Grew up a UGA fan. Parents moved to Columbia from ATL and they got my brother and me season tix in high school (one is a USC alum). I'd say I became a full fledged USC fan when we beat Alabama in 2001. Considered going to a few small, private schools for college but ultimately the allure of a big SEC school (and nearly free tuition vs 40k/yr) was too much to turn down.

Loved my time in Columbia and I make it back for one or two of the big games on our schedule each year (UF, UGA, Bama, AU).

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Posted by CockeyedinIowa

Iowa

Member since Oct 2012

21 posts

Posted on 5/21/14 at 3:55 pm to CarolinaSoCocky

It wasn't so much me that fell in love with Carolina as it was my daughter. We're from Iowa and she had narrowed her choices down to Iowa, Florida and South Carolina. We had already toured the other two campuses and without taking a trip to Columbia she informed us that she would be attending USC. We drove down for cheerleading tryouts spring 2009 and that was it, everyone loved the campus and we took in a baseball game while we were there. She didn't end up making the cheer squad, but she's been there five years now and just finished her first year of grad school.

We've been to the CWS in 2010, 11 and 12, saw them win in all the first two years. Now I follow them closely on my phone and even get to watch on TV every so often.

I did win a bet with a rather well endowed blonde once and as she lost, she had to wear the I Love Cocks t-shirt that my daughter bought in Omaha out to the bars. Not sure how she fit in that small t-shirt but the view was incredible!

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Posted by big6ben9

Member since Nov 2012

320 posts

Posted on 5/21/14 at 4:23 pm to CockeyedinIowa

Both of my parents went to Carolina so I guess I was born into it. My hero as a kid was Joe Reaves who was an Academic All American Linebacker in the late 80's and early 90's. He was also from my small home town in southeastern North Carolina so I got to spent a lot of time on the field and in the locker room when we went to games which was pretty awesome. The day I knew I fell in love with Carolina was during the 96' basketball season when we were ranked as high as #4 and conference champs. Even though that first bowl win around the same time felt good, for some reason beating UK twice in basketball put me over the edge. Unfortunately I'm not a graduate of USC but I do hold a bachelors degree from Coastal Carolina which to me is the next best thing. I also choose a job in Columbia after graduation and thanks to my dad's fantastic football season tickets from being in the Gamecock Club for 40 years I will be there in the fall to cheer on my beloved Gamecocks!!!!

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Posted by theGarnetWay

Washington, D.C.

Member since Mar 2010

25850 posts

Posted on 5/21/14 at 7:30 pm to big6ben9

I'd like to note the stories that have been shared thus far in this thread are exactly why I don't mind when non-alum raise their glass when toasting for the alma mater.