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Program from 1933 USC-Clemson Game. Gamecocks won 7-0 and finished the year undefeated in the Southern Conference



For years Gamecock Fans have been told that the school only has one Conference Championship. The 1969 ACC Champions have been noted as the only conference championship for the University of South Carolina, but is that true? Recently I stumbled upon a couple old newspaper articles that says it isn't.

Many Gamecock fans know that in 1965 the school did win the ACC Championship, but was forced to forfeit the title due to having two players on the team receiving illegal aid. Marvin Bass' last South Carolina team went 4-2 in the ACC, but are not given recognition as ACC Champs due to violating conference rules. Still, there is at least one more Gamecock team that won a conference championship.

From 1922-1953 South Carolina was part of the Southern Conference. When the Gamecocks first joined in 1922 the league had 23 members.

At the end of the 1932 season the Southern Conference began to take a different look. 13 schools left the league to form the Southeastern Conference. Those schools were Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech, Tulane, and Sewanee. This meant the 1933 season would be played with 10 members.

The remaining members of the Southern Conference were South Carolina, Virginia, Clemson, NC State, North Carolina, Washington & Lee, Maryland, Virginia Tech, VMI, and Duke. Unfortunately, not all conference members played each other in 1933 and this created a tie for the conference championship that year.

The 1933 Gamecocks were led by legendary coach Billy Laval, who has the 2nd highest win percentage in Gamecock history among coaches who coached at least 30 games. Laval's teams were known for their motion in the backfield and fast pace style. His offenses were so unique that in 1929 Florida coach Charles Bachman claimed Laval's motion offense called the "crazy quilt" should be banned.

Laval's 1933 team played only a 10 game schedule that season, but didn't lose a conference game. The only other school in the conference that year to have an undefeated conference record was Duke. The two schools did not meet and they are noted as Co-Conference Championps in a few newspaper articles(see links below)

Should the Gamecocks recognize this championship? Sure, it is 80 years ago, but other schools recognize champions from this era. I think it's time the Gamecocks pay some sort of tribute and acknowledge this championship.

Sarasota Herald-Tribune Sep 30, 1934 "1934 Grid Play is opened with Few Surprises"

Spartanburg Herald-Journal Dec 1 1933 "Curtains for 1933 Season"

Spartanburg Herald-Journal Dec 12 1933"Gamecocks to Decide Soon on Laval"

1933 Season results can be found here

