RIP Gamecock Jesus, South Carolina superfan
Cue up “Sandstorm” because the South Carolina Gamecocks are mourning a legend. Carlton Thompson, known in the Palmetto State and beyond as “Gamecock Jesus,” has passed away. The South Carolina superfan with the hippie hair, beard, Crocs, and nonstop energy died at the age of 69 after a battle with prostate cancer, according to Columbia news anchor Judi Gatson.
Gamecock Jesus was a staple at South Carolina men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball games for decades, cheering, dancing, and throwing his Gamecock flag up and down in the air on the baseline near the opposing bench. He attended his first USC game when he was 15 years old and hasn’t missed many since, even after recovering from a serious bout of COVID-19 last year. When Frank Martin led South Carolina to the Final Four in 2017, Gamecock fans raised over $8,000 to send Thompson to Phoenix to cheer them on.
“It’s wonderful because my whole thing has always been that the fans can help with the game … that’s what I do. I make sure the fans are up and help them to win and it works.” Thompson told Gatson in an interview this fall.
I got a front-row seat to Gamecock Jesus’ antics in March 2014, when South Carolina upset Kentucky, a game that would later be remembered for Aaron Harrison’s famous postgame promise that the Cats’ season would still be a great story. Gamecock Jesus was one of many stories inside Colonial Life Arena that day as he joyfully gyrated and spurred South Carolina to victory. Standing just a few feet away from me next to media row, he never stopped moving, waving his flag and dancing in his own little world well before tipoff and in the middle of the mob that stormed the floor after.
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It was mesmerizing, and as the game went on, a little too close for comfort. When John Calipari was ejected midway through the second half, I watched him walk to the tunnel in between frantic waves of Gamecock Jesus’ flag with his screams in my ear. As Alex Poythress’ three-point attempt with 12 seconds fell short and Kentucky started fouling, Lonny Demaree wisely ushered me to the tunnel as Gamecock Jesus and the student section began to swarm the baseline.
Rest in Peace, legend.
Tributes to Gamecock Jesus
Tributes to Gamecock Jesus have been rolling out on social media this morning, including from South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley, former men’s basketball coach Frank Martin, who is now at UMass, and all of the school’s social media accounts.
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