<P> From 1953 through 1970, the Gamecocks played in the Atlantic Coast Conference, winning the 1969 ACC championship and finishing No. 15 in the 1958 final AP poll . From 1971 through 1991, they competed as a major independent, producing 1980 Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers, six bowl appearances, and Final Top - 25 rankings in 1984 and 1987 (AP No. 11 and No. 15). </P> <P> The Gamecocks have produced a National Coach of the Year in Joe Morrison, three SEC coaches of the year in Lou Holtz (2000) and Steve Spurrier (2005, 2010), and one ACC coach of the year in Paul Dietzel (1969). They also have four members of the College Football Hall of Fame in former players George Rogers and Sterling Sharpe, and former coaches Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier . </P> <P> Carolina fielded its first football team on Christmas Eve, in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1892 versus Furman . At that time the football team was not sanctioned by the University . They provided their own uniforms and paid their own train fare in order to participate in the game . They were nicknamed the "College Boys" by The News and Courier and their supporters wore garnet and black . </P> <P> USC won its first game in its third season, on November 2, 1895 against Columbia AA . The squad designated their first head coach, W.H. "Dixie" Whaley, the following year . The 1896 season also saw the inaugural game against arch - rival Clemson on November 12, which Carolina won 12--6 . From 1902 to 1903, coach Bob Williams led the Gamecocks to a 14--3 record . </P>

When did university of south carolina start playing football