| The football team of the The University of South | | | | that there are probably no fans that are more loyal |
| Carolina is represented by the South Carolina | | | | than South Carolina Gamecock fans. |
| Gamecocks. Known as the Gamecocks, the team has | | | | The University of South Carolina formed its first |
| been called simply "Carolina" for many years. They | | | | football team in 1892. Their first-ever game was in |
| are a member of the NCAA Division I college football | | | | Charleston on Christmas Eve and they played against |
| and compete in the Eastern Division of the | | | | Furman. At that time when American football was |
| Southeastern Conference since 1992. The | | | | not yet recognized as a professional sport nor was it |
| Gamecocks currently play their home games in the | | | | that popular nationwide, the Carolina football team |
| Williams-Brice Stadium. Their latest head coach is | | | | was not yet sanctioned by the University. Because |
| Steve Spurrier. | | | | of this, the team had to pay for their own train fare |
| Traditionally, USC sports teams were named the | | | | going to Charleston, as well as purchase their own |
| Fighting Gamecocks for men's teams and Lady | | | | uniforms. The News and Courier nicknamed them the |
| Gamecocks for women's teams but this distinction | | | | "College Boys" and their fans and supporters wore |
| was later dropped. The official colors of the USC | | | | black and garnet when watching a game. The team |
| Gamecocks are black and garnet. Some team's | | | | lost their first game mainly because of their lack of |
| merchandise also have the color gold, representing | | | | training and inexperience. |
| the spurs of gamecocks during cockfights. The family | | | | In the third season in 1985, Carolina won their first |
| of Dr. J. William Flinn chose the colors garnet and | | | | game against Columbia AA. They also got their first |
| black when they presented a banner to the football | | | | head coach, which was W.H. "Dixie" Whaley. In the |
| team sometime in November 1895. A little after 1900, | | | | 1896 season, they played the inaugural game in |
| there was an attempt t change the team's colors. | | | | November 12 against their archrival Clemson. Carolina |
| But there was no definite adoption. | | | | won that game with a 12-6 record. |
| The Gamecock Club supports the team's athletic | | | | In the 1906 season, the school's Board of Trustees |
| department with private money. Originally, the club | | | | banned the team's participation after the faculty |
| was called "Buck-A-Month" (B.A.M.) Club, formed in | | | | protested against the foul chants that students yelled |
| 1939. It was a fund-raiser solely for the benefit of | | | | during football games. The board had to reverse its |
| the athletics programs. Today, according to the SEC | | | | decision, however, after the students and alumni |
| the Gamecock Club USC ranks eighth place (out of | | | | harassed them with petition after petition. In 1907, |
| twelve) when it came to raising funds for the team. | | | | the Gamecocks were back in the game. The team |
| The Gamecocks have won a number of league | | | | was hastily put together and competed an |
| championships over the years. The Gamecocks also | | | | abbreviated season, but ended up winning all three |
| have a strong following and wide fan-base. A | | | | games that they played. |
| reporter for CBS Sports, Tim Brando, commented | | | | |