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null [1243]
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how USuck REALLY became known as the gamecocks
Sep 9, 2004, 10:30 PM
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heres a post from earlier i thought yall might like. a clemson fan asked the first question, followed by a coot response. then i dropped a lil history lesson on 'em for free.
USuCk makes fun of our Agricultural heritage, yet their mascot is a chicken?
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Well, Gamecocks, the bird, has very little to do with Agriculture. You really wouldn't want them around other barnyard birds...they are pretty belligerent and are trained for fighting. Also, Thomas Sumter, Revolutionary War general, was nicknamed The Fighting Gamecock, because he was a very fierce fighter. Again, very little to do with Agriculture.
We pick on y'all for being an Agricultural school, well, because that it your schools heritage. I believe it was Clemson A&M College until the mid-60s. Absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, it's just a way of poking fun. No harm intended. Most of us do realize that Clemson is much more than an agricultural university.
Tried for a serious explanation. Hope this answers your question.
Rogue
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actually, yall are not named the gamecocks because of Thomas Sumter. The name was originated around, i believe 1908 (or sometime very close), by a furman student at halftime of the Furman vs SC game. He fashioned a feather pillow into a chicken-like shape and ran across the field plucking feathers from the field yelling, "poor little gamecocks" as they are getting beaten by Furman. I read this in a book written by a University of South Carolina professor on the history of the south carolina vs Clemson rivalry. (its on the first floor of the Clemson library if you want to check it out)
That Thomas Sumter thing sure did sound good though.
GO TIGERS!!!
P.S. yall used to be called the Jaguars...now you're the #####. Well...at least its original.
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110%er [6589]
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Better reread your coloring book....
Sep 9, 2004, 10:49 PM
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The reasons USC athletic teams originally chose their colors and the moniker "Gamecocks" are obscure.Garnet and black have always been USC's athletic colors.The "Gamecock" name appears to have taken hold in 1902.That year, USC upset Clemson, and Carolina students paraded through the streets near campus carrying a transparency that had been hanging in a local tobacco store window.The transparency had been drawn by USC mathematics Professor F. Horton Colcock.Clemson fans could not help noticing that the transparency featured the image of a gamecock standing over a fallen tiger.Violence nearly ensued before calm was restored and the crowds dispersed.Two weeks later, the State newspaper began referring to the team as the "Game #####."By 1904, the two words had been joined and the name had stuck.
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Orange Blooded [2372]
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Well, that's a poor reason...but it's still better than
Sep 9, 2004, 10:54 PM
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being named after Sumter. Everything I've ever read on the man makes him sound like a foolish, selfish, stupid gloryhound who was SC's most useless partisan in the Revolutionary War.
I will never understand why USC didn't choose "Sandlappers" or "Swamp Foxes" as a mascot.
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110%er [6589]
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Really don't think they ever chose one....
Sep 9, 2004, 10:58 PM
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The State newspaper simply provided one for them and it has stuck. I don't know whether there has ever been any serious consideration to change it. It's different, I kinda of like it for that reason alone. But "Swamp Foxes" would also be unique.
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Orange Blooded [2372]
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I think it's probably too late for "Swamp Foxes" now anyway
Sep 9, 2004, 10:59 PM
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doesn't somebody else have that one now?
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110%er [6589]
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I think Frances Marion College may. Not really sure, though***
Sep 9, 2004, 11:07 PM
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All-TigerNet [11161]
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It's been FMU for many years now ******
Sep 9, 2004, 11:08 PM
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110%er [6589]
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Oops. No offense to FMU alums intended.***
Sep 9, 2004, 11:11 PM
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Aficionado [118]
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null [1243]
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Re: Better reread your coloring book....
Sep 9, 2004, 10:56 PM
[ in reply to Better reread your coloring book.... ] |
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So, it wasnt derived from Thomas Sumter then??? anyways...i remember reading that also. that transparency was what started the riot that stopped the series for a few years. i know that the transparency had that on it. Like i said, this "coloring book" was written by a USC professor, i was getting my info from him. Either way, they went from jaguars to gamecocks, c'mon.
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110%er [6589]
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Re: Better reread your coloring book....
