Football has been one of my biggest passions since I was about 10 years old, and I watched the New England Patriots win Super Bowl XLIX. Going to my first New England Patriots game with my dad a year later only made my love for football grow. Ever since, it has been a dream of mine to experience the epitome of a college football game, a Saturday in the SEC. Since I do not go to a SEC school, I did not think that I would have the chance to experience this until I was a lot older. However, the opportunity arose for my dad and I to see a game this fall, and it was an experience I will never forget.
Let’s start off with a brief trip overview before jumping into the SEC experience. The trip was simply to see the University of South Carolina Gamecocks play the Oklahoma Sooners. My dad and I flew down Friday morning, went to the game on Saturday, and flew back home on Sunday morning. For a football fan, having a whole weekend dedicated to football was a dream. Being able to share this experience with my dad made it even better.
The University of South Carolina is in Columbia, South Carolina, and let me just tell you, it was the cutest city! We stayed in the Hampton Inn Columbia Downtown Historic District, and it was the perfect location. We were in walking distance to restaurants, shops, and the university. There are not really any hotels within walking distance of Williams-Brice Stadium, so I would say this is a great spot if you are looking to be immersed in the city during your stay. We ate at Pawley’s Front Porch in Five Points, which is the main downtown area. It was a southern pub vibe and had the most amazing burgers. The whole restaurant was decorated with USC posters and decked out for the football game. It was so cool to see how deep the pride runs within the city. It is so different from colleges and universities in the North. Pro sports is where the interest lies, not as much in college sports. We also enjoyed dessert as Kaminsky’s Dessert CafĂ©, which was an eatery dedicated to dessert from dessert drinks to ice cream, cobblers, cakes, and pies. There was not anything you could have hoped for that Kaminsky’s did not have. It was so good that I went again the next night! The last restaurant we went to was Cola’s Restaurant, which had retractable garage doors as windows, letting the perfect weather of Columbia roll in. The brick walls and dim lighting along with the delicious food made for the perfect spot.
Well, that may not have been as brief as intended, but my love for Columbia runs deep, and I just cannot help myself sometimes.
Onto the main point of this post, an SEC gameday. When I tell you I was on cloud nine, I am not exaggerating. You always hear that the city shuts down for gameday, and that is most definitely true. As we made our way down to the tailgate, we were thrust into a sea of garnet and black. Gamecock flags waved off trucks and cars, girls were dressed in their best gameday fits, and country music could be heard at every corner.
Walking into the tailgate was an experience in and of itself. Coming from a small school, I had never seen a college tailgate like this before. We were told that you rent a tent and all you want with it and simply show up on gameday, and it is all ready to go. Buffets were set up inside the tents with typical Southern cuisine like brisket, mac-and-cheese, grits, and cornbread in addition to a donut hole wall that you would see at a wedding. Inside you would also find coolers and coolers of drinks. Cocktail tables and lawn chairs could be find inside with many gathering around the TVs provided to watch pre-game coverage. My dad and I walked around the tailgate area taking all of it in. It was truly such an experience and one that you cannot understand unless you’ve lived it.
We made our way to the stadium at about 12 pm in preparation for the 12:45 pm kick-off. We did not want to miss the pre-game festivities, and they did not disappoint. From the band to the cheerleaders to the dancers and baton twirlers, everywhere you looked, there was something going on. The band was absolutely incredible. I have never seen a college band of this size, and the way they were all perfectly in sync was mesmerizing. I especially loved their different formations, such as spelling out USC or Carolina. In addition to this, a train came out onto the field carrying the gamecock and the mayor, who popped out of the back. A graduate of Carolina, Darius Rucker’s “Hold My Hand” played through the stadium speakers, and fans swayed as they were projected on the jumbotron. There was a feeling of unity within the stadium that could not be denied.
Now, it was time for football. Fire torches ignited and fireworks exploded as the team ran onto the field. The stadium was electric. I have never seen such a wide range of fans, from babies just a few months old to the elderly. As a football fan, you know that football is a core part of life in the South, but witnessing it firsthand truly shows that.
Unfortunately, it was a less than stellar performance by the Carolina Gamecocks, but simply being there to see an SEC game made it more than worthwhile. Following the defeat, a battle of the bands commenced between the two schools, ending with Carolina’s band playing Amazing Grace. It further showed how deeply football is ingrained in their culture, with it being almost a seemingly religious or spiritual experience.
To say this was a memorable experience is an understatement. This trip was incredibly special because not only was I able to attend an SEC game, but I was able to do it with my dad, who has taught me everything I know about football and fueled my passion for it.
I will be counting down the days until next fall when I can do it again.
I guess all that’s left to say is “Forever to thee!”