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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 no cause of death was provided.
“Taneyhill was inducted into the University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006,” the Gamecocks said in a statement about his passing. “He was named Sports Illustrated and Football News Freshman All-America Freshman of the Year in 1992.
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USC Steve Taneyhill taunts 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 signature mullet hair and his ‘home run’ after touchdown passes.”
Taneyhill led the Gamecocks to its first-ever bowl victory in program history in 1994, his junior season at South Carolina. They beat 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 put it, to celebrate.
A native of Altoona, Pa., Taneyhill notched South Carolina records with 753 completions and 62 passing touchdowns during his four seasons. He also finished second with 8,782 passing yards and seventh with a 60.5 completion rate.
Taneyhill’s senior season in 1995 saw him lead the SEC in completions (261), pass attempts (389) and completion percentage (67.1) en route 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, September 2, 1995. (Jamie Squire/Allsport)
For his performance as a star for the Gamecocks, Taneyhill was later inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.
To date, 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.
Taneyhill never managed to break into the NFL, however, joining the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 1997. However, he was released during the preseason and never played once in the league.
He then became a high school football coach, leading his Chesterfield High to the South Carolina state title for three straight seasons in 2007-09.
University of South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Steve Taneyhill throws a downfield 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/Allsport)
The South Carolina declaration says he also purchased and operated businesses in Columbia and Spartanburg, South Carolina, after his coaching days ended.
