Faith, football are driving passions for Gamecocks great Andrew Provence
Andrew Provence always had a fondness for South Carolina football, even if he did grow up in Georgia.
Provence was a big fan of former Gamecocks quarterback Jeff Grantz’s fu-man-chu mustache, something he tried to emulate. The Georgia native also saw the way the Gamecocks continued to recruit his older brother Jerome when other big schools backed off after his brother suffered a season-ending injury as a high school senior.
Jerome Provence ended up at USC and was a blocker on the offensive line for future Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers. A few years later, Andrew Provence committed to the Gamecocks, and his brother became the program’s strength and conditioning coach.
“We drove back and forth from Savannah to Columbia so many times,” Andrew Provence said Monday before getting inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame. “I grew to love the campus, coaching staff.
“Williams-Brice Stadium was one of the best atmospheres in college football and continues to be that way. I loved playing football for the Gamecocks.”
Provence was a standout on the USC defensive line from 1980-82 and still ranks No. 2 all-time in tackles (401) for the Gamecocks and sacks (26). He left as the school’s single-season sack leader but was later passed by Jadeveon Clowney in 2012.
Provence was elected into the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010 and was the Gamecocks’ representative in the Southeastern Conference legends class that year. He was inducted into S.C. Athletic Hall of Fame on Monday.
Off the field, two life-changing events happened while he was at USC. Provence met his wife Angie, a Brookland-Cayce High graduate. The two recently celebrated their 43rd anniversary and have nine children and 19 grandchildren.
In college, Provence became a born-again Christian, a decision that helped shape his path after his playing days were over.
Provence was a third-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1983 NFL Draft and made the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie team during his first season after registering 33 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He battled injuries and his six-year NFL career ended with the Denver Broncos in 1988.
Provence admitted Monday that he played through a lot just so he didn’t lose this role on the team. When his playing career ended, Provence leaned on his faith to help him deal with realization that his playing career was over and that there was more to life outside of football.
“My new-found faith in God is what helped me deal with injuries and who I was as a person and how to move on in life,” Provence said. “Prior to that, my identity was all about what was on the football field and I had to learn there was much more in life.”
Provence became an ordained minister and was involved as a counselor before becoming involved in Athletes in Action where he has served for more than a decade. Athletes in Action has been around since 1966 and provides chaplain services for professional teams but also helps athletes on college campuses grow in their faith.
Provence, who now lives outside of Atlanta, worked with the Georgia State football program for a decade, including the time when current USC tight ends coach Shawn Elliott was a head coach there.
“It has been very fulfilling,” Provence said. “The entire direction of my life was changed because of a spiritual influence upon me in college. To have a chance to have an impact on others, nothing could I think of that is better than that.”
