As a Columbia business owner I would like to have a customer cookout, and have some players come in and sign autographs. Is this within the boundaries of this new rule..? Obviously pay them for their time. Probably should have thought of this earlier because of camp coming up, but may wanna do in the future.

I have my e tickets on my phone, but does anyone know anything about the parking passes. Will they mail paper ones like we had two years ago. Thanks

This guy is the best in the business at preseason predictions for all the power five schools. He has a record for having the most accurate college football predictions and more than any other in the person in that space. He has a digital magazine that takes into consideration the late roster changes which other physical copies can’t because they have to have them printed so early in the year. He has a heisman trophy vote and I think also on the All Americans. This is his 10th year. Check him out.

Side note is I heard him say that Dabo Swinney doesn’t like to use the transfer portal. He did not add many players and didn’t take advantage of it like a lot of other top teams did in this first year of it.

Just wanted to share info about this guy. This is his College Football Playoff prediction. He has UNC over Clemson winning the ACC and Georgia winning it all and beating Bama in the SEC Championship.

This is one of the nicest places I’ve been in world. It is the Club Med of Turkey when you think of Club Med. Whitewater rafting there is amazing too. Probably never would have thought of this place if the Navy hadn’t sent my ship there a number of years ago.

Terrible wildfires ravaging the area now. Sad.

I heard something about something.

Probably a stupid question but I was noticing all the signage is in English. Anyone know why?
Leaderboards, names on the back of golf caddies, etc.
I would have thought I would see more stuff in Japanese.

Harris at 4. Could be fair when you anticipate him sharing carries this year. But don’t agree with the Kentucky guy above him.

Texas and OU don't make the conference stronger... in fact, they water it down.

Texas hasn't been good in a long time.
OU has won their conference a lot recently and made it to the CFP, only to get waxed. They are the only Big12 team to make the CFP, and haven't won a game.
Last year, Iowa St. won the Big12 regular season.
Last year, the ACC put 2 schools in the CFP, the SEC put 1. That would have been the same if Texas and OU were in the SEC. And that CFP money would have been split between more schools.
They are big schools with big fan bases, but they do not enhance the quality of play in the SEC.
They put a bigger strain on the travel budgets of non-revenue sports, and make everyone get to play cross-division opponents even less often.

probably an unpopular opinion but as usual, I'm right

It seems that the league (and its predecessors) have a knack for catching everyone else flat footed.

As most everyone knows, the SEC originated by 12 schools breaking away from the Southern Conference. What many don’t know is they announced that decision at the SoCon annual meeting in Knoxville.

Predating that was in 1921 when Bama, Auburn, Georgia, S. Carolina, Tenn and Vandy abruptly bolted to SIAA to help form the SoCon.

In 1981 Oklahoma and Georgia sued the NCAA over broadcast rights.

Roy Kramer becomes commish in 1990 and immediately moves for expansion due to an obscure rule change from 1987 that allows for a championship game in leagues with at least 12 members. Roy Kramer also fathered the BCS in 1998.

Mike Slive quietly responded to the shouting of the Big 10 and PAC 12 expansion talk by pulling A&M and Mizzou barely over a month apart. The winner of the last realignment.

Now Sankey is doing his thing.

It just seems to me that the SEC is the Goldman Sachs of college football. Always a step ahead. Like it’s in the DNA.

Maybe I’m way off base, but that’s my take.

Not sure mine is funny but it’s all that comes to mind.

Late 90s. Had a buddy who was older and a bartender and back then there was a booklet that bars had that helped spot fake IDs. We quickly figured out Vermont had the least telltale signs. Just so happens another buddy was from Vermont.

Several IDs and some digital modifications later, we were set. Worked in Columbia like a charm.

Head down to Athens in 98 to go to the game and hang out with some old high school buddies in school there.

Friday night we go out in Athens. All the UGA guys just roll right in. The two of us on the Vermont thing got eyeballed. Bouncer pulls out Georgias version of the ID book, IDs check out and he says, “y’all must be Gamecocks, we don’t see much Vermont around here.”

Next morning we go to Shoneys for breakfast buffet. The UGA boys put a handle of Evan Williams in the center of the table and the server says, “you boys want some Coca-Cola for that?” No IDs necessary at Shoneys.

Wish I could remember the bar. Coldest beer I ever had.

