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Former South Carolina quarterback Steve Taneyhill, who played for the Gamecocks from 1992 to 1995, has died at age 52.
The Gamecocks’ athletic department confirmed Monday that Taneyhill died overnight in his sleep, although a cause of death was not provided.
“Taneyhill was inducted into the University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006,” the Gamecocks said in a statement about his death. “He was named Sports Illustrated and Football News Freshman All-America in 1992.
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USC Steve Taneyhill mocks Clemson fans after USC beat Clemson 24-13 at Clemson in 1992. (Tim Dominick/The State/Tribune News Service)
“An exciting player, Taneyhill was known for his iconic straight hair and ‘home run swing’ after touchdown passes.”
Taneyhill led the Gamecocks to their first bowl victory in program history in 1994, his junior season at South Carolina. They defeated West Virginia in the Carquest Bowl.
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And when Taneyhill threw touchdowns, he did his famous “home run swing,” as the release said, in celebration.
A native of Altoona, Pennsylvania, Taneyhill set South Carolina records with 753 completions and 62 touchdown passes in his four seasons. He was also second with 8,782 passing yards and seventh with a completion rate of 60.5.
Taneyhill’s senior season in 1995 saw him lead the SEC in completions (261), pass attempts (389) and completion percentage (67.1) on his way to 3,094 passing yards with 29 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
University of South Carolina quarterback Steve Taneyhill drops back to pass during a 42-23 loss to the University of Georgia at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, on September 2, 1995. (Jamie Squire/All Sports)
For his performance as a star for the Gamecocks, Taneyhill was inducted into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.
To this day, Taneyhill is responsible for three of the four highest passing yard games in school history, including a 471-yard day against Mississippi State in 1995.
However, Taneyhill was never able to break into the NFL and joined the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 1997. However, he was released during the preseason and never played in the league.
He later became a high school football coach, leading his Chesterfield High to the South Carolina state title for three consecutive seasons in 2007-09.
University of South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Steve Taneyhill throws a pass during the NCAA Southeastern Conference college football game against the University of Georgia Bulldogs on September 2, 1995 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, United States. (Jamie Squire/All Sports)
South Carolina’s statement said he also purchased and operated businesses in Columbia and Spartanburg, South Carolina, after his coaching days ended.
