South Carolina Football: Ranking the top-15 offensive performances in Gamecock history

South Carolina Football’s No. 4 Greatest Offensive Performance of All-Time:
Steve Wadiak vs. Clemson

Steve Wadiak is one of the most popular names from the old days of South Carolina football. The big running back was best known for his bruising style of running the football and wound up owning most of the Carolina rushing records after finishing his playing career, despite missing a significant amount of time with injuries.

“The Cadillac” had his greatest day as a Gamecock in his final matchup with the rival Clemson Tigers. As a junior (he missed the rivalry game as a senior due to an injury), Wadiak lit up the Clemson defense for 256 yards on the ground and 2 touchdowns. According to some in attendance, there was not a single carry from Wadiak in which he went down without multiple Tigers needing to work together to get him on the ground.

Wadiak had his second longest-ever touchdown run against Clemson that day in 1950 when he scampered for a 73-yard touchdown (he once had a 96-yard score). The best running back in the Southern Conference just missed making the All-American team that year but received the honor as a senior.

Wadiak had his number retired barely a year later in 1952 after, tragically, he lost in life in a car accident just a couple of months shy of his graduation.