When Shane Beamer accepted the University South Carolina job last December, he recalled his days as Steve Spurrier’s assistant and the big wins and raucous atmosphere when the Gamecocks were rolling.

The first-year head coach got his first true taste of that with Spurrier in the building as the Gamecocks routed Florida 40-17 on Saturday night.

First-time starter Jason Brown threw for two touchdowns, Kevin Harris and Zaquandre White each rushed for over 100 yards and South Carolina’s defense held the potent Gators’ attack to just 82 yards rushing.

“I remember days and nights like this,” when he was here from 2007-2010 as the Gamecocks won their only SEC Eastern Division in that final season, Beamer told uscsports.com.

“We’re not there yet,” Beamer cautioned. “We’re still a work in progress, but we took a big step tonight.”

A year after going 2-8 and coming off a 30-point loss two weeks ago to Texas A&M, South Carolina (5-4, 2-4) moved within a victory of clinching a bowl berth in Beamer’s first year. The Gamecocks close out the season with a “Tiger” schedule - three games against teams who adopt that mascot.

They travel to Missouri this Saturday, followed by two straight home games against Auburn at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 and archrival Clemson Nov. 27.

Despite having a first-time SEC starting quarterback in Jason Brown, South Carolina’s offense dominated the Gators. The Gamecocks were the first team to outgain them 459-340.

Brown, who last played at Football Championship Subdivision school St. Francis, steadily led South Carolina on five first-half scoring drives for a 30-10 lead at the break.

He looked like an SEC veteran as he filled in for Zeb Noland, who continued his recovery from knee surgery last week. He threw for 175 passing yards and two touchdowns.

“Just like that, I was the next guy up,” Brown said. “At this level, there’s no excuses, you’ve got to be ready to play.”

The Gamecocks’ running game was also effective. Kevin Harris rushed for 128 yards in his best game this season following off-season back surgery and Zaquandre White added 111 yards.

SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week Parker White had a career-best four field goals and defensive tackle Jabari Ellis had an 18-yard fumble recovery touchdown to put South Carolina up 30-10 at halftime.

Saturday’s game against Missouri starts at 4 p.m. and will air on the SEC Network.