Anyone living outside of The Palmetto State would in no way be inclined to call South Carolina “USC”, since when most people think of USC they think of the University of Southern California, the 11 time National Champions. Southern California’s football teams have spawned such NFL greats as Mike Garrett and Keyshawn Johnson, as well as Marcus Allen, Lynn Swan, Junior Seau, Ronnie Lott, all of whom have Super Bowl rings; and even a statistics monster in the now reviled OJ Simpson.
---------- Gamecocks Crossing: Watch your step---------------
So historically, it’s no wonder that Gamecocks Football is played at the other USC. But then again, The Cockpit is on fire as we speak, and it might help to look at College Football’s rankings right now.
It’s an anomaly compared to what you would normally see in November. Oregon tops all three polls, and the rest of the Top 25 is rounded out not with the usual stalwarts, but instead by Utah, Mississippi State, Stanford, and Big 12 whipping boy Baylor. Texas, Florida, Colorado, Michigan and Southern California (that other USC) are nowhere to be found.
South Carolina, now ranked at 18 in the AP Poll knocked off #1 Bama a few weeks ago, bolstering their argument; right after the Gamecocks beat a solid, nationally ranked Georgia in the weeks prior. Carolina fans would not say they are at all surprised.
In early summer, I took my first trip down to South Carolina right before the Gamecocks domination of UCLA in the College World Series. The Gamecocks would go on to beat UCLA by allowing only two runs in two games after setting the playoff season aflame, torching rival Clemson and knocking out #1 seed Arizona State in their first game, 11-4.
But since this was June, grilling season was in full swing, and in more ways than one. I got to kick off the weekend listening to Cousin Scott jab his brother, Newton, an esteemed Air Force officer, about how Scott’s Carolina beat up on Newton’s nearby alma mater, The Citadel. I got the full story from the locals on their version of why Carolina Football is changing the SEC, and a short history of the Rise and Fall of Clemson Football, a former Roman-style empire of sorts.
Trash talk was rife while smells of barbeque filled the air as Uncle PJ grilled a large, whole pig on the hot irons. For me, the combination of these two things were absolutely wonderful.
Gamecocks like grilling pigs and some Georgia dogs too.
I’ve said before that SEC sports fans, particularly football fans, have a tendency to talk trash. And they do it with such refined poise –maybe it is hospitality and Southern manners—that heighten the stakes of the upcoming came without being rude or obnoxious. Maybe more to the point, SEC Football fans have a fervor unmatched in any sport, at least on this side of the Atlantic.
No disrespect to Ohio State fans at the Horseshoe, but you don’t know crazy at a football game until you’ve sat next to 60,000 screaming yahoos dressed in bright orange at a Tennessee game. The fans are actually what make Tennessee football the “Big Orange”.
But maybe things are changing in the SEC. It has only been since 1992 that the Gamecocks have moved into the conference. Before that, Carolina Football seemed to be, at best a fringe oufit, buried in the nestles of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) under the dominance of Clemson, Maryland, and the dirt kicked over them by that other Carolina, the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Live from Uncle Henry’s refrigerator, South Carolina Gamecocks mustard.
More notable, Gamecocks Football had lost all 8 of their sparse bowl game appearances from 1946 to 1988, against the likes of Indiana (a basketball school) and Miami University (that is, the other Miami, in Ohio). But after the 5-year mishmash of the Lou Holtz era at USC, Steve Spurrier seems to have really strengthened the program into a respectable and formidable one. As such, Carolina fans have a lot of reason to wear their Garnet and Black with pride.
If the momentum and Carolina football fans’ confidence can carry over to the boys on the field, then maybe a major bowl game is in the works.
Some might say the Gamecocks have had an easy schedule, but they just might grill a razorback, #17 Arkansas tonight.
Andy Frye writes about sports and life at MySportscomplex.blogspot.com and tweets throughout the day on Twitter at @MySportsComplex.
Grill him a Razorback, and he'll eat it.
Written words © 2010.
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