Gamecocks finally show they can put up the 'W'

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Lou Holtz talked about bringing South Carolina a national championship. Gamecocks fans acted like it happened Saturday night.

After South Carolina ended the country's longest losing streak at 21 games with a 31-0 win over New Mexico State, fans rushed the field at Williams-Brice Stadium to celebrate.

They ripped down both goal posts, tore apart hedges that lined the end zones and collected turf to commemorate the landmark victory - the first since Holtz returned to college football in 1998.

Holtz had to shoo fans off the field -- they burst through security with 36 seconds remaining - for the final plays. "I guess our students don't understand football as well as I thought they did," Holtz said. "I thought they knew it was a 60-minute game.''

But who could blame them after almost two years of waiting?

"I enjoyed every minute of it, watching them tear the goal posts down, the shrubbery down, it was a lot of fun,'' Andrew Heddy, football coach at Lugoff-Elgin High School, said from the infield at Darlington Raceway. "There seems to be a lot of excitement right now.''

Radio host Kevin Cohen, who listened to angry fans vent and criticize for 21 consecutive games, was absolutely giddy when he hit the air for this postgame show. "It is great to hear the happiness in people's voices,'' he said. "I'm ecstatic.''

Throughout the off-season, Holtz was hopeful that his team would compete and surprise. They did a lot of both against the Aggies in the opener.

The Gamecocks ran for two touchdowns in the first half -- they had only four rushing scores all last year -- out of a four-receiver spread offense that looked like it was created by a Bowden (Clemson's coach Tommy) instead of a Holtz (South Carolina's offensive coordinator Skip).

Lou Holtz had talked of a more traditional power-I set earlier in the week.

"I did not lie,'' he said. "I misled you when I said we didn't change much. It's in the playbook, we just didn't use it last year.''

The offense sprang Derek Watson for 114 yards and a 2-yard touchdown. Fullback Andrew Pinnock had two TDs and quarterback Phil Petty, often the target for stadium critics, looked confident and in control.

"It felt great to be a part of this offense,'' receiver Jermale Kelly said. "We knew we had this in us all along. It was just a matter of proving it to everybody.''

South Carolina players gave Holtz an ice-water shower on the sidelines in the final minute.

A group of students carried a 20-foot chunk of the yellow post through the gates with one saying, "We're going to take this everywhere tonight.''

Everyone walked off the field with a small twig, a few leaves hanging on, in their hands.

"This is the best feeling I've ever had in my life, ever,'' sophomore Kristen Walker said from the field.

The (Columbia) State published a full-page picture of the fan-demonium, a sea of people swarming the goalpost with the headline "1, For All.''

It took about 10 minutes for both sets of posts to fall.

Cleveland Pinkney, the Gamecocks 6-foot-2, 290-pound defensive tackle, had said earlier in the week that he'd be swinging of the top of the goal posts if the Gamecocks won. Instead, he just jumped around and screamed with teammates and fans.

"We were having fun and enjoying the moment,'' he said.

It seems like so long ago, instead of 1998, that a local Kroger grocery store made the announcement, "Attention Kroger shoppers, the impossible has happened, Vanderbilt 17, South Carolina 14.''

Soon after, Holtz came to campus promising Southeastern Conference titles and national championships. One victory, no matter how critical to his team's psyche, was not impressive.

"I've been involved in a lot of wins,'' said Holtz, who's 11th all-time with 217 victories. "We've got things that we have to correct. I am proud of the team. They are coming together. (But) we can play better.''

They will have to next week when Georgia comes to Williams-Brice. A South Carolina victory would end its 18-game SEC losing streak.

"I hope this is the start of a turnaround,'' said Heddy, the high school coach. "I hope they beat Georgia.''