On this day one decade ago, South Carolina played Clemson in Death Valley. It was to be a send off for an all time great; Lou Holtz was coaching his final regular season game for the Gamecocks. But with 5:48 remaining and the game well in hand for the Tigers, South Carolina quarterback Syvelle Newton was knocked down and pinned to the ground by a slew of Clemson defenders on an incomplete pass.

What followed was an unceremonious end. The two schools announced the next day that both teams would be barred from post season play, effectively ending the career of Holtz. Yet this story is about more than a coach in the twilight of his career or two programs struggling to attain relevancy. Its ramifications continue to be felt to this day.

On October 25, just two days after a loss to 17 point underdog Mississippi State, Florida announced the dismissal of embattled head coach Ron Zook, with the caveat that he would finish the season. Athletic Director Jeremy Foley quietly began the search for a new head coach. Florida legend Steve Spurrier was waiting in the wings after a failed stint as Washington Redskins head coach, and was seemingly ready for the perfect opportunity to take back his Gators. However, just several hours after the USC-Clemson Brawl, Urban Meyer led #5 Utah to a victory against BYU to complete the first undefeated season since 1930 for the Utes. Meyer had amassed a 21-2 record at Utah and was a clear candidate for several top head coaching gigs, one of them being Florida. This, combined with South Carolina’s courtship of Spurrier, led to a succession of events that would ultimately shake up the foundation of college football over the next ten years.

On November 22, Holtz announced his retirement from coaching. This abrupt departure created a hole that Spurrier, attracted by the promise of a return to the SEC without the gaudy expectations waiting for him in Gainesville, would immediately fill. Thus began the rise of South Carolina football. When Spurrier arrived in Columbia, the Gamecocks held a record of 467-474 (.496). They’ve gone 82-44 (.651) since, reeling off three consecutive 11 win seasons and three straight bowl wins, both program firsts. With Spurrier off the table, the pursuit of Meyer would begin two days later when Foley traveled to Utah. After several meetings and an eleventh hour bid by Notre Dame, Meyer agreed to become the next head coach of the Florida Gators on December 3.

Facing increasing pressure under the weight of his own achievements (two National Championships, a Heisman winner, and an overall record of 65-15 (.813) for those keeping track) and the precedent for success set by Spurrier before him, Meyer eventually walked away from Florida due to health concerns. He would return to college football eleven months later, announced as the replacement for Jim Tressell at Ohio State. He brought his winning ways to Columbus, posting back to back undefeated regular seasons with an overall record of 33-3 as of this week. His Buckeyes are currently in position to make a run at the inaugural College Football Playoff.

On this day, we look back at the moment that would change the trajectories of three programs forever. South Carolina finally achieved sustained success under the watch of the Ol’ Ball Coach, Florida reached its peak thanks in part to Spurrier spurning his old ties, and Ohio State is enjoying the services of the man who began the seven year reign of the SEC by dominating the most talented group of Buckeyes in the BCS era.

Palmettos never seemed so important.