History of the Gamecocks

The South Carolina Gamecocks represent the University of South Carolina in the NCAA Division I.

The University of South Carolina is the only major college athletic program in the country that uses "Gamecocks" as its official nickname and mascot. While the men's teams were traditionally known as the Fighting Gamecocks and the women's teams were previously known as the Lady Gamecocks, this distinction was discontinued in part to eliminate any gender bias in the athletic department and in part to counter misconceptions about the gamecock mascot endorsing bloodsport.

All of the University's varsity teams compete at the Division I level of the NCAA and all but men's soccer and women's beach volleyball competition in the Southeastern Conference. Men's soccer competes in Conference USA and women's beach volleyball competes in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association because the SEC does not sponsor those sports.

The athletic department is supported with private money from the Gamecock Club. It was originally formed as the B.A.M. ("Buck-A-Month") Club in 1939 and 1940 to benefit the athletic programs from privately raised funds.

The university's athletic programs have earned ten national team titles and produced many Olympians. Tim Brando (formerly of CBS Sports) was quoted as saying, "You won't find any more loyal fans in the country than those who follow the South Carolina Gamecocks."

College Sports Established
1922

Location
Columbia, South Carolina

College Name
University of South Carolina

Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1922 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA

Conference History
1991 – Present / SEC Conference
1983 - 1991 / Metro Conference
1971 - 1983 / Independent
1953 - 1971 / ACC Conference
1922 - 1953 / Southern Conference

Nickname
Gamecocks - South Carolina has competed on the football field for more than a century, but the original South Carolina Gamecock fought on the battlefield more than 200 years ago. General Thomas Sumter, the namesake of Sumter, S.C., was a fierce combatant in the American Revolution. The Virginia native fought in the militia during several campaigns against local American Indian tribes, then became a key officer in the struggle for American independence.

As battles against the British raged on, he became the de facto leader of South Carolina during the War and waged many battles before being wounded in 1780. He survived his wounds and was commissioned a general near the end of the war. Sumter was a constant thorn in the side of the British forces -- so much so that the British dubbed him “The Fighting Gamecock” for his never-say-die attitude. The name made sense since Sumter was devoted to the sport of cockfighting as a young man and employed fierce, guerilla-style tactics against the more buttoned-up Redcoats.

NCAA Championships
Baseball 2
2011, 2010

Men's Basketball 0

Women's Basketball 2
2022, 2017

Football 0

Soccer 0