Columbia gamedays are an event that almost all South Carolina fans rally around. For those getting ready to experience their first football game, get ready for a day unlike any other. Most southern schools have their own unique and special traditions, and South Carolina is no different.
Tailgating
Tailgating is huge in Columbia on gamedays. Even for noon games, almost everyone is up early, eating good food and gathering with friends and family outside of the stadium. On those insanely hot days to start the season and those cold nights to finish the year, fans still love being out all day to get pumped for the game.
Dress up
When you go to a football game, you would normally just wear your team’s jersey or T-shirt; that’s not the case for Southern colleges. For gameday, almost all students dress up in garnet and black to cheer on the Gamecocks. Girls are normally in black sundresses and cowboy boots, while boys sport a South Carolina polo, or button down when it finally gets cooler, and khakis. Some people go with a jersey or T-shirt, but these are usually the best options to beat the infamous Columbia heat.
2001
South Carolina has been named as having one of the most exciting entrances in college football. As the football team gathers in the tunnel, the beginning of “2001: A Space Odyssey” starts playing throughout the stadium and the crowd gets more pumped. The excitement matches the song, and, at the peak, the football team runs onto the stadium, making all fans that much more excited for kickoff.
Sandstorm
Another moment to get the crowd fired up is when “Sandstorm” blasts throughout Williams-Brice. It plays after the team takes the field and every time the Gamecocks score. Students take their white towels and wave them around, chanting “USC” to the beat of the song. It’s a great way to get everyone ready for kickoff and keep the energy up after a touchdown or field goal.
Students need to make sure to get to their section early, though, because as the clock ticks down, the student section fills up and everyone grabs their towel. And no one wants to do “spurs up” as everyone else is waving their towels around. Also, try not to hit your neighbor with the towel.
Forever to thee
Just as South Carolina has their own special entrance, the end of the game is memorable as well. The team, gathered on the field facing the crowd, sings the alma mater along with the fans, and everyone finishes together with their hands raised, “Forever to thee.” Win or lose, it’s the perfect way to end a fun gameday and celebrate the love of the Gamecocks.
Gameday is like Christmas for a college football fan or student; you wake up all excited to see what happens, and everyone has their own traditions as to how the day will play out. Christmas comes Sept. 17 for Gamecock fans, and these traditions will be back ready for another year in Williams-Brice.