In Memorandum: Top 5 Phil Petty Moments

I never thought in July of 2022 that I would be writing an article about the greatest games of the late Phil Petty. Just like I never thought that in July of 2000 that the Gamecocks were about to have back-to-back Top 20 AP finishes. For a generation of Gamecock fans, Petty and the turnaround seasons of 2000 and 2001 introduced to them to college football. If you were born in the 90's, chances are Petty is your quarterback. At the end of Petty's career his 17 wins in 2000 and 2001 were the most of any Gamecock quarterback in a two season span. Even more amazing is that Petty's first two season saw the Gamecocks go 1-21. Despite his athletic accomplishments, it was clear from reading the tributes that poured in following his untimely death that Petty will be remembered far greater for the relationships he forged off the field.

Phil Petty went 17-7 as a starter at USC. Below we will take a look at 5 of his greatest moments. (We cheated a little bit here as #5 and #1 encompass two wins). Two quick honorable mentions. 2001 Clemson win and he 2000 Mississippi State win. The 2000 Miss St win was actually Petty's only game where he threw over 300 yards, but his 300 were overshadowed by a single 25-yard throw from Erik Kimrey. Kimrey would have never had the chance to play the hero if not for Petty's brilliant day. Petty also led Carolina in rushing that day.

South Carolina's 21-game losing streak and their 18-game SEC losing streak would go down in flames in back-to-back Saturdays in 2000. Petty would throw for only 241 yards combined in the Gamecocks season opening win over New Mexico State and their historic upset of the Quincy Carter-led 10th ranked Georgia Bulldogs, but like most of Petty's performances he played almost mistake free football. Petty was never going to put up big stats in Coach Lou Holtz's run-heavy offense and defense first style of football. What he would be asked to do is not turn the ball over and make plays when it counted. After these two wins Petty's legend would spread faster than the Williams Brice goal posts around Five Points. For the first time since the death of Joe Morrison, the Gamecocks were back on the national scene. For more on these two wins, check out our prior Top 5 home openers and Top 5 Georgia wins.

This was one of Phil Petty's worst games in the Garnet and Black and no one cared. Just nine days earlier was 9/11. America was reeling and needed a distraction. Americans were glued to their TV for information on the attacks and the inevitable war that was to come. A war that would not end until 2021. Keep in mind this was a matchup of Top 20 programs in a time period before the NFL had taken over Thursday nights. The country was ready to lose itself for three hours in an old fashioned college football slugfest.

After a stirring and moving pregame, perfectly executed by MSU, it was finally time for a major football game for the first time in 10 days. South Carolina would emerge victorious 16-14 in a "classic" Holtz-Jackie Sherrill game. Petty was 7-14 with only 60 yards passing. Holtz went into full Notre Dame/Tony Rice mode and turned large chunks of the game over to USC backup, and future NFL linebacker Corey Jenkins. Gamecock fullback Andrew Pinnock rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown, Carolina's only of the game.

"I think it was important for America to see a football game because football is America's sport. It is not played anywhere else in the world. They got to see a good, competitive game tonight." - Lou Holtz.

South Carolina had won only three times in Athens in the 41 years prior to this game. This was a classic Phil Petty era game. The Senior from Boiling Springs got no help from the ground game as he led all Gamecocks with 21 yards rushing. Petty wasn't dazzling through the air, but he was efficient. He completed 19 of 29 pass attempts for 193 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.

The Gamecocks were down 9-7 with 3:10 remaining in the game. The offense had sputtered since a game-opening touchdown drive. Carolina would take over at their 33. Petty made it interesting, on the first set of downs Carolina was facing a 3rd and 10 when Petty found Ryan Brewer for 18 yards and a first down. Two incompletions later, Petty hit Freshman Michael Thomas down the left sideline for 33 yards and a first down into the Georgia redzone. Once again on 3rd down, USC Offensive Coordinator Skip Holtz was able to convince his father to get aggressive. Petty, under pressure, threw a jump ball to Brian Scott, who leaped over Bulldog corner Bruce Thornton and snatched the ball away from his hands for a game winning touchdown with 1:22 remaining. Linebacker Jeremiah Garrison would intercept a UGA quarterback Cory Phillips and seal the game on the Dawgs ensuing drive.

This game holds a special place in my memory. It was the first Gamecock home game after 9/11. My 2001 JL Mann Patriots had hammered a good Wade Hampton team the night before. My best friend and I, (he like Petty was taken from this world too soon), drove to my Grandparents' house in Columbia to attend the Carolina v. Alabama game. I'm not going to bore you with all the insignificant details of my great weekend, I bring this up to illustrate the point of what a profound effect college football can have on someone's life. If I could replay any 72-hour stretch from my lifetime, this weekend would be top 3. So many Gamecock fans have similar memories of Petty and his teams.

South Carolina had never beaten Alabama, ( I don't count the game Alabama would later forfeit ), the two programs were grade school t-ball verses the New York Yankees. These Gamecocks were different though. These Gamecocks were expected to win this game and despite being outplayed, Carolina did just that. Petty was terrific in the win. He went 19-33 for 291 yards and three touchdowns, including the game winner, a 7-yarder to little-used tight end Rod Trafford. This was Petty's finest game of his senior season. A rare occasion in Petty's career when Carolina could not run the football and would turn the game over to the Senior signal-caller. He delivered.

Walking into Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2001, knowing there would be no Derek Watson, the general feeling was that the Gamecocks had a great year but that they were entering uncharted territory. South Carolina simply had no history of beating schools like Ohio State in New Year's Day bowl games. Carolina had one bowl victory in school history prior, a midlevel bowl win over West Virginia following a 6-5 regular season. Ohio State was used to playing in Rose Bowls. None of that mattered anymore.

Petty would play second fiddle to his Buckeye State native teammate in first edition of South Carolina vs. Ohio State. Ryan Brewer would dominate his home state school that failed to recruit him. Brewer went for 201 total yards and three touchdowns. Petty was good throwing for 175 yards a touchdown. He didn't need to be great, Brewer had that covered.

In Outback Bowl II, Petty would take home the MVP award after his stellar first three quarters. No Gamecock had a good 4th quarter save two late plays. A Sheldon Brown interception and return and Daniel Weaver's 42-yard field goal that cleared the crossbar by a coat of paint as time expired. Petty threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns. He was carried off the field by his teammates and into Gamecock immortality.