South Carolina Gamecocks Football Countdown: 55 Days

Our countdown to the 2014 college football season continues as just 55 days separate us from kickoff between the South Carolina Gamecocks and Texas A&M Aggies at Williams-Brice Stadium on August 28.

Who wears #55: David Johnson
David Johnson is a redshirt freshman defensive end from our favorite recruiting area of Lithonia, GA. David was a linebacker in high school who averaged 100 tackles and almost 10 sacks a season in his three years. He was a 3-star prospect who was all-state and played in the All-American Bowl. He moved to defensive end prior to the start of last season, but the Gamecocks had a couple of strong starters already in that role, so he ended up redshirting last year. This year, he should have a real shot to compete to make it into the rotation. One big name player who wore 55 previously is Kalimba Edwards who was a defensive end and linebacker from 1998-2001, earning All-American honors twice. He also went on to play for the Detroit Lions and Oakland Raiders.

What 55 days left means: Well, 55 days left means today is Independence Day, which reminds us of the twenty or so years Carolina spent as an independent school before joining the SEC in 1991. Also it means you could hold up 55 with your hands and be giving a high 5 to not just one, but two, of your favorite Clemson fans. You can also pass your garnet shirts off as red for this one day, and wear some white shorts and blue socks, or vice-versa and be patriotic while still supporting the Gamecocks like you always do.

Gamecock football in 1955
Record: 3-6
Conference: ACC (1-5 in the conference)
Coach and more: This was the last season in the long career of Rex Enright. Rex had been the coach since 1938 (minus three years in the Navy during World War II). He resigned at the end of this season due to health reasons. He hired Warren Giese to be his successor, and then stayed on as Athletic Director until 1960. When he retired, he held the record for most wins by a Carolina coach at 64-69-7. Definitely a tough year for the Gamecocks, not only with a losing record, but losing pretty bad, including being shutout 26-0 by #15 Navy and 27-0 by #1 Maryland. Mackie Prickett led the team from the QB position, throwing for more than 500 yards that season.

Also in 1955:

• Disneyland opens in California in July
• Hurricane Diane hits the northeast United States, killing more than 200 people
• Warsaw Pact is signed in May
• “In God We Trust” is added to all currency
• Rosa Parks is arrested on an Alabama bus for refusing to give up her seat
• McDonalds is started by Ray Kroc
• “Oklahoma”, “Rebel Without a Cause”, and “To Catch a Thief” are in movie theaters