Sep 9, 2004, 11:06 PM
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That is the story from both the long time former SID at Carolina, Tom Price, who wrote a book on the rivalry and the one from Walter Edgar who wrote "South Carolina: A History." Could be wrong, but I don't know of another professor who wrote a book on the rivalry. You are right, for a few years prior to the term "Game #####" became popular they were known as the jaguars. I am glad they changed from that one.
Supposedly there has been some speculation that the transparency was inspired by Sumter, but that is pure speculation I think.
No, USC's mascot wasn't based on Sumter. Never meant to indicate that is was, just trying to make a point that "Gamecocks" have very little to do with Agriculture, either the bird or the man who was nicknamed after them. BTW, no problem. I'll admit the "coloring book" comment was over the line. Sorry about that.
Rogue
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null [1243]
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Re: Better reread your coloring book....
Sep 9, 2004, 11:11 PM
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its cool, its all in fun anyways. the reason i posted is because i have read that Sumter story on so much SCU merchandise it is crazy. every little cocky mascot figurine i see has that same story on it. i walked down there just a sec ago to find that book (i work at the library), but it was checked out. bout to look online for it for the author.
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110%er [6589]
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Usually the manner in which I've seen Thomas Sumter's name
Sep 9, 2004, 11:32 PM
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mentioned in relation to USC is simply pointing out that his nickname was The Fighting Game #### along with mentioning the popularity of the sport of #### fighting in South Carolina to establish the long history of gamecocks in SC.
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null [1243]
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Re: Better reread your coloring book....
Sep 9, 2004, 11:25 PM
[ in reply to Re: Better reread your coloring book.... ] |
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John Chandler Griffin was the author. Think he was a USC aiken or one of those satellite campus professors.
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110%er [6589]
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Hmm, I'll get that one..I've never read or heard about it.
Sep 9, 2004, 11:28 PM
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Thanks.
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null [1243]
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Re: Hmm, I'll get that one..I've never read or heard about it.
Sep 9, 2004, 11:41 PM
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hes done a bunch of southern rivalries. GT-UGA, Auburn-Alabama (i believe)...i just did a google on his name and saw a bunch of his stuff. heres a quote from the first game account:
It was Thursday, November 12, 1896, during State Fair week, when spectators were introduced to the latest in entertainment -- a college football match. This historic match would feature the Tigers from Clemson Agricultural College versus the Jaguars from South Carolina College. The game was played on the infield of the horse race track. Admission was twenty-five cents. Some 2,000 fans packed the grandstand, waving banners, beating drums and sporting their school colors. The State newspaper later reported, "the din from the students' yells and horns sounded as if the inmates from an insane asylum had broken loose". All in all it was a grand beginning for what would become an integral part of the history of South Carolina, as well as one of the finest rivalries in the nation, one that continues to this day.
pretty cool huh
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110%er [6589]
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Re: Hmm, I'll get that one..I've never read or heard about it.
Sep 9, 2004, 11:47 PM
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Yep. Pretty cool. If it was like an insane asylum then, I would hate to see how they would describe it today. I still love it that they called it a "match."
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null [1243]
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Re: Hmm, I'll get that one..I've never read or heard about it.
Sep 9, 2004, 11:50 PM
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i love how they still call it a rivalry.
sorry, that was too easy, u set urself up for that one.
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110%er [6589]
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Touche' I tend to do that quite often. :)***
Sep 9, 2004, 11:53 PM
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null [1243]
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Re: Touche' I tend to do that quite often. :)***
Sep 9, 2004, 11:59 PM
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easy to do 
aight, quittin time. think i might head down to TTT for a pabst. nice talkin with ya. see ya in november.
GO TIGERS!!!
P.S. (63-17)
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null [194]
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John Chandler Griffin is/was Professor Emeritus of....
Sep 9, 2004, 11:58 PM
[ in reply to Re: Better reread your coloring book.... ] |
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English at USC at Lancaster. His book is called Carolina vs Clemson - Clemson vs Carolina, A Century of Unparalleled Rivalry In College Foorball. It was copywrited in 1998. I have a copy and it is pretty interesting. The 1902 story about the Furman student and the pillow is accurate. By the way, Carolina was known as SCC back then, South Carolina College.
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Aficionado [159]
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Re: Better reread your coloring book....
Sep 11, 2004, 12:43 AM
[ in reply to Better reread your coloring book.... ] |
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Now tell us why lamecocok fans have no teeth and inbreed a lot. What's the history behind that?
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