SOUTH CAROLINA

Goodbye to ... Lou Holtz
Coaching record: 33-37 in 6 seasons
Reason for leaving: Retired

Holtz revived a Gamecocks program that lost 21 straight games – including going 0-11 in his first year -- highlighted by consecutive victories in the Outback Bowl. Just how bad was it? Well, consider he retired as the only coach in South Carolina history with two bowl victories.

Holtz’s teams were not great finishers, as they went 3-15 in games in November. His final game against Clemson was marred by a fight between players that required police to dispel it. But that black mark paled in comparison when the university admitted to 10 NCAA violations under Holtz, five of which were considered major.

Proposed penalties included two years probation, a reduction in 56 to 50 in paid campus recruit visits the next two years and a loss of two scholarships a year for 2006-7 and 2007-08. The penalties did not include postseason bans or a loss of television opportunities.

Mary Ann Chastain / AP Steve Spurrier

Hello ... Steve Spurrier
Coaching record: 142-40-2 in 15 seasons at Florida and Duke, including 1996 national championship at Florida; 12-20 in two seasons with Washington of the NFL.
2005 prediction: 6-5

If nothing else, Spurrier’s hiring lifts South Carolina’s profile even more than Holtz’s did. But as Holtz found out, getting a program turned around to respectability is light years different from turning one into a national powerhouse.

That’s what is being expected of Spurrier, who will undoubtedly have a tough time of it initially as he returns just nine starters, fewest in the league. He’s also moving from a run-first offense to pass happy. Worse yet, he has no proven triggerman to run his newly named "Cock ’N Fire’’ offense.

But Spurrier is Spurrier, and the Gamecocks figure to pull a surprise or two along the way this season.

Long-term prediction: There are those who will tell you South Carolina is a sleeping giant. If Spurrier can reopen many of the recruiting avenues that helped keep Florida flush with talent, that may prove to be true. But the competition will be extremely tough and, as we all know, often times sequels aren’t nearly as good as the original.

Given sufficient time, Spurrier could transform this program into one of college football’s elite. But it will take time, perhaps more than anyone in Columbia is willing to admit. If they have patience, Spurrier can be the guy to deliver.

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