South Carolina ended a disappointing 2014 campaign on a positive note over the weekend with a victory over Miami in the Duck Commander Independence Bowl, avoiding its first losing season since 2003.

The journey was treacherous and here are some of the highs and lows:

5. Eye-opening loss to Texas A&M that snapped 18-game home winning streak: The 2014 season didn’t begin as planned for the preseason SEC East favorite and ninth-ranked team in the country as the upset-minded Aggies bullied their way into Williams-Brice Stadium for an emphatic 52-28 win. Wide-eyed sophomore quarterback Kenny Hill disintegrated South Carolina’s secondary for a school-record 511 yards through the air during a 44-of-60 outing. Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin and his Air Raid attack ultimately got the last laugh during a verbal back-and-forth with Steve Spurrier during game week.

Memorable quote: “We aren’t a one-trick pony.” — Kevin Sumlin in reference to Texas A&M’s first game without Johnny Manziel.

4. Dylan Thompson’s career night at Auburn not enough: In a must-win scenario at fifth-ranked Auburn to stay alive in a murky division championship picture, South Carolina’s fifth-year senior quarterback nearly pulled off his best career victory on the Plains inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. Thompson completed 29-of-50 passes for a career-high 402 yards and five touchdowns, but a last-ditch Hail Mary attempt fell incomplete on the game’s final play. Thompson dissected Auburn’s secondary with precision, a necessity considering how rapid the Tigers were chewing up yards against one of the league’s worst defenses.

Memorable quote: “They went for everything and they got just about everything. They executed when they had to and they did it time and time again.” — Gus Malzahn after South Carolina five times on six fourth-down attempts.

3. Fourth win in five years over Georgia temporarily gives Gamecocks new life: Two weeks after falling out of the Top 10 with a season-opening loss to Texas A&M, the Gamecocks welcomed new division front-runner Georgia to Columbia and this time, didn’t disappoint. An excellent game plan from Spurrier after a 90-minute lightning delay helped South Carolina jump out to a 24-13 lead at halftime, one it wouldn’t relinquish during a nailbiting three-point victory. The sixth-ranked Bulldogs South Carolina clinched the victory in the waning moments on Thompson’s reviewed sneak on 4th-and-inches near midfield. The Bulldogs vehemently disagreed with the ruling.

Memorable quote: “”We got a whole bunch of them at Florida, but to get five of them at South Carolina, that’s something. I think I may be the winningest coach against Georgia here at South Carolina.” — Spurrier after knocking off the Gamecocks’ hated division rival.

2. Carlton Heard’s blocked punt at Florida saves bowl hopes: Staring 4-6 with two games to play directly in the face, South Carolina’s special teams unit came up with one of its most memorable plays in program history in Gainesville with 39 seconds to play in regulation. With the Gamecocks trailing by seven and out of timeouts, Heard broke free at the line of scrimmage and clipped Kyle Christy’s punt attempt to setup Mike Davis’ game-tying touchdown five plays later. South Carolina would eventually win the game in overtime on Thompson’s keeper after holding Florida to a field goal on its only possession. It was only South Carolina’s second win ever at Florida and cost coach Will Muschamp his job a few days later.

Memorable quote: “I do feel for coach Muschamp. He’s a good guy, and it appeared they had that game in pretty good shape, but they didn’t make a first down and we blocked the punt and we win the game somehow.” — Spurrier on his doomed colleague after South Carolina responded with two blocks on special teams in the final four minutes to swing momentum.

1. Spurrier’s postgame media refusal following a home loss in OT to Tennessee: One of the lowest points in the Spurrier era came on Nov. 1 after the Gamecocks squandered a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter for the third time resulting in a loss to the Vols that dropped South Carolina to 4-5 overall. The onslaught of questions concerning coaching staff changes persisted, notably on defense after Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs’ 467-yard, five-touchdown explosion. Spurrier provided a brief statement, then refused all questions in obvious disappointment. He later apologized for being unprofessional. Lost in the aftermath was a mesmerizing night from sophomore wideout Pharoh Cooper who managed a school-record 233 yards receiving and two touchdowns for the Gamecocks.

Memorable quote: “I’ve done a lousy job of maximizing what we think we’ve got here.” — a dejected Spurrier said after South Carolina’s fourth loss in five games derailed the season.