South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina Gamecocks
University	University of South Carolina
Conference(s)	Southeastern Conference Conference USA [1]
NCAA	Division I / FBS
Athletic director	Ray Tanner
Location	Columbia, SC
Varsity teams	19
Football stadium	Williams-Brice Stadium
Basketball arena	Colonial Life Arena
Baseball stadium	Carolina Stadium
Other arenas	Stone Stadium (soccer) Beckham Field (softball)
Mascot	Cocky
Nickname	Gamecocks
Fight song	The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way
Colors	Garnet and Black
Homepage	GameCocksOnline.com

The University of South Carolina's 19 varsity sports teams are known as the "Gamecocks". The unique moniker is held in honor of Thomas Sumter, a South Carolina war hero who was given the name "The Carolina Gamecock" during the American Revolution for his fierce fighting tactics, regardless of his physical stature or the size of his regiment. A British General commented that Sumter "fought like a gamecock." While the men have traditionally been the Fighting Gamecocks and the women were previously the Lady Gamecocks, this distinction was discontinued in part to help eliminate gender bias in their athletic department, and to discount the oft-held misconception that their mascot is meant to honor/promote animal bloodsport in any way.

All of the University's varsity teams compete at the Division I level of the NCAA, and all but men's soccer compete in Southeastern Conference.^[2] Men's soccer competes in Conference USA because the SEC does not sponsor men's soccer. Although the University's varsity teams have won only a few national titles, many league championships and tournament titles have been won over the years.

The athletics department is supported with private money from the Gamecock Club. It was originally formed as the B.A.M. ("Buck-A-Month") Club in 1939 and 1940 to benefit the athletics programs from privately raised funds.^[3] Tim Brando of CBS Sports has said, "You won't find any more loyal fans in the country than those who follow the South Carolina Gamecocks." ^[4]

South Carolina usually calls itself simply "Carolina," "USC," or "SC" in athletics, causing occasional confusion with the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Southern California Trojans. Sports networks such as ESPN use the abbreviation "SCAR" during their coverage of Gamecocks sports.

Conference history

The University of South Carolina was a member of the Southern Conference for men's basketball and football from 1922 until it became a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1953. The Gamecocks left the ACC in 1971, following numerous disputes over the ACC's recruiting regulations and the political dominance of the conference's four North Carolina schools.^[5] USC then competed as an independent until 1983 when it joined the Metro Conference for all sports except football (which the Metro did not sponsor) and men's soccer. In 1991, the Gamecocks joined the Southeastern Conference when it increased its membership to 12 schools and split into two divisions. Since joining the SEC, the Gamecocks have been part of the league's Eastern Division. Men's soccer continued to compete as an independent since the SEC does not sponsor men's soccer, but joined the Metro Conference for the 1993 and 1994 seasons and has competed in Conference USA since 2005.^[2]

Rivalries

Carolina's foremost rival is Clemson University. The two institutions are separated by just over 125 miles (201 km) and have been bitter rivals since Clemson's founding in 1889. A heated rivalry continues to this day for a variety of reasons, including the historic tensions regarding their respective charters along with the passions surrounding their athletic programs. The annual Carolina-Clemson football game is the longest uninterrupted series in the South and the third longest uninterrupted series overall, first played in 1896 (four years after South Carolina's inaugural season), and played every year since 1909.^[6] Their baseball programs consistently qualify for the NCAA playoffs and frequently earn berths to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.

Carolina continues to develop rivalries with other members of the SEC's Eastern Division. Carolina's main SEC rival has been the University of Georgia due to its proximity and the many years of competition before the Gamecocks joined the SEC. The "Halloween Game" against the University of Tennessee has the potential to be a big football game every year, and a rivalry has been brewing with the University of Florida since the Gamecocks hired Steve Spurrier, Florida's former head football coach.

When South Carolina was a member of the ACC (1953-1971), there was an intense rivalry with the University of North Carolina, particularly in basketball, since Frank McGuire had coached UNC but moved to Columbia to coach the Gamecocks. The rivalry was renewed in football during the 2007 season, with the Gamecocks defeating the Tar Heels 21-15.

School colors

The official school colors are garnet and black. The colors of garnet and black were chosen by the family of Dr. J. William Flinn when they presented a banner composed of those colors to the football team in November 1895, although there was no definite act of adoption of the colors.^[7]

Championships

The Gamecocks have won eight national team championships: 2010 & 2011 National Championships in baseball, 2005 & 2007 National Championships in women's equestrian, 2005-2007 Hunt Seat National Championships in women's equestrian, and 2002 NCAA championship in women's track & field. Also, the men's and women's track & field teams have produced many NCAA individual champions, world championship medalists, and Olympic medalists. The men's baseball and basketball teams have also produced Olympic medalists. Other significant accomplishments include 2010 SEC Eastern Division Champions in football, 2005 NCAA runner-up in women's track & field, NCAA runner-up four times in baseball (1975, 1977, 2002, 2012), 1993 NCAA runner-up in men's soccer, and 2005 & 2006 NIT championships in men's basketball, and a Heisman Trophy winner (George Rogers, 1980).

