Sorry if this gets long......
So I was born into a clem family & grew up within shouting distance of that dreaded place. In 1984, the excitement around the state about Gamecock football captured me. I was 6. I asked my parents for a Gamecock shirt for Christmas. For some reason, they obliged, even though they were Iptay members. Still to this day, my sibling chastises my parents for their decision. Anyway, I stuck with the Cocks, even though there were Tigers everywhere around me. In 1987, a longtime Gamecock Club member offered to take me to my first Carolina game. It was a 40-10 Cock victory over VPI. Sat in the south endzone. When I heard 2001 blare for the 1st time, I was hooked even further. No chance I'd ever go back to the orange. Fast forward to 1993, my parents, iptay boosters, again, agreed to let me do something. I saved my allowance money & they let me throw in with some neighbors who were Gamecock Club members to buy a season ticket. I would continue to do this for over a decade, even though just a few years later, I became a student at Carolina (there was no other place I even bothered applying to). I kept buying that ticket, even though I got student tickets during my time as a student, because I was worried I would lose it. My time as a student was rough on the football field--the Fat Bradstard era. My final football season was the 0-11 1999 season. Again, my loyalty & love never waivered. Anyway, & hitting the fast forward button........I'm now in my upper 40s, have a child at Carolina, & I still watch every game with the same intensity that I did 20+ years ago. My problem now is that more than ever, greed & entitlement has engulfed college athletics. A huge majority of players are now MERCS. They care little to NONE about the school I love. There are very few Boogie Huntleys (this young man needs to be praised often, & I hope he never has to buy a drink ever in his life in this state) who show love for Carolina. I thought Emmanwori might have been one, but boy was I wrong. He turned out to be just a selfish quitter. I'm at the stage where I want to care less. I have a closet FULL of Carolina attire. I wear it to work multiple times a week because I love to show my pride for my school. I feel like I need to change. If the most identifiable people that wear my school's logo don't care, then I feel like I should care less, as I'm just a simpleton that happens to be an alumni. Any advice from anyone who has successfully done this. I want to care a lot less.
Sorry so long. I'm frustrated & pissed. That Emmanwori stunt yesterday is something I never thought I'd see happen on my school's team. Especially from a home grown, local product.
So I was born into a clem family & grew up within shouting distance of that dreaded place. In 1984, the excitement around the state about Gamecock football captured me. I was 6. I asked my parents for a Gamecock shirt for Christmas. For some reason, they obliged, even though they were Iptay members. Still to this day, my sibling chastises my parents for their decision. Anyway, I stuck with the Cocks, even though there were Tigers everywhere around me. In 1987, a longtime Gamecock Club member offered to take me to my first Carolina game. It was a 40-10 Cock victory over VPI. Sat in the south endzone. When I heard 2001 blare for the 1st time, I was hooked even further. No chance I'd ever go back to the orange. Fast forward to 1993, my parents, iptay boosters, again, agreed to let me do something. I saved my allowance money & they let me throw in with some neighbors who were Gamecock Club members to buy a season ticket. I would continue to do this for over a decade, even though just a few years later, I became a student at Carolina (there was no other place I even bothered applying to). I kept buying that ticket, even though I got student tickets during my time as a student, because I was worried I would lose it. My time as a student was rough on the football field--the Fat Bradstard era. My final football season was the 0-11 1999 season. Again, my loyalty & love never waivered. Anyway, & hitting the fast forward button........I'm now in my upper 40s, have a child at Carolina, & I still watch every game with the same intensity that I did 20+ years ago. My problem now is that more than ever, greed & entitlement has engulfed college athletics. A huge majority of players are now MERCS. They care little to NONE about the school I love. There are very few Boogie Huntleys (this young man needs to be praised often, & I hope he never has to buy a drink ever in his life in this state) who show love for Carolina. I thought Emmanwori might have been one, but boy was I wrong. He turned out to be just a selfish quitter. I'm at the stage where I want to care less. I have a closet FULL of Carolina attire. I wear it to work multiple times a week because I love to show my pride for my school. I feel like I need to change. If the most identifiable people that wear my school's logo don't care, then I feel like I should care less, as I'm just a simpleton that happens to be an alumni. Any advice from anyone who has successfully done this. I want to care a lot less.
Sorry so long. I'm frustrated & pissed. That Emmanwori stunt yesterday is something I never thought I'd see happen on my school's team. Especially from a home grown, local product.
