By fitsnews – July 20, 2011
The University of South Carolina football team’s 2011 season opener against East Carolina will be televised nationally by FOX Sports Net (FSN), the Gamecock athletic department announced on Wednesday.
South Carolina – which won nine games last year and captured its first-ever SEC Eastern Division championship – will play the Pirates at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. on September 3. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EDT.
The teams haven’t met since 1999 – a game East Carolina won 21-3. In fact, the Gamecocks went on to lose all eleven games that year. South Carolina holds a 10-5 advantage all-time against East Carolina, dating back to a series-opening 19-16 win in 1977. In addition to this year’s game in Charlotte, the teams will play each other again in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
While South Carolina is projected to repeat as SEC East champs, East Carolina boasts one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in Dominique Davis.
In 2010, the Boston College transfer established single-season records in touchdown passes (37), attempts (609), completions (393), passing yards (3,967), passing yards per game (305.2), total offensive (4,108) and total offensive yards per game (316.0).
A preseason Davey O’Brien award candidate, Davis will be an early test for South Carolina’s defense – which includes preseason all-SEC performers Devin Taylor and Stephon Gilmore as well as Jadeveon Clowney, the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit.
On offense, South Carolina is led by the “Garnet Triplets” – Heisman Trophy candidate Marcus Lattimore, All-American wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and senior quarterback Stephen Garcia.
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