Live from Columbia: Revisiting South Carolina’s Historic Curse-Breaking Victory
For decades, futility in Columbia had a name—a dreaded one that echoed like the whispers of a medieval plague: The Chicken Curse. It was a term that encapsulated every ounce of heartbreak South Carolina athletics endured over the years.
But nearly 30 years ago, in the winter of 1994, the Gamecocks made history and silenced the whispers forever.
The Curse and Its Legacy
The Chicken Curse was at its most infamous during bowl season. Despite playing football for over a century, South Carolina had never won a bowl game. The Gamecocks were 0-8 in postseason appearances, a streak unmatched in its futility.
“It was real growing up,” said former kicker Marty Simpson, who played for South Carolina in the 1990s. “We were the Charlie Brown of football.”
By December 1994, South Carolina—under first-year head coach Brad Scott—was coming off a 6-5 season and heading to the Carquest Bowl in Miami to face West Virginia. But their true opponent was the curse that had haunted the program for over a century.
A Generational Struggle
Few understood this struggle better than Red Ozburn, a South Carolina football player from the 1940s. After serving in World War II, Ozburn returned home and attended nearly every Gamecocks game with his wife, Jo, including their infamous bowl defeats.
From the 1945 Gator Bowl loss to Wake Forest to heartbreaks in the Peach Bowl, Tangerine Bowl, and beyond, the Ozburns were witnesses to the curse’s relentless grip. Yet, their dedication never wavered.
“They were so connected to it,” said their great-grandson, John Marshall Mosser. “It was their thing.”
1994: The Turning Point
The stage was set on January 2, 1995, for South Carolina to rewrite history. The Gamecocks took control early in the Carquest Bowl, with running back Boomer Foster scoring the game’s first touchdown.
Junior quarterback Steve Taneyhill delivered a stellar performance, throwing for 236 yards, completing 72% of his passes, and accounting for two touchdowns. His pump fake and goal-line dive for a four-yard score became the defining moment of the game.
“I just saw that goal line and half-dove, half-jumped,” Taneyhill recalled. “And I got in there.”
Despite holding a 24-21 lead late in the fourth quarter, the curse made one final gasp. Running back Stanley Pritchett fumbled near the end zone, giving West Virginia one last chance with 1:14 remaining.
“I was like, ‘Maybe the Chicken Curse does exist,’” Foster admitted.
But the Gamecocks’ defense held firm. A relentless pass rush stifled West Virginia’s final drive, sealing the victory. For the first time in 102 seasons, South Carolina had won a bowl game.
Celebrating History
As the final whistle blew, euphoria erupted among the 15,000 South Carolina fans in attendance. Senior receiver Kurt Frederick grabbed a state flag, sprinted around the field, and leapt into the stands.
“We’re going to party,” Frederick yelled. “Screw the Curse. The Curse never existed in the first place. We just had some bad luck. We turned it around today.”
Head coach Brad Scott made sure his players understood the magnitude of their achievement.
“No one else will be this team,” Scott told them in the locker room. “They might win bowl games. They might win the SEC championship. But you guys—you’re the first. That will mean something, especially as you get older.”
The Legacy of the Carquest Bowl
When the Gamecocks’ plane returned to Columbia, thousands of fans lined the airport fence, holding signs like “Brad Scott for President” and “Steve Taneyhill for Vice President.”
The 1994 team wasn’t the best in school history. They finished 7-5, going .500 in SEC play. But they accomplished what no South Carolina team before them could—they broke the Chicken Curse.
“It was like we won the national championship,” Foster said. “It meant so much to the fan base then.”
Looking Ahead
As South Carolina prepares to face Illinois in the 2024 Citrus Bowl, memories of that historic day in Miami serve as a reminder of how far the program has come. The curse is long gone, but the legacy of the team that broke it will forever echo in Gamecock lore.
Stay tuned for live coverage of the Citrus Bowl as South Carolina looks to add another chapter to its growing postseason success.
