For fans of the University of South Carolina, the spirited cry of “Go Gamecocks!” and the catchy tune of the fight song are instantly recognizable. But beyond the cheers and garnet and black colors, have you ever stopped to consider: what exactly is a gamecock, and how did this particular bird become the symbol of the University of South Carolina? The story behind the Gamecock mascot is a rich tapestry woven with historical rivalry, regional pride, and a dash of rebellious spirit, deeply rooted in the early 20th century.
To understand why the University of South Carolina proudly adopted the Gamecock as its mascot, we need to rewind to the year 1902, a time when the rivalry with Clemson University was already fiercely contested. The annual football game against Clemson was, and remains, a significant event. In 1902, the University of South Carolina team, then the underdog, achieved a sweet victory over their in-state rivals. This triumph ignited celebrations among Carolina students, celebrations that took a symbolic, and slightly provocative, turn.
As Elizabeth West, the University Archivist, explains, the students’ jubilation involved “running around with a drawing of a gamecock crowing over a beaten tiger.” This imagery, while celebratory for Carolina fans, was not well-received by Clemson students and supporters. Despite Clemson’s own history of similar celebratory actions in previous victories, they warned Carolina students against displaying the gamecock caricature in the upcoming State Fair parade.
The Carolina-Clemson game, known as “Big Thursday,” was traditionally held during State Fair week. The day after the game featured a large parade, and despite the warnings, University of South Carolina students defiantly paraded with the drawing of the gamecock triumphing over the tiger. This act of spirited defiance escalated the tension. Clemson, then a military school, had its cadet corps participating in the parade. Following the parade, a group of around two hundred Clemson cadets marched towards the University of South Carolina campus with the intention to seize and destroy the gamecock drawing.
Upon hearing of the approaching Clemson cadets, approximately forty University of South Carolina students hastily gathered, arming themselves with knives and pistols to defend their symbol and their campus. This tense standoff, a scene almost unimaginable in modern university life, unfolded on Sumter Street. University officials and local police intervened to de-escalate the volatile situation. In a rather symbolic resolution, students from both universities were persuaded to burn the drawing of the gamecock and the tiger together, effectively ending the immediate conflict, though certainly not the rivalry.
While the immediate aftermath saw the cancellation of the annual Carolina-Clemson football game for the next six years, the incident inadvertently cemented a lasting legacy for the University of South Carolina: the Gamecock mascot. As West notes, “after that incident, the newspapers started reporting on us as the Gamecocks, particularly in coverage of the incident and the name stuck.” The image of the feisty gamecock resonated with the public and the press, becoming synonymous with the University of South Carolina’s fighting spirit.
But why a gamecock specifically? The choice was far from arbitrary. In the early 1900s, cockfighting, though already outlawed in South Carolina in 1887, was still a widely recognized and understood cultural reference point. South Carolinians were intimately familiar with the gamecock’s inherent aggressiveness, tenacity, and fighting spirit. These were traits that resonated with the desired image of the university’s athletic teams and its students.
Furthermore, the Gamecock also carried a patriotic and historical association. Thomas Sumter, a celebrated hero of the American Revolutionary War, was famously nicknamed “The Gamecock” for his fierce and undaunted fighting style against the British. Linking the university’s mascot to a figure of such historical significance added another layer of meaning and prestige to the moniker. Thus, the “Carolina Clemson riot of 1902,” as it’s sometimes referred to, inadvertently gifted the University of South Carolina not only its mascot but also solidified the tradition of burning a paper tiger before every Carolina-Clemson football game – a symbolic echo of the 1902 incident.
While the University of South Carolina is famously known as the Gamecocks, it’s worth noting that they are not alone in adopting this mascot. Jacksonville State University in Alabama also shares the Gamecock mascot, highlighting the broader appeal of this symbol of tenacity and fighting spirit in collegiate athletics. Even the University of Delaware’s mascot, the Blue Hen, is indirectly linked to the gamecock lineage, as the Blue Hen chicken is a specific breed of American gamecock, further illustrating the historical and cultural relevance of gamecocks in American symbolism. Across continents, even the Tottenham Hotspurs, a professional soccer team in London, feature a gamecock perched on a soccer ball in their logo, showcasing the global recognition of the gamecock as a symbol of spirit and competitiveness.
The University of South Carolina’s adoption of garnet and black as its school colors predates the Gamecock mascot, though the exact origins are less definitively documented. According to Archivist West, “the colors garnet and black do precede us being gamecocks and there are no really defined documents as to how that came about.” The practice of classes having designated colors was common in the late 19th century, suggesting a general inclination towards school colors. Garnet and black emerged in the 1890s and quickly became associated with the university, even before the Gamecock mascot fully took hold. References to the university’s teams as “the College 9” (for baseball) or simply “the garnet and black” were common in the years leading up to the widespread adoption of the Gamecock name. The first “Garnet and Black” yearbook was published in 1899, indicating that the color combination was already firmly established as the university’s visual identity.
Even the spirited fight song, with its rallying cry of “Fighting Gamecocks lead the way,” has an interesting origin story. The tune itself was borrowed from a 1967 Broadway musical, “How now, Dow Jones.” The original song, “Step to the Rear,” was popular, and the University of South Carolina’s band director incorporated it into football game performances. Paul Dietzel, the Carolina football coach at the time, recognized its potential and penned new lyrics, transforming it into “The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way,” which officially became the university’s fight song in 1968.
In conclusion, the Gamecock mascot of the University of South Carolina is more than just a feisty bird; it’s a symbol deeply intertwined with the university’s history, its spirited rivalry with Clemson, and the enduring qualities of tenacity, courage, and fighting spirit. From a near-brawl in 1902 to becoming a beloved emblem, the Gamecock represents the University of South Carolina’s unique identity and its unwavering competitive spirit. So, the next time you hear “Go Gamecocks!”, remember the rich history and symbolism packed into that spirited cheer.
