COLUMBIA – Nathan Pepper remembers it as if it were yesterday.

During the defensive tackle’s freshman season in 2005, his University of South Carolina football team defeated the University of Florida 30-22 at Williams-Brice Stadium.

For the former Greenville High School standout, it was a good way to begin his college football career.

“That is probably the most impressive thing I had been a part of, just having come out of high school,” Pepper said. “It was also fun to help (USC) Coach (Steve) Spurrier get that win over his old team.”

The next season the Gamecocks traveled to Gainesville, Fla. and again appeared headed to a Southeastern Conference victory. But USC’s last-second field goal attempt was blocked, allowing the Gators to escape with a 17-16 victory.

The series has not been competitive since then with Florida claiming a 51-31 victory in 2007 in Columbia, then walloping the Gamecocks 56-6, in Gainesville, Fla., last season.

“Those first two years we kind of came out and hurt them,” Pepper said. “I can’t really tell you what has been missing during the last two years.”

Florida has hurt the Gamecocks the past two years, helping to contribute to what fans have termed the Gamecock November swoon.

“It is definitely tough to hear,” Pepper said. “It has kind of become a seasonal thing, every other year since I have been here. You hear it because it comes from the people who watch you. I don’t think it affects us a lot, but it is kind of tough to hear.”

Carolina (6-4, including 3-4 in the SEC) opened November this season with a 33-16 loss at Arkansas and has lost three of its last four games. A win against the No. 1-ranked Gators on Saturday would do much to heal the swoon barbs, but Pepper acknowledges it won’t be easy.

“Their passing attack may not be as potent as in the past,” Pepper said. “But they are winning, getting it done and scoring on a consistent basis.

“They probably don’t have that guy like (wide receiver Percy) Harvin (now with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings) who can make that big play, but they have found ways to get it done.”

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