S. Carolina sets record for wins

ORLANDO, Fla. – South Carolina’s season was marred by the dismissal of its starting quarterback, the loss of its star running back to injury and an NCAA investigation for improper benefits.

Despite it all, the 10th-ranked Gamecocks won more games than any team in South Carolina history.

“This is for all fans of South Carolina – always,” coach Steve Spurrier belted out during the postgame celebration after Monday’s 30-13 victory over Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl.

Alshon Jeffery caught four passes for 148 yards and a touchdown before getting ejected for fighting, as the 11-2 Gamecocks set a school record for wins.

The Gamecocks also snapped a string of three straight bowl losses. Spurrier said they will have rings “with a big ‘ole 11 on them” to commemorate the milestone.

Connor Shaw, who took over at quarterback when senior Stephen Garcia was kicked off the team, came up big, passing for two scores and rushing for another in one of his best games. He was 11 of 17 for 230 yards and ran for 42.

“We didn’t play all that great at times, and Nebraska (9-4) didn’t play all that great either,” Spurrier said. “But we made some good stops here and there. … We won the fourth quarter today against them and our defense was sensational.

“The record speaks for itself as the best team ever.”

Jeffery was having a surprisingly productive day playing just weeks after surgery on his hand for an injury he sustained in the regular-season finale. He was called for a personal foul penalty and ejected with just over two minutes left in the third quarter along with Cornhuskers cornerback Alfonso Dennard when both were caught throwing punches at each other after a play.

The Gamecocks kept the pressure on even without Jeffery and went up 23-13 with 12:25 to play on a 9-yard TD pass from Shaw to Kenny Miles. Miles then added a 3-yard scoring run with just over three minutes left – his first of the season – to ice the win.