With Gamecock nation still riding a basketball-induced high, Gamecock football's annual Garnet and Black Spring Game saw its lowest attendance numbers in years.
Attendance fell by about 20,000 from last year's edition, which was marked by the debut of Will Muschamp's first Gamecock squad, to 12,345 fans. 2015 and 2014 also saw over 10,000 more fans each.
In anticipation of the Final Four conflict, much of the Spring Game festivities were preemptively changed. Kickoff was moved to noon to allow plenty of time between the end of the game and men's basketball's tip-off at 6 p.m. The alumni flag football game and a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new football operations center were postponed.
This year's game also fell on the same day of Camden's Carolina Cup, which draws large numbers of students, and Charleston's Cooper River Bridge Run.
Muschamp and his team acknowledged that while most of the fandom's attention is still on Dallas and Phoenix, basketball's success only makes them want to compete for championships too.
"Our guys totally embrace it," Muschamp said. "I told our guys, 'now it's time for us to do something around here with our football program."
"We're all working to get better and working to beat the East and win the state," quarterback Jake Bentley said.