South Carolina Football’s GOAT Series: Top-10 greatest offenses of all-time
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football’s No. 10 Greatest Offense of All-Time:
2006
In year two of the Steve Spurrier era in Columbia, the Gamecocks were much improved on the offensive side of the football. The team’s success came despite Spurrier’s unconventional switching of quarterbacks as Syvelle Newton and Blake Mitchell (and even a little bit of Chris Smelley) switched out at the position, sometimes even in the same game. Newton provided the offense with the athleticism needed behind a shaky-at-times offensive line, and the Gamecocks saw glimpses of the Head Ball Coach’s offense that he was famous for at Florida.
Sidney Rice and Kenny McKinley were a dynamic duo at receiver, accounting for almost 2000 yards. The Gamecocks, led by their offense, won 8 games and had very real opportunities to beat #2 Auburn, #8 Tennessee, #12 Arkansas, and #6 (and eventual national champs) Florida but couldn’t quite pull out the victories. It would take a few more years, but 2006 was a sneak peek of sorts for the Gamecock run of excellence from 2010-2013.