On Oct. 29, 2005, the USC football team went to Tennessee and beat the No. 23 Volunteers. The 16-15 Gamecock victory was a shocker.

It was South Carolina’s first win ever in Knoxville and it snapped a 12-game losing streak to Tennessee. Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer had never lost to South Carolina.

Tennessee great Peyton Manning was in attendance that night to have his No. 16 retired.

It was Steve Spurrier’s first year as coach of USC. And it was an unexpected, breakthrough win. USC surprised a couple other teams and won seven games that year.

After the win Spurrier said: “God is smiling on the Gamecocks.”

Saturday night. With the great Steve Spurrier in attendance, the Gamecocks jumped all over the Florida, beating the Gators 40-17 at Williams-Brice Stadium.

It was the most points USC has ever scored against Florida in their 42 meetings. It was the largest margin of victory as well. Florida was an 18-point favorite versus USC.

Like it was for Spurrier in 2005, it’s USC Head Coach Shane Beamer’s first year at Carolina.

Every game the Gamecocks have left on the schedule is winnable. Is the big Florida win the sign of a turnaround?

Is God smiling on the Gamecocks, again?