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Arkansas trolls South Carolina mascot following home win

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•09/10/22
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Arkansas' mascot marches on campus prior to the team's 44-30 win over South Carolina on Sept. 10, 2022. (Wesley Hitt / Getty Images)

The Internet had its fun a few weeks ago when South Carolina officially renamed its live rooster mascot “The General,” then reversed course a few days later. Arkansas had the last laugh on Saturday, though, when the Razorbacks’ social media team dunked on the Gamecocks following a 44-30 win.

Tweeting a graphic of the final score, Arkansas’ official Twitter account included the caption “Who’s the commander now?”

Among the finalists for new mascot names the Gamecocks fans voted on was “Cock Commander,” with a whopping 78% of the fan vote when polling closed. The Razorbacks couldn’t resist the subtle dig at the Gamecocks following the big win.

Of course, after some back-and-forth with the live mascot’s owners, Mary Snelling and Ron Albertelli, the program found a way to reach an agreement to continue using the “Sir Big Spur” nickname, keeping the program from certain unrelenting digs from opposing fanbases over the snafu.

“It was always preferred that we would stay with the ‘Sir Big Spur’ name,” USC Deputy Athletics Director Eric Nichols said earlier this month. “I appreciate the passion that the owners, Mary Snelling and Ron Albertelli, and the new handlers Beth and Van Clark, have for the Gamecocks and the live mascot. We are pleased that we are starting the season with the same name as in year’s past.”

Following tough SEC contest, Arkansas trolls South Carolina

To the victor go the spoils, they say.

Saturday’s game was a hard-fought contest. The Razorbacks stormed out to an early 21-3 lead before the Gamecocks cut into the deficit with a late touchdown before the half.

The Gamecocks were able to work their way back to within five points early in the second half at 21-16 but couldn’t sustain the momentum as the Razorbacks put together a 21-7 stretch through the early part of the fourth quarter to rebuild a comfortable lead.

The road won’t get any easier for South Carolina, either. Up next is a home date with No. 2 Georgia. Arkansas, meanwhile, gets Missouri State at home next week before traveling to face No. 6 Texas A&M on Sept. 24.