The 2015 South Carolina football team will display a logo sticker on its helmets to honor the victims of the June 17 Charleston shooting. The sticker will be debuted on the helmet in the season opener Thursday against North Carolina.
The 'Emanuel 9' of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church shooting will be honored because of the close bond between South Carolina schools, according to Athletics Director Ray Tanner.
"The tragedy that happened in Charleston doesn’t just affect people in Charleston; it affects the entire state," Tanner said. "We feel very much a part of that at the university. Coach Steve Spurrier and University President Harris Pastides felt very strongly that the ‘Emanuel 9’ should be recognized.”
Artist Gil Shuler from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina created the new design of the Palmetto tree. The design uses nine doves to make up the top half of the tree, representing the nine victims. The sticker will also be displayed in garnet.
Per the artist's request, the sticker will not be sold for his own profit but any financial profits will be donated to the Charleston church.