S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford ordered a USC flag to be flown above the State House Thursday “in tribute to the team’s amazing season and dominant performance over the last few days in Omaha.” The flag was flying this morning.
He also is declaring that July 1 is Gamecocks Baseball National Champions Day.
Sanford, in a news release, pointed out that the state flew the Clemson flag at the State House 30 years ago when the Tigers won a national championship.
City parade details
The city of Columbia will honor the national champion Gamecocks Friday with a parade. It begins at noon Friday on Main Street. The parade will begin at the corner of Main and Laurel Streets, travel down Main Street and end at the corner of Main and Gervais Streets. Immediately following the parade, a brief ceremony will be held to honor Coach Ray Tanner and the USC Gamecocks.
When can you get your championship gear?
Gamecock fans looking to sport the National Championship shirts and hats when the S.C. baseball team arrived in Columbia Wednesday afternoon were out of luck.
The T-shirts and hats worn by the players on the field Tuesday night after the Gamecocks won USC’s first major national championship are being printed today in California and will arrive in Columbia Thursday, Jewelry Warehouse collegiate buyer Kevin Lucas said.
Lucas said the store pre-ordered 2,600 T-shirts and 1,500 hats from a company in California, if the Gamecocks won. The company started printing Wednesday morning after the team’s extra-innings 2-1 win over UCLA close to midnight.
Sporting goods retailer Todd & Moore was overwhelmed with calls from customers Wednesday morning and was expecting that T-shirt on Wednesday afternoon at the Gervais Street store.
The supply probably won’t last long enough to ship any shirts to the O’Neil Court store, vice president Tim Robertson said.
Staff reports
Extra, extra!
On Sunday, look for a commemorative section celebrating the USC championship season inside The State newspaper.
Thursday, we’ll have commemorative posters. Look for details on how to purchase them at the home page of thestate.com. And later this month, look for a special edition of our magazine, GoGamecocks.
Very superstitious?
As the Gamecocks advanced through the College World Series, Kevin Lucas, 25, had to come home early from Omaha to order National Championship T-shirts for Jewelry Warehouse. His job as collegiate buyer required him to place the orders Monday and Tuesday -- before the Gamecocks clinched the title.
"I felt like I was jinxing them by special ordering," said the lifelong USC fan, who claims his first word was "Gamecock" and it's dangerous for him to listen to "Sandstorm" in the car. "My stomach was in knots."
To counterbalance the damage he had done, Lucas -- who said he is ultra-superstitious -- ate the same thing for lunch every day as the team advanced through the bracket.
"Every day, I've gone to Chick-Fil-A and ordered the spicy chicken sandwich," he said.
His efforts paid off.
"The voodoo is now off. The chicken curse is gone," he said.
Longtime coming
John and Tina Sauls drove to Columbia from Moncks Corner Wednesday morning with their two granddaughters, Mayann, 7, and Caraline, 5, just to be part of the celebration.
"This is the place to be today," John Sauls said.
Sauls, 56, a 1979 USC graduate, was at the basketball game in 1971 with his dad when the Gamecocks took the ACC championship.
Tina Sauls, 45, said the school was due for a victory like this.
"It couldn't have happened to a nicer coach and a more deserving team," she said.
Fan report: Peru
From Louisa White, in an email from South America today:
“I am an IMBA student (and undergrad alum), currently living in Lima, Peru for a summer internship. Like other fans who were not in the United States, I watched the game from my laptop. Around the third inning, my home internet started to skip and pause almost every 10 seconds. At that point, I moved to Plan B...the ever-reliable Starbucks. It was evident that mysomewhat muted screams and fist pumps aroused curiosity, since at one point, I noticed the valet attendant´s face plastered against the glass, glaring in at my computer. What an awesome night: one that I will never forget. Savor this day Columbia!
Share your celebration moment; email us at statefeatures@thestate.com
Fan report: The best birthday present ever
From David Brinkman: “I’m a USC grad and Tuesday was my 50th birthday. My wife prayed throughout the day that the spirits of my mom and dad (huge USC baseball fans -- see the attached 1997 article that appeared in The State and Spurs&Feathers) would shine down on the Gamecocks and give me a birthday to remember. At 11:57 p.m., it happened with Merrifield’s hit. My wife (Odess), son (Jeremy), and I, went wild. An hour later (sorry neighbors), we used fireworks for the 4th of July to continue the celebration.”
Fan report: Las Vegas
From Dave Easley, who lives in Irmo: “I have been at the Cisco Live 2010 Conference all week in Las Vegas. The games have overlapped our conference schedule and I haven’t been able to watch from beginning to end. But I left early yesterday to catch what I could. I stopped by one of the casino television sets and when Merrifield tagged that base hit, I jumped up and down and screamed at the top of my lungs! It got a few looks, but from time to time that happens to people in Las Vegas so it didn’t make everyone stop in their tracks! What a feeling to be a Gamecock fan ... I just hate not being able to celebrate with everyone back in Columbia! I’ve always been proud to be a Gamecock, but this was a very, very special moment in time.”
Kudos from Lindsey Graham
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham took a little time out today from the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan to congratulate the Gamecocks. Here is his statement:
“As a graduate of the University of South Carolina, I know what a historic achievement this is for the school and state. Last night’s win in the College World Series was the first men’s national championship in any sport for the university.
“The Gamecocks performance in the College World Series, and really throughout the entire Road to Omaha, was the epitome of ‘team.’ Great pitching, timely hitting, and a never-quit attitude defined this team. These young men believed in each other and have brought credit to themselves, the University of South Carolina, and our state.
“Last night’s exciting game between USC and UCLA was a fitting tribute to the last College World Series game to be played at Rosenblatt Stadium. It represented the best of college baseball and amateur athletics in general.
“Congratulations to Coach Tanner, his staff, and the players. We are very proud of their tremendous achievement.”
