University of South Carolina Libraries
Full coverage of the 1984 “Black Magic" Foothall season, indud- iM ing roster, stats ~ and box scores for every game. page 6 Friday, August 13,1999 _The Gamecock_PagejC Todd Money Sports Editor The Fire Ant defense. Black Magic. The Mitchell-Hold Airways. “Nine and 0! Nine and 0! Nine and 0, and three to go!” Conjure up any images yet? For many of you, probably not. It's hard to believe it's been 15 falls since 1984, the last time football was a happening event in Columbia. It did happen, though, “chicken curse” fixa tions notwithstanding. Yes, it was only a decade and a half ago that President Reagan was campaigning for a second term, a very successful Los Angeles Olympics was fin ishing up and USC's football team was looking to rebound from a 5-6 season in 1983 that had been surprisingly captivat ing. The squad had made tremendous strides under first year coach Joe Morrison, even surprising the other USC, Southern Cal., with a 38-14 trouncing in Columbia. “We have to go out and prove ourselves for 11 Saturdays,” Morrison said before 1984. “We can't take anyone lightly, but neither do I think anyone can take us lightly.” The ledger for the upcoming season wasn't much different from 1983's, which was rated the second toughest in the coun try. 1984 would include home dates with national powers Georgia, Florida State and Pittsburgh, and road games to Notre Dame, N.C. State and Clemson. The prognosis was optimistic. How could anyone have figured what would come next? USC 31, The Citadel 24: Down 21-14 at the half, the Gamecocks used a tough defense to overcome an upstart underdog and put an end to what was much more of a game than many expected. USC scored what proved to be the winning touchdown on halfback Quinton Lewis’ 40-yard pass to Chris Wade with only 1:02 left. And it still wasn’t over. The Citadel drove all the way down to Carolina’s 22, but with 22 seconds left, quarterback Robert Hill's pass waff picked off by USC defensive back Otis Morris. USC 21, Duke 0: Carolina overcame 15 penal usc continued on page 6C Associated Press 1. BYU (12 0-0) 2. Oklahoma (9-1-1) 3. Florida (9-1-1) 4. Washington (10-1-0) 5. Nebraska (9-2-0) 6. Ohio State (9-2-0) 7. South Carolina (10-1-0) 8. Boston College (9-2-0) 9. Oklahoma State (9-2-0) 10. So. Methodist (9-2-0) 11. LSU (8-2-1) 12. Maryland (8-3-0) 13. Miami (Fla.) (8-4 0) 14. UCLA (8-3-0) 15. Florida State (7-3-1) 16. Auburn (8-4-0) 17. Notre Dame (7-4-0) 18. So. California (8-3-0) 19. Texas (7-3-1) 20. Wisconsin (7-3-1) United Press Int’l X. BYU (12-0-0) 2. Oklahoma (9-1-1) 3. Washington (10-1-0) 4. Nebraska (9-2-0) 5. Ohio State (9-2-0) 6. Florida (9-1-1) 7. South Carolina (104-0) 8. Boston College (9-2-0) 9. Oklahoma State (9-2-0) 10. So. Methodist (9-2-0) 11. Maryland (8-3-0) 12. LSU (8-2-1) 13. Miami (Fla.) (8-4-0) 14. So. California (8-3-0) 15. UCLA (8-3-0) 16. Florida State (7-3-1) 17. Wisconsin (7-3-1) 17. Notre Dame (7-4-0) 19. Auburn (8-4-0) 20. Texas (7-3-1) Special 10 The Gamecock (Above) USC's Scott Hagter kicks the game-winning PAT to beat Clemson in 1984. (Right) Quarterback Mike Hold was a key part of the Gamecocks' 10-2 season that yea;, frequently coming off the bench to pull out wins in the second halves of games.