TOS has us getting 5 star DL Xzavier McCleod in their predictions. Am I the only one that hasn’t been paying attention to this development?! He’s 6’4” 300. He’s as important as Delp in my opinion.

7 pm update:

Hearing this even more strongly now.


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Carter was slated to visit Penn State today.

From what I’ve been hearing on the Nittany Lions’ end, there seems to be some optimism in terms of getting him into the class.

OU and Texas joining the SEC guarantees we won’t ever win a football championship. The time is now!

In the SEC...carry on

SUNDAY AM UPDATE

From Chris - 2024 DB Asaad Brown from Virginia went to North Carolina yesterday, so he wasn't on campus.

7 PM UPDATE

From Chris - from what we have picked up, there seems to be optimism about South Carolina’s chances with North Carolina rush end James Pearce.

6:15 UPDATE

From Chris - One of the best young DBs in the state of Alabama - Jayden Coleman made it in as expected.

It was his first trip to Columbia, so he was among the prospects to take in the campus tour. He was impressed by the stadium and weight room, namely.

Coleman told us that the staff in Columbia - he spent the most time with Torrian Gray - was the highlight of the cookout for him.

Good for the Gamecocks to nab an early visit here. UNC appears to also be a significant early factor, and Coleman's looking at making a trip to Penn State this season as well.


5 PM UPDATE

** From Chris - A priority LB target - Jacksonville's Grayson Howard - was back in town after camping at South Carolina last month.

Seems this one was a really good trip. Howard was joined by other family members including his younger sister, who got a personal look at the campus today.

Howard's not naming favorites right now, but South Carolina has definitely established itself as a player in the early going. He's built a good relationship with multiple coaches, and Jacksonville native and current staffer Shaq Wilson has also played a meaningful role.

The rising junior is planning game visits - plural to Columbia this season and seems to have the Auburn and Clemson contests circled.

FROM WES:

** Add Stafford (Va.) Mountain View class of 2023 RB Ike Daniels to the list of guys who definitely made it in.

We reported earlier this week that Daniel has quickly become a priority target to watch for that class and the visits back that up - Daniels was on campus for camp in June, was back in today for the cookout, and will be back in town for the Gamecocks season opener on Sept. 4.

He's started developing a strong relationship with running backs coach Montario Hardesty.

While Daniels didn't name all of his top schools, he did say that he's starting to narrow his recruitment to a top group that will get official visits and South Carolina will definitely make the cut.

Right now, he only has scheduled trips for the fall to South Carolina for the opener and Virginia Tech for the Notre Dame game, so that probably gives you a decent idea of which two programs might have his attention.

** Dillon (S.C.) class of 2024 OL Josiah Thompson also made it in along with his family. That's back to back trips that Thompson's family has made it in on, which is surely a positive sign, and also means the rising sophomore has been to Columbia three times since the start of June. I've received feedback that they had great time this visit as well.


3:20 UPDATE:

** WR Landon Samson and his family made it in yesterday and have had a great thorough visit that should be wrapping up around now. In a word, "awesome," was the way it was described to be. We'll look to follow up with a more thorough interview shortly, but it's safe to say he's firmly locked in with the Gamecocks.

** Food truck options today were Kiki's Chicken and Waffles, Billy G's BBQ, Pawley's Front Porch, Haile Street Grill, The Chillin Cow and Pelican's.

Some guys who made it in for sure:

DL Hevin Brown-Shuler (2024)
OL Ryan Brubaker
QB Braden Davis
LB Troy Ford Jr. (2023)
DB Cayden Jones (2024)
OL Cason Henry
DL Felix Hixon
TE Jack Larsen (2024)
OL Grayson Mains
DL D'Andre Martin
DL Xzavier Mcleod (2023)
WR Landon Samson
WR Antonio Williams

2:40 PM UPDATE

Irmo (S.C.) Dutch Fork four-star WR Antonio Williams is on campus for South Carolina's Cookout event today.

Dutch Fork also had a team function today, so for Williams to make the effort to also make it over has to be considered a major positive for the Gamecocks.

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2:32 PM UPDATE

One of the scheduled visitors, Zavion Hardy, was unable to make it in due to family issues.

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2 PM UPDATE:

** The event is scheduled to be wrapping up in the next hour or so, so I would be on the lookout for some possible updates then.

If you missed it in our update earlier this week, the cookout features
golf cart tours of campus as well as an optional scavenger hunt, photoshoot and facilities tour available for the prospects who want them.

