South Carolina: Tales from Tailgating
Sitting in the press box at Columbia's Williams-Brice Stadium, one is naturally overwhelmed when they see line after line of cars streamed across the South Carolina State Fairgrounds. Tailgating was its own carnival of sorts, and sitting amongst friends of mine, the smell of the gril and the sounds of football were in the air.
Mike and Katy Simmons are not only great friends, but avid SEC football fans. Mike comes from a long generation of proud UGA fans, while Katy is a diehard Razorback fan. However, today, she was sporting Bulldog gear, as we all mingled with UGA and Carolina fans hours before kickoff.
About once a minute, you could hear the chants of 'GAME...COCKS"...and "GO COCKS!", followed by the sounds of Georgia fans answering with barks and howls.
"We're gonna stomp the Bulldogs, baby!" shouted a USC fan as he walked by. "Spurrier's taking us ALL..THE..WAY!"
"It's over!" yelled another Gamecock fan. "Pack up and head home Bulldogs...don't even show up. This one is in the bag!"
Mike, however, had a totally different opinion.
"It's going to be a bloodbath," he said. "No doubt about it. UGA is gonna stomp 'em."
Sitting next to the Simmons' tent were Symmes and Casey Johnson, both originally from Anderson, S.C. Although the two are sisters, Symmes is a current Georgia student and proud Bulldog. As she sported a bright red dress with a Georgia "G" painted on her check, her sister Casey was decked in Carolina black, having decided to stay within state boundaries and attend South Carolina.
"I like Georgia," Casey said, "but I just liked South Carolina a lot better. I just didn't want to go to Georgia."
The consistent shouting between fans continued towards the stadium, as the intensity has yet to let up since early this afternoon. Even now, boos are cascading through the stadium when UGA's band plays a note. You have to love it though; this is what SEC football is all about. Expect one incredible game tonight here in Columbia!
