'In a better place'

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- As the calendar flipped to a new decade 10 years ago, century and millennium, South Carolina's football program was just fine with leaving the past behind.

A 1-10 record in 1998 forced Brad Scott's ouster. Lou Holtz's first season, an 0-11 year, was even worse.

There were few reasons to be hopeful about the years ahead. South Carolina was a football wasteland in many respects.

"When I got here, we were the team you automatically put a 'W' by," said former Gamecocks receiver and running back Ryan Brewer, who arrived in '99.

Mash fast forward, and look at the changes for a program that hasn't had a losing season since 2003 and is playing here Saturday in its sixth bowl game of the 2000s.

The 7-5 Gamecocks will play 7-5 Connecticut in the Papajohns.com Bowl at Legion Field.

South Carolina had been to eight bowls (one win) in its history before 2000. It's 3-2 in bowls so far this decade (Saturday counts, since it's the 2009 season).

There are more bowls now than ever, some would argue. But USC has been to the Jan. 1 Outback Bowl three times since 2000.

Beyond the measurement of bowls, South Carolina went 68-53 in the decade for its winningest 10-year stretch in school history. The 35 wins in Steve Spurrier's five seasons are also a high-water half-decade mark for the school.

It's modest, no doubt, but you've got to start somewhere.

"That's not a lot to brag about yet," Spurrier said this week. "Hopefully we can get that average up higher in the near future here."

This point in time is a good one for reflection on the positive decade that was -- and to gaze into the decade ahead.

Even those without garnet-tinted glasses can see this South Carolina team is closer than ever to where it wants to be.

In 2010, the Gamecocks will return 19 players from its defensive two-deep and 19 players from its offensive two-deep.

Essentially the whole team comes back, except for a couple of linemen and All-America linebacker Eric Norwood.

"It's definitely in a better place," Norwood said of the program's state. "We definitely think we laid the foundation for all the younger guys on the team. We hope so. I think it can be. It just depends on how things go."

A glance around the rest of the SEC East, and every team has glaring 2010 concerns such as breaking in a new quarterback (Florida, Georgia, Tennessee) or a new defensive coordinator (Florida, Georgia) or, perhaps, a new head coach (Kentucky).

There's reason to believe the Gamecocks will receive more than a few votes as preseason favorites in the East. Could you have said that a decade ago? Or ever at USC?

Spurrier said the program's progress under his watch is measured best off the field. At least that's what has led, both directly and indirectly, to some on-field success.

"Certainly, I think the attitude is better," Spurrier said. "Players are more into it. We don't have guys missing and skipping. Our guys are all going to class.

"We're doing a lot of things the right way. Hopefully that'll translate into nine, 10 -- or more -- wins real soon."

Spurrier deserves a lot of credit for continuing -- and increasing -- the momentum Holtz brought, his players say.

"It says a lot for coach Spurrier, to come in here and win at a place where it's hard to win," outgoing senior receiver Moe Brown said. "Obviously he's doing something right."

Brown, a captain, said he's seen the character of Spurrier's recruiting classes improve. Not just the talent of the recruits, but the talent is there, also.

The Gamecocks feel as if they're on the verge of another top 10 recruiting class, what would be Spurrier's third. Another positive: In-state prospects are the very best that will sign in February.

Spurrier arrived in November 2004 with a firm message about his intentions at USC. Some thought it was foolish. Others wondered if he'd follow through.

He asked, rhetorically, Why not South Carolina? Why couldn't the Gamecocks win, and win big?

It now seems more plausible than ever. This is as close as USC has ever gotten to what Spurrier was talking about in '04.

Better coaches ... facilities ... recruits. The Gamecocks are on the verge, at least.

"Every year, we've kind of grasped at what we could've done," Brewer said. "We're that close to being where we want to be in the SEC."

In reality, these Gamecocks probably wouldn't be where they are without the early-decade contributions from Brewer, Holtz and the teams that brought the program out of the SEC's pit.

A 1995 Carquest Bowl victory against West Virginia was the only postseason accomplishment the Gamecocks had on which to hang their hats. That is, until Brewer's outstanding performance in the 2001 Outback Bowl, capping the 2000 season with a 24-7 victory against Ohio State.

The Gamecocks beat the Buckeyes in the same bowl the following year.

The victories provided the finest bowl moments in the school's history. A program that needed something good to happen finally had those trophies and memories.

"Back then, it was like an out-of-body experience. I didn't know what to think," said Brewer. "You look at it now, and it was a big deal. With the history of South Carolina, it was a big deal. It put a little spark into what's going on now."

One knife that opposing fans, especially those in the Upstate, like to dig into South Carolina is the fact that its all-time record has typically been below .500.

A win Saturday would get South Carolina to .500 entering that promising 2010 season.

"Compared to some of these schools around here, that's not very good," Spurrier said, referring to Alabama. "But, hopefully, we're headed in the right direction."

Thinking back to Jan. 1, 2000, there's no questioning that.

Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com and check out the South Carolina blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/gamecocks.