Teams

Football

The South Carolina Gamecocks football team represents the University of South Carolina (USC) in the sport of American football. The Gamecocks compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Steve Spurrier is the current head coach, and the team plays its home games at Williams-Brice Stadium, the 20th largest stadium in college football.

Basketball

The South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Southeastern Conference. The program attained national prominence under hall of fame coach Frank McGuire, posting a 205-65 record and three NCAA Sweet 16 appearances from 1967-1976. The Gamecocks won the 1970 ACC championship, 1971 ACC Tournament, and the 1997 SEC championship. South Carolina also won Southern Conference titles in 1927, 1933, 1934, and 1945. Most recently, the Gamecocks won the NIT in 2005 and 2006 and claimed a share of the 2009 SEC Eastern division title. South Carolina plays at the 18,000-seat Colonial Life Arena.

Baseball

The South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college baseball. South Carolina has posted 29 NCAA Tournament appearances, 11 College World Series berths, and two National Championships: 2010 and 2011. Since joining the Southeastern Conference in 1992, the team has competed in the Eastern division. Chad Holbrook is the current head coach. This follows a string of three consecutive appearances in the national championship series, including two consecutive national championships. Between 2010 and 2012 the Gamecocks set two NCAA records for postseason success: the most consecutive NCAA tournament wins (22) and the most consecutive wins in the College World Series (12).^{[citation needed]} The team plays its home games at Carolina Stadium, which opened on February 21, 2009.^[10]

Soccer

The South Carolina Gamecocks men's soccer team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in Conference USA. The team has been coached by Mark Berson since its inception in 1978 and has participated in 20 NCAA Tournaments, reaching the quarterfinals on four occasions. Since 1981, South Carolina has played its home games at Stone Stadium, which is affectionately called "The Graveyard" by South Carolina fans due to an adjoining cemetery.

See also

• South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball
• South Carolina Gamecocks softball
• South Carolina Gamecocks women's soccer
• South Carolina Gamecocks men's tennis
• South Carolina Gamecocks women's tennis
• South Carolina Gamecocks men's track and field
• South Carolina Gamecocks women's track and field
• South Carolina Gamecocks volleyball

References

Notes

v t e University of South Carolina Academics University of South Carolina School of Law Moore School of Business Palmetto Health Richland University of South Carolina Press Athletics Teams South Carolina Gamecocks Clemson rivalry Men's Sports Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Tennis Track & Field Women's Sports Basketball Soccer Softball Tennis Track & Field Volleyball Facilities Williams-Brice Stadium Colonial Life Arena Carolina Stadium Stone Stadium People Mark Berson Curtis Frye Chad Holbrook Frank Martin Steve Spurrier Dawn Staley Ray Tanner Campus The Horseshoe Currell College Melton Memorial Observatory South Carolina Institute of Anthropology and Archaeology W. Gordon Belser Arboretum Koger Center for the Arts Student life Cocky The Daily Gamecock WUSC-FM Student Gamecock Television (SGTV) The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way We Hail Thee Carolina Mighty Sound of the Southeast Five Points Congaree Vista Riverbanks Zoo Lake Murray Miscellaneous Notable Gamecocks Presidents Board of Trustees History of the University Clariosophic Euphradian S.C.C. Cadets

v t e Southeastern Conference Eastern Division Florida Gators Georgia Bulldogs Kentucky Wildcats Missouri Tigers South Carolina Gamecocks Tennessee Volunteers Vanderbilt Commodores Western Division Alabama Crimson Tide Arkansas Razorbacks Auburn Tigers LSU Tigers and Lady Tigers Ole Miss Rebels Mississippi State Bulldogs Texas A&M Aggies Former members Sewanee Tigers (1932–1940) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1932–1964) Tulane Green Wave (1932–1966) Championships and awards National championships Conference champions Media SEC Network SEC on CBS SEC TV

v t e Sports teams based in South Carolina Baseball CL: Myrtle Beach Pelicans SAL: Charleston RiverDogs Greenville Drive CPL: Columbia Blowfish Florence Red Wolves Basketball ABA: South Carolina Warriors PBL: Pee Dee Vipers TRBL: PrimeTime Players Hockey ECHL: Greenville Road Warriors South Carolina Stingrays Roller derby WFTDA: Columbia Quadsquad Greenville Derby Dames Lowcountry Highrollers Soccer USL Pro: Charleston Battery NPSL: Myrtle Beach FC FC Carolina Discoveries College athletics (NCAA Division I) Charleston Cougars Charleston Southern Buccaneers The Citadel Bulldogs Clemson Tigers Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Furman Paladins Presbyterian Blue Hose South Carolina Gamecocks South Carolina State Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs USC Upstate Spartans Winthrop Eagles Wofford Terriers