| Year: | 1982 |
| Team: | South Carolina Gamecocks |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Independent |
| Record: | 4–7 |
| Head Coach: | Richard Bell |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Off Coach: | Dave Fagg |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Williams–Brice Stadium |
The 1982 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina as an independent during the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Gamecocks were led by Richard Bell in his first and only season as head coach, after serving as their defensive coordinator for seven seasons. They played their home games at Williams–Brice Stadium, and compiled a record of 4–7.[1] [2]
Going into the challenging 1982 season, South Carolina had reasons for optimism. The team was considered talented, with a mix of veterans and competing underclassmen, and had eight home games on their schedule. However, new offensive coordinator Dave Fagg's pass-heavy offense was considered incompatible with the personnel. Among the quarterbacks, Gordon Beckham had led the upset over No. 3 North Carolina in the previous season but was not considered an elite passer, while Bill Bradshaw was a running quarterback. Throughout the season, the Gamecocks were "woeful" on offense, producing just 324 yards per game. South Carolina's loss to Furman, their first since 1949, started raising questions about Bell's job security.[3]
Bell was fired in the offseason after refusing to fire four offensive coaches at the request of the athletic director.[4] [5]