Prospects are spending the afternoon hanging at the pool with games such as basketball, volleyball, ping pong, corn hole and wiffle ball available.

The food is being provided by several local food trucks. I'll give yall some details on which ones shortly.

** D'Andre Martin just wrapped up a multi-day visit to South Carolina that he deemed extraordinary.

He's headed home now, and his plan has been to commit tomorrow, August 1.

South Carolina and Virginia Tech are the finalists, with a video announcement planned on Twitter and Instagram tomorrow.

Martin and defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey have talked basically daily since Martin picked up an offer last month in camp.


ORIGINAL UPDATE:

We will have any relevant updates we hear, plus post-event returns, from today’s Carolina Cookout prospect event.

As a refresher, here is the expected visitor list.

The event is slated to get underway within the next hour and will wrap this afternoon. Stay tuned to GamecockCentral.com for much more!

Expected Visitors

OL Markee Anderson (2023)

DL Hevin Brown-Shuler (2024)

DB Asaad Brown (2024)

OL Ryan Brubaker

DB Jayden Coleman (2024)

RB Ike Daniels (2023)

QB Braden Davis

LB Nick Emmanwori

DB Emory Floyd

LB Troy Ford Jr. (2023)

DB Cayden Jones (2024)

DL Zavion Hardy (2023)

OL Cason Henry

DL Felix Hixon

LB Grayson Howard (2023)

LB/DE Joshua Josephs

TE Jack Larsen (2024)

OL Grayson Mains

DL D'Andre Martin

DL Xzavier Mcleod (2023)

EDGE James Pearce

OL Kam Pringle (2024)

EDGE Monteque Rhames II (2023)

WR Landon Samson

OL Josiah Thompson (2024)

EDGE Donovan Westmoreland

WR Antonio Williams

Added the following guys to the list:

LB/DE Joshua Josephs
Login to view embedded media TE Jack Larsen (2024)
Login to view embedded media RB Ike Daniels (2023)
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Hey guys, looking for any recommendation on cool bars/restaurants to hit up in Charleston. My wife and I are going to be there 3/24 - 3/27 for our anniversary. Going to a spa and nice dinner (already reserved) on 3/24. Going deep sea fishing the next morning and just looking to bar hop, grab some appetizers, tapas, entree's to split that night. Any place we could post up and walk to 5 or so bars with pretty cool atmosphere?

As summer comes to a close I was wondering if anyone has heard any news regarding the team? Anyone turn some heads this summer? Has Key developed a reliable 3pt shot? Cous out of the awful slump? Freshman as special as advertised? Workout tidbits? Frank have a renewed focus? I

I hope Cous moves off the ball allowing Chico and Wright to split the majority of time at PG.

Rotation if season started today?

Cous / Chico / Wright
Reese / Stevenson
Key / Carter
Wilson / Woodley / Benson
Wildens / Minott / Gray

My Grandfather, Coach Henry "Hank" Bartos, was an assistant at Carolina from 1946-1964. He was hired by Rex Enright and then stayed on under Warren Giese and Marvin Bass.

I recently came across 2 recruiting letters he sent in February and March of 1948 to prospect Bob "Moose" Kahle from Indiana (Hammond Tech HS).

Kahle ended up playing both football and basketball at USC, so as far as I'm concerned, Pawpaw Hank (who passed away before I was born, unfortunately) was an ace recruiter for the Gamecocks!

Anyway, here are the letters. Hope y'all enjoy!

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My new favorite athlete and He was robbed of the Gold by the way.

All,
Wife and I are going to Savannah Ga. for our anniversary. We have been through there several times but never stopped in. Looking for a nice place for anniversary meal . All help would be appreciated.

“I consider us part of the ACC, but I also know we have a marquee name, Clemson has a marquee name. I think there might be people coming after us...”

Veiled threat to the ACC to do something?

I have noticed on 2 lane roads in multiple counties that apparently some government agency is spraying a defoliant all along the roadsides. They are spraying over the ditch and hitting the first line of small trees beyond the ditch. I have seen spot spraying in the past, but this year it’s like they are spraying every country road in SC. They must be spending a fortune on this. Anybody else notice how thorough they are this year?

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/power-rankings-1-16-sec-140031813.html

USA Today article on SEC power rankings if UT and OU joined for the 2021 season. We aren‘t even better than Arkansas in this writer’s opinion.