South Carolina Gamecocks Football - Gamecock Traditions

Gamecock Traditions

• "Fighting Gamecock Logo – South Carolina's helmet, regardless of color, has featured a fighting gamecock since 1969. This bird, which includes metal spurs, is usually featured inside the often maligned Block C but is also becoming more common by itself. Either way, the fighting gamecock logo is still one of the most unique and recognizable in all of college sports.

• "2001" Entrance – The Gamecocks' enter Williams-Brice Stadium to the introduction of "Also sprach Zarathustra", which is popularly known for the inclusion of its introduction in the Stanley Kubrick film, "2001: A Space Odyssey". This tradition began, on a consistent basis, in 1983. It was an immediate hit with South Carolina fans and has long been considered one of the most exciting, and loudest, entrances in college football. Sporting News has called it "the most exciting pre-game entry in college football."

• "Carolina" and "Gamecocks" on Jersey – South Carolina has featured the script "Carolina" and "Gamecocks" on the front of its jersey, intermittently, since coach Jim Carlen's arrival in 1975. While it used "Gamecocks" for much of the 1980s and early 1990s, it has solely used "Carolina" on its jersey since the late 1990s.

• Cockaboose Railroad – In 1990, cabooses renovated in Gamecock colors and decor became part of the already famous South Carolina tailgate scene. They sit on a dormant railroad track just yards from Williams-Brice Stadium and have taken on a life of their own, in terms of parties on game days. The Cockaboose Railroad has contributed to Carolina's gameday atmosphere being named "Best in the SEC" twice by SECsports.com.

• S.C. Flag and Palmetto Tree/Crescent – Due to being South Carolina's flagship university, USC prominently displays the state flag and Palmetto Tree/Crescent logo on game days. In addition to players entering the field with the state flag during "2001," the stadium's playing surface displays garnet and white Palmetto Tree/Crescent logos, and the state flag is represented by decals on the back of players' helmets.

• "If It Ain't Swayin', Then We Ain't Playin" – Originating from a Joe Morrison comment about the reported "swaying" of the Williams-Brice Stadium upper deck during a 38-14 win over Southern California, this has become a slogan for Carolina fans, who (according to ESPN) have become some of the loudest fans in college football. "The Cockpit" has been named by ESPN as the #25 toughest place to play in college football.

• Sir Big Spur – Sir Big Spur (originally called Cocky Doodle Lou), the university's official live gamecock, attends USC football and baseball games.

• Cocky – Cocky has been the USC mascot since 1980. Cocky is the four-time "national champion," five-time "All-American" mascot & 2003 winner of the Capital One National Mascot of the Year for the Gamecocks. The "son" of Carolina's original mascot Big Spur, Cocky appears at every USC home football contest, making a "magical" appearance at the climax of the 2001 opening sequence.

• Sandstorm – The most recent tradition involves the song Sandstorm by Darude, which began to be played in October 2006. The song is played mostly when USC is the defending team, especially when they have just scored and are kicking the ball to the other team; in this case, the song is stopped when the kicker makes contact with the football. As the song is played, fans wave white and garnet towels, called "Cocky Cloths", over their heads."