South Carolina Gamecocks Football Countdown: 81 Days

Our countdown to the 2014 college football season continues as just 81 days separate us from kickoff between the South Carolina Gamecocks and Texas A&M Aggies at Williams-Brice Stadium on August 28.

Who Wears #81?

Senior tight end Rory Anderson will don the number 81 once again this season. The man they call “Busta” has eight career touchdown receptions, but did not catch a touchdown pass in 2013. He has played in 38 of 39 games during his time at South Carolina. Anderson has been one of the Gamecocks most dependable pass-catching targets and will be counted on to produce again in 2014.

Gamecocks football in 1981

South Carolina missed the postseason for the first time in three years in what would be Jim Carlen’s final season in Columbia. The Gamecocks were solid for the first two months of the season, going 6-3 with an upset of #3 North Carolina in Chapel Hill, the biggest win in school history at the time. However, South Carolina faltered down the stretch. The Gamecocks were upset by Pacific, defeated by eventual national champion Clemson, and falling to Hawaii  in the season finale in Honolulu.

Record: 6-6

Head Coach: Jim Carlen

Big Wins: North Carolina

Also in 1981…
The number one song was “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes.
Raiders of the Lost Ark was the #1 movie.
52 American hostages were released from Iran after 444 days in captivity.