South Carolina Gamecocks Football Countdown: 69 Days

Our countdown to the 2014 college football season continues as just 69 days separate us from kickoff between the South Carolina Gamecocks and Texas A&M Aggies at Williams-Brice Stadium on August 28.

Who wears #69: D.J. Park
The redshirt freshman is an offensive lineman from Dillon High School, where he also played with Bryce King.  Even though he didn’t play last year, he could easily challenge the other guys on what is shaping up to be a tremendous offensive line.  There will definitely be a lot of competition for the starting spots considering all the talent there.  He has bulked up quite a bit since joining the Gamecocks, battling Corey Robinson for top size spot on the line and is currently listed at 6’4″ and 342 pounds. In high school, his squad won the Class AA I state championship, and he also played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas as well as the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl. He was considered the third best player in the state coming out of high school and was recruited also by Clemson, Auburn, Tennessee, LSU, and Florida.

Gamecock football in 1969
Record: 7-4 (6-0 in ACC)
Conference: ACC
Coach: Paul Dietzel in his 4th season
In 1969 the Gamecocks won the ACC Championship (their first and so-far only conference title) going undefeated in league play–beating Duke, UNC, NC State, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Wake Forest, and Clemson.  The team was led by quarterback Tommy Suggs.  They played in the Peach Bowl, which because of the weather and field conditions that year has been referred to as the “Mud Bowl”, but lost to #19 West Virginia 14-3.

Also in 1969:

Richard Nixon was inaugurated as President.
Senator Edward kennedy plead guilty to leaving the scene at Chappaquidick.
Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin Jr take the first steps ever on the moon.
The #1 movie of the year was Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid .