South Carolina Football Christmas: Which opponents are on Gamecock Santa's naughty list?
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football Christmas:
Gamecock Santa's Nice List, The Akron Zips
The Akron Zips have been one of college football's worst teams in recent years. They've put together just one winning season (2015) in the last 18 years, and their last win over a major opponent came in 2008 over a bad Syracuse squad.
The Gamecocks played Akron in 2018 for the only time the two teams matched up. It was a rain-soaked 28-3 victory for South Carolina in a contest that happened after the Clemson game because both the Gamecocks and Zips had contests against Marshall and Nebraska, respectively, canceled due to bad storms.
Just like with Old Dominion, there is no reason for South Carolina football fans to want Akron on Gamecock Santa's naughty list. This season's matchup comes right after a tough game against LSU and right before a Bye (1 of 2 for USC this season), so hopefully the game will provide some positive momentum for the garnet and black heading into the Bye before a grueling October slate.
Sure, Akron used to be coached by Terry Bowden (Tommy's brother and Bobby's son), but the school fired him back in 2018 after the loss to the Gamecocks. Also, if Gamecock fans were being honest, they miss the days when a Bowden was in charge of their in-state rival...
Akron belongs on Gamecock Santa's nice list.