Columbia, South Carolina: the University of South Carolina. The Dirty Dirty. Seersuckers and Spurrier. Five Points and The Vista. Pimiento cheese and grits. The Palmetto tree. Highway 378 and fried chicken. The SEC.
And, because the proud university’s mascot is the Gamecock, Columbia is the only city I know of where the word “cock” is acceptable by people of all ages—at nearly any place or time.
The largest city in the state, Columbia is nicknamed “The Capital City of Southern Hospitality,” and with good cause. Neighbors are quick to help each other out, and favors are the norm.
Also known as CockTown or Cockville by some, the city is diverse in its offerings, giving a home to kayaking enthusiasts, sports and music fans, theater lovers, art aficionados, and museum and natural history buffs.
Two hours from the beach or the mountains, three hours to Atlanta, and four hours to Florida, Columbia is also nicely situated for traveling in the southeast.
But really, Columbia can be boiled down to three things: family, food, and football. And usually, all three are celebrated at the same time, especially in the fall when college football season gets going.
With the way the SEC is scheduled, each year the Gamecocks face off against the Florida Gators in the final SEC game of the season for both teams. And it’s that game that Gamecock fans point to at the beginning of the year.
One year, not long from now, that game will send the Gamecocks to Atlanta.
And it will go like this:
Both teams will enter the game with one conference loss. The Mighty Gators will come to Columbia riding high on all kinds of press and media hype. Urban Meyer’s championship rings will be freshly polished prior to the game.
Meanwhile, the lowly Gamecocks will come in with a chip on their shoulders after being considered a “fluke” by the experts. But the Head Ball Coach will have a few tricks up his sleeve.
The fifty degree November night will be perfect.
Family and friends will gear up for the game with an assortment of fried foods, some cold beers, and the obligatory “toss the football around until it becomes a full-blown game.”
ESPN will be in town. Rumors of Spurrier’s resignation at season’s end will be all the rage. Herbstreit might even offer a name for his replacement.
And then, everything will disappear, music will pump out of the speakers, the fans will go berserk, players will head-butt each other, and like the crack of a lightning strike, the ball will be kicked off.
A 60-minute defensive battle will ensue. But fate will be on the side of the Gamecocks that night, and despite an inconsistent offensive performance, South Carolina, down five with a few minutes remaining, will march down the field.
And even though everyone knows it’s coming, the fade route to the corner of the endzone will be executed perfectly as time runs out.
Fans will rush the field.
The focus will shift to Spurrier, who won’t be able to fight back his tears after defeating his former team to earn a spot in the SEC Championship game. His post-game interview with Erin Andrews will be legendary.
And all across Columbia, the celebration will roll on for years…told again and again over lunch after church, at the Spring barbeque on the back porch, after father and son finish the yardwork together on a blazing summer afternoon.
Yes, sir. That’s how we do it in the Dirty South.
This tribute to Columbia is in response to Chris Radez’s “My Town Rocks” series.
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3 months ago
Don't forget Drake's Duck In, Zesto's, and Vella's.
3 months ago
Tate,
Zesto's is pretty darn solid. I take it you are familiar with Columbia?
3 months ago
Very nice writeup Tim... I really enjoyed it.
from 3 months ago
Thanks, Chris. Thanks for the great idea for B/R.
3 months ago
I thought this post was funny until I realized you were serious.
from 3 months ago
I can see why you have so many fans, CJ.
3 months ago
I am not out here to win fans guy. This is nothing more than a fancy message board. The only difference is the SEO of the site and the disillusion "authors" who think since their article shows up on Google they are something special.
Back to my original comment.
For you to think South Carolina will be anything special is funny. For you to be a fan of South Carolina and have the guts to bash other teams is even funnier.
from 3 months ago
Doesn't it get boring being so mad all the time? What's the point?
I forgot your favorite team has to the best in the nation to have an opinion about other teams. I guess you can't talk about anybody else for a loooooong time.
from 3 months ago
Not made. I guess it can say it is more frustration of ignorance.
Nothing wrong with being a fan of your team Tim. The reason why I threw up the insult is based on your insults of ND. To be honest, if you would have never said a word about ND, I would have never found your profile.
I just found it funny that a South Carolina fan of all teams was mocking ND. That's all.
As for not talking about any other team for a looooong time, well that is a matter of opinion. So far the 3 biggest insults that actually mean something are:
Weis can not coach
ND has not won a bowl in a VERY long time
ND is not ready for the BCS
IMO, all it is going to take is ND posting 8 wins, winning a bowl in 08 and winning in the BCS in 09. IF this is done, there really is nothing people like you would be able to say that would have any merit.
I have yet to read a single post that was clear and factual as to how these 3 things are not possible or probable in the next two seasons. Care to share how you think otherwise?
from 3 months ago
CJ, I don't recall hating on ND in the other article. If anything, I was simply defending Lisa from the moronic "Bon bons and Oprah" comments.
I don't even care about Notre Dame. The SEC never plays them in the regular season. There is no rivalry at all with them, other than recruiting wars.
I asked this in another thread, but what 8 games will ND win next year? Which 8 teams will they beat? At this point, you are projecting a BCS game in 2 years based on nothing but potential.
from 3 months ago
To C.J's first comment, if my story is on google, it's damn important, I'm also on google images. I google myself sometimes when I need a lift, you got a problem with that! I'm also on Yahoo! and ask.com. I feel special!
3 months ago
The "Dirty Dirty", huh? Atlanta says hi.
3 months ago
Columbia says hello back. It's the South, "r."
Glad you joined the site.
from 3 months ago
Thanks Tim.
Also, I've lived in SC my whole life and never heard Columbia referred to as "The Capital City of Southern Hospitality". Did you just make that up?
from 3 months ago
No, I did not make that up.
Any chance you are going to sign in with a real name and bio? I ask because it's often easier to nit-pick and say things you normally wouldn't say if you are under the disguise of "r" rather than your real name.
Typically this site discusses sports, but if you want to continue discussing the South and the nicknames applied to its cities, I guess that's cool.
Where in SC do you live?
3 months ago
I lived in Columbia for four years. My son lived in Columbia for four years. My daughter lived in Columbia for four years.
Whatever happened to Cogburn's? Used to take girls from C square there. Served as the salad a quarter of a head of lettuce with a dollop of mayonnaise.
Needless to say fans should want that Cotton Bowl. Had enough of Florida wearing out Ohio St in the Outbacks and West Virginny in the Car Quest. If Carolina can't make it to the Cotton then take the Peach, maybe versus VPI. Gamecocks haven't gotten ahold of them in a while, they used to be a whipping boy.
That Peach is on New Year's Eve primetime television. Be a good stepping stone to the next chapter, a possible BCS game.
Carolina played in the 2nd Peach Bowl, losing to Jim Carlen. Small world.
3 months ago
Tim,
Since our conversation went off topic from your post....
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/34742-the-8-games-nd-will-win-in-2008-and-why
from 3 months ago
Appreciate it. I'll head over and comment...
3 months ago
I have a freind who used to live in South Carolina and told me how special sauterdays during the fall there are. Ofcourse, he moved back to Cleveland, as a Buckeye fan he could not take the heat of being rediculed after what Ryan Brewer did to us on those two bowl games lol!
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