On Sunday, USAToday published a feature by Dan Wolken on new South Carolina coach Will Muschamp. In the article, Muschamp reflects on why he was fired at Florida and acknowledges the challenges he faces to make the Gamecocks competitive in the SEC East.

The feature’s most interesting tidbit, however, isn’t about Muschamp. Wolken touches on South Carolina’s coaching search following the resignation of Steve Spurrier, and includes this nugget:

South Carolina, in fact, first targeted Houston’s Tom Herman and was so far down the road toward an agreement, according to two people familiar with the process, that the school’s administration had essentially shut its search process down.

Those same people, who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity, said Herman’s mind changed after South Carolina lost to The Citadel on Nov. 21 and it became clear the next coach would have a massive rebuilding job on his hands.

In Herman’s first season, Houston finished 13-1 capped off by a 38-24 Peach Bowl win over FSU. According to the article, South Carolina next looked at then-Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez before ultimately hiring Muschamp.

The full story can be read here.