Will Muschamp’s tenure as South Carolina’s head coach took a turn last season when the program missed out on bowl eligibility for just the second time in 11 seasons and the first time since his tenure started in 2016. This season is considered a big one for Muschamp, and talks surrounding how safe he is in Columbia definitely heated up after the Gamecocks started 0-2 with a home loss to Tennessee and a road loss to Florida.
South Carolina bounced back with a road win against SEC cellar dweller Vanderbilt, but Muschamp and Co. will definitely need to rack up some more wins this season against more impressive opponents. Should the program fail to do so, it’s anyone’s guess as to what Muschamp’s future holds.
According to USA Today’s 2020 college football coaches salary database published today, Muschamp’s buyout as of Dec. 1 of this year stands at $15,378,750. Since taking over at South Carolina, Mushcamp is 27-27, including a 16-19 mark in SEC play.
“By the end of the season, Muschamp must provide the South Carolina faithful with positive momentum heading into 2021,” 247Sports’ senior writer Brad Crawford wrote in late September. Whether that's finishing the year with a bowl victory or managing a .500 finish with a notable win or two during the regular season, something good needs to happen. Even with a costly buyout, there's no doubt Muschamp is facing the music in Columbia, S.C. as a fifth-year coach.”
A starting point for Muschamp to get a big win comes this Saturday when No. 14 Auburn comes to Columbia. The Tigers (2-1) have looked vulnerable at times this season, and are an officiating miscue away from being 1-2.
“Winning helps. It makes the food taste a little better,” Muschamp said during a Tuesday call with media members. “Your wife likes you more, your girlfriend, if you have one. It certainly gives you a better outlook on things. I’ve been pleased, for the most part, about how our guys have gone about work on a Tuesday practice, which is a hard workday for us. Tomorrow is as well and Thursday is a little more mental, but still physical.
“I thought they came in with a very good attitude on Sunday, understanding we have a lot of improvement to be made on our team and corrections, to accept being a coachable player. That’s something we challenge them with all of the time. Then there is the understanding that we have a very good Auburn team coming in here Saturday and we need to continue to improve and get better.”
Muschamp and Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn were on the same sideline for the 2015 Auburn season when the Gamecocks head coach served as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator. A season later Muschamp began his tenure as South Carolina's head coach and took multiple Auburn coaches with him to Columbia, including current defensive coordinator and secondary coach Travaris Robinson and tight end coach Bobby Bentley.
24Spirts' Brad Crawford contributed to this report.