback Bowl win over Ohio State on Jan. 1, 2001, USC finished 19th in both of the final polls for the 2000 season. Its Outback Bowl victory over the Buckeyes on Jan. 1, 2002, elevated Carolina to 13th in both of the final polls for the 2001 season. The Gamecocks had been ranked 22nd in the 2002 preseason poll.
• Over the years, Carolina has compiled a won-loss record of 485-489-44.
• The Gamecocks went 8-4 in 2000 and 9-3 in 2001. Those 17 victories are the most ever over a two-year period in USC football history.

  For the complete release, click on the link above to download the game notes in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format.