Tonka Hemingway lists Texas A&M, Tennessee as top SEC environments

When it comes to the great game atmospheres in college football, the SEC is home to the best. Every weekend, your typical SEC player is either taking the field behind tens of thousands of raging supporters… or going into a tiger’s den to face an equally-rowdy and equally-immense group of rival fans.

Last year, South Carolina toured several of the top venues in the conference and in the entire country, including games at The Swamp (Florida) and Death Valley (Clemson). And the year before that included contests between the hedges in Athens against Georgia, in Neyland Stadium vs. Tennessee and all the way out at Kyle Field vs. Texas A&M.

So, after he got to visit many of the best stadiums and atmospheres in the country over the last couple years, Gamecock defensive lineman Tonka Hemingway was asked at SEC Media Days this year which SEC environment he thinks tops them all.

“I probably say like one of the loudest, Texas A&M,” answered Hemingway. “Texas A&M a good one. Tennessee can get pretty loud, too, as well. So between them two.”

In the Aggies’ return game vs. the Gamecocks in Columbia last fall, South Carolina got the first win vs. A&M of Hemingway’s career, which he said was a big moment for him and the team.

“That was a great moment. Starting it off like that, I’ve never been a part of a game where we started off like that. That was a great note, great way to start. We just got to keep building on that.”

The two head back west this season for a late October bout in front of that 100,000-person “12th Man.”

Hemingway was also asked which game on the current schedule he’d like to keep. Of course, prior to the change coming next season, the Gamecocks have consistently played their SEC East slate — Kentucky, Missouri, Georgia, Florida, Vanderbilt and Tennessee — plus Texas A&M and one other rotating SEC West school. Now, it will all shift, although it’s rumored teams will each get a few yearly rivals on the schedule.

Who should that opponent be for South Carolina? Per Tonka Hemingway:

“Conference game? I definitely probably say that Georgia game. I feel like even the fans love that game. It’s always a good turnout. Not that far from South Carolina.”

There you have it: Hemingway says it should be Gamecocks vs. Bulldogs on the schedule every single year despite the schedule shift.