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South Carolina releases statement confirming the Gamecocks will not be playing in the Gasparilla Bowl
Published:
South Carolina’s 2020 football season is officially over.
Following multiple reports indicating the Gamecocks would not be playing in the Gasparilla Bowl, the school officially confirmed that new on Tuesday.
The game was set to be played on Saturday, Dec. 26.
The reason for not playing? South Carolina currently features a roster that is depleted and the coaching staff has been hit hard this week following a COVID outbreak in Columbia.
Here is the statement issued by AD Ray Tanner:
Our football team has been on campus since the summer preparing for a football season that saw change being the only constant.
They had to go through strict COVID testing protocols that were as varied and numerous as any group of young people has had to do.
We had a season that was cut short but had to play more Southeastern Conference games than any year in history. Our players, who thrive on the energy from a full Williams-Brice Stadium, played in front of just 20 percent of a stadium, as dictated by state regulations.
Our team competed hard all season, despite injuries, positive COVID tests and contact testing, and several opt outs late in the year.
When the NCAA announced in October that it was waiving the minimum wins requirement to participate in bowl games, we knew that the SEC had enough bowl tie-ins, that we would likely get to play in a bowl game.
The team was excited to learn Sunday that it would play in the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa on Saturday.
However, between members of the coaching staff and student-athletes, COVID and contact tracing has taken a toll too high for us to overcome. I have notified the bowl and the SEC office that we are not able to play in the game on Saturday.
I am proud of this team. Their commitment to represent their program and University, themselves, their families, and their coaches, is second to none.
With new head coach Shane Beamer, staff, and student-athletes, we will be ready for 2021 and we’re excited about the future.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
