Students, staff cope with conflicting loyalties
When you’re standing in Williams-Brice Stadium, cheering on the Gamecocks with 80,250 of your best friends, it’s easy to forget that not everyone in the stadium grew up loving garnet and black.
If you look around the stadium this Saturday night, you will see a strip of bright orange in the far corner of the stands. But you’ll also see spots of orange and purple intermixed with the students, and those spots represent the students at USC who grew up as Clemson fans.
For Sara Grace Bailey, a graduate student in the USC masters of mass communications program, wearing orange on Saturday will be a no-brainer.
“I’ll definitely be rooting for Clemson. I can’t ignore 22 years of being a fan,” Bailey said.
Bailey graduated from Clemson with an undergraduate degree last May and came to USC for graduate school. She said she was raised a Clemson fan and misses seeing orange everywhere, especially during the week leading up to the big game.
“It’s been different. I’m used to going to Cocky’s Funeral and all the events Clemson has,” Bailey said. “It’s interesting to see the different events that take place during the week and also how the events are similar.”
Anna Edwards, director of Student Services, also completed her undergraduate degree at Clemson. She said she chose to attend USC for graduate school to be closer to her future husband. She arrived in Columbia the night of Tigerburn.
“That was my first USC experience, and I felt like I’d be here for two years and then be on my way. But I just really loved being at USC and loved Columbia and had a great experience here,” Edwards said.
Normally, Edwards’ Clemson background doesn’t pose a problem at work in Gamecock country, but she said this week is the hardest.
“Most days it’s not a big deal, but this week is when it’s most pronounced,” Edwards said. “I do have a little orange in my office, and it makes for interesting conversations when students come talk to me.”
As for who she’ll root for on Saturday, Edwards said she will definitely be wearing garnet.
“I love the University of South Carolina, and I love Clemson, too. But I work here and support the students here,” Edwards said.
For McKenzie Crocker, growing up a Clemson fan wasn’t a choice. She said after her grandfather played football for Clemson, the entire Crocker family became hardcore Tiger fans.
“My sister was in a paintball accident when she was 11 and had her eye removed,” said the third-year hospitality management student. “She now has a fake eye with a Clemson paw instead of a pupil.”
Despite her family’s devotion to all things orange, Crocker said she decided to attend USC for its international business program.
“I completely support Carolina when it comes to football. But when it comes to playing Clemson, I’m a Clemson fan through and through, and my heart belongs to Clemson,” Crocker said. “Honestly, I’ll be happy either way because my life doesn’t revolve around football. But at the games I wear orange and purple.”
Bailey said she thinks it’s good to see the rivalry from both points of view, but ultimately, her heart will always be tiger-striped.
“Growing up in South Carolina, you pick a team when you’re born, and I don’t know many people who change,” Bailey said.