Will Muschamp Fired By The University of South Carolina Gamecocks After a 2-5 Start To The Season

By Jordan Long

The University of South Carolina Gamecocks football team is 2-5 on the season.  They lost to the Ole Miss Rebels 59-42 on Saturday.  South Carolina decided it was time to let go of Head Coach Will Muschamp after 5 years.

                Muschamp was hired by the University of South Carolina Gamecocks on December 6, 2015.  This was after Steve Spurrier decided to step down during the season.  At the time South Carolina was 2-4.  They finished the year at 3-9.  Muschamp had Head Coaching experience with the University of Florida going 28-21 with 3 bowl appearances.  South Carolina was eager to get him, hoping he could help this school win.

                In his first season, Muschamp went 6-6 but that was good enough to reach the Birmingham Bowl.  They dropped the Bowl Game to South Florida 46-39.  The next year was the best for South Carolina under Muschamp.  They finished 9-4 and won the Outback Bowl. 

                2019 was the worst finish under Muschamp.  It didn’t help that South Carolina lost their final 3 games to end the year at 4-8.  This season the goal was for South Carolina was to reach another Bowl Game and possibly have a winning record.  They began the year with 2 losses before two wins. They are currently on a 3 game losing streak which they hope to break this Saturday against the University of Missouri.

                South Carolina’s athletic director, Ray Tanner, saw that the program wasn’t headed in the right direction.  He decided it was best to fire Muschamp.  According to ESPN, Tanner said, “After a thorough assessment of our football program, we have decided to make a change with the head football coach. I appreciate all that Will Muschamp has done for our program and wish him and his family the best moving forward. I believe our program will be well served by Coach Bobo as the interim head coach as we search for a new leader for Gamecock Football.”

                Muschamp ends with a 28-30 record, a winning percentage of .483.  Mike Bobo will take over.  Bobo has head coaching experience with the Colorado State University Rams.  In his 5 years with the Rams, he was an unimpressive 28-35.  Bobo has his chance to change the course of the year with 3 games left.  If South Carolina finishes at 5-5, Bobo may earn the Head Coaching job.  If not South Carolina will start a Head Coaching search after the conclusion of their last game against the University of Kentucky.