Palmetto Proving Grounds

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Here it is:

4. Gamecock Nation
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier was priceless following his team's 36-14 road stomping of Florida to win the SEC East division title.

"God smiled on the Gamecocks tonight,"’ said Spurrier, who used that expression countless times during his 12-season coaching tenure at his alma mater Florida, but with the term "Gators" as the main subject.

Spurrier renamed Florida Field as the "Swamp" in the early 1990s and often said he wanted it to be an intimidating place where "only Gators come out alive."

"Sometimes, Gamecocks come out alive," Spurrier said after his postgame news conference.

Arriving back home at Williams-Brice Stadium after 1 a.m., the Gamecocks were welcomed by thousands of cheering fans. South Carolina has won only one conference title in its football history (ACC in 1969). Even though this was just a division title, Spurrier was clear.

"We're celebrating tonight!" he said.

"We had 7,500 fans (at Florida), sold all of our tickets," Spurrier said. "And when the game was over, those were the only ones who were left."

Sure enough, when South Carolina made it a three-score game, Gators fans left the stadium like it was a fire drill.

Now it's the larger question for South Carolina (7-3 with Troy and Clemson remaining before the Dec. 4 SEC Championship Game date against Auburn).

Is this an aberration or the start of something much bigger?

Florida is suddenly in disarray. Georgia has regressed. Who knows when Tennessee can again approach championship level?

South Carolina already looks like an SEC East favorite for 2011.

The Gamecocks will return a trio of offensive skill-position stars: quarterback Stephen Garcia, running back Marcus Lattimore and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.

Some were wondering how much Spurrier, 65, had left in the tank. After beating the Gators, he might be supremely motivated to keep going.