Former South Carolina quarterback Steve Taneyhill passes away at 52

Former South Carolina quarterback Steve Taneyhill has passed away following a long-term illness. He was 52.

Taneyhill was a Gamecock quarterback from 1992 to 1995, playing under coaches Sparky Woods and Brad Scott. He was known both for his on-field excellence and for his larger-than-life personality. The name “Steve Taneyhill” was synonymous with the program for some time, even after his career ended.

Following his time in garnet and black, Taneyhill briefly played professionally. He later got into coaching and led two in-state programs (Chesterfield and Cambridge Academy) to state championship wins. Taneyhill was also a business owner, sharing in the ownership of multiple businesses in Columbia and in the Upstate.

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As a player, Steve Taneyhill was a Gamecock legend. Not only did his long hair and flamboyant attitude make him a popular figure, but his play left a mark in the USC record books.

Taneyhill still owns USC records for career completions (753), career touchdown passes (62), and single-season touchdown passes (29). He is second on the Gamecock quarterback list in career passing yards (8782).

Of the seven 400-yard passing performances in South Carolina football history, Taneyhill authored three of them. He is also the only Gamecock quarterback to throw for five touchdowns on multiple occasions.

Taneyhill led South Carolina to its first-ever bowl win, a 24-21 win over West Virginia in the Carquest Bowl. Upon taking his final snap, Taneyhill was tied for the program’s all-time record in quarterback wins (20).

He guided USC’s offense during the early years of being in the SEC, and he made that daunting task fun. Taneyhill helped orchestrate the team’s first win over Tennessee in nearly 90 years in 1992, a famous win over Georgia in 1993, and the team’s first win over LSU in over 60 years in 1994. Taneyhill beat Clemson in both of his trips to Memorial Stadium.

The University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame honored Taneyhill with induction in 2006.

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Famously, a true freshman Taneyhill took over the starting quarterback gig midway through the 1992 season. The 0-5 Gamecocks surged under their confident signal-caller, rattling off five wins in six games to nearly reach bowl eligibility. For his efforts, Taneyhill made the Freshman All-American team, despite starting just six games.

To finish the ’92 regular season, No. 18 led South Carolina to a road win over the rival Clemson Tigers, and he did it with his patented Taneyhill flair, (almost literally) etching his name into rivalry lore.

Following a big run from running back Brandon Bennett, Taneyhill stopped at midfield to mime autographing the Tiger paw at the 50-yard line. Then, after throwing the game-sealing touchdown to Asim Penny, Taneyhill swung an imaginary baseball bat and feigned admiration of a long home run. With water bottles raining down around him, the young Gamecock triumphantly raised his arms in the air in front of the Clemson students, creating one of the most iconic photos in program history.

Taneyhill’s legacy inspired fake mullets in the stands, song lyrics that became a tailgate anthem, many an homage to his famous photo, and, more importantly, a reminder that Gamecocks never give up on the field or off of it.

Steve Taneyhill has passed away at the age of 52.

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