Carolina Girls by Scott Hiler

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by Scott Hiler

It was one of those blazing hot Saturdays in Columbia, South Carolina. One of those mornings where you can wake up and just “feel” the football in the air. Our Carolina squad, the one who had just won three 11’s in a row, was poised to compete for the title with gunslinger Dylan Thompson behind the wheel (still one of the best QBs ever, try to argue with me).

For those of you who don’t remember, the preseason of 2014 was the equivalent to Gamecock fans going on a blind date with Carrie Underwood. Extremely excited, flat out nervous, unsure of your potential, hopeful- but just flat out scary. Our all out Savior, Connor Shaw- aka. Mr. Rogaine, Chrome Dome, or Bruce Willis- had left the program. We knew Dylan Thompson could throw the pigskin a country mile, but how would he hold up with the reputation of the glory years on his back?

In addition, this was the start of the SEC NETWORK baby. What?? 24/7, 365, ESPN- but for the SEC? AND they got Billy Graham Jr. Timmy Tebow on set? Sign me up. Who cares if we don’t know if they will make it- I’m tired of watching soccer reruns and ACC football highlights (cough, cough) on ESPN. All of this accumulated to probably the most over-hyped football game in all of history, when (21) Texas A&M agreed to come down to (9) Columbia and take on Spurrier. For Cocks fans, this game was more over-hyped than Danica Patrick joining NASCAR, Johnny Depp in the new POTC, McDonald’s szechuan sauce, or Chris Paschal golfing after a few Dale’s Pale Ales – these things were simply set up for failure.

Needless to say, A&M rolled into town and kicked Carolina in the mouth. There goes the 18 W’s in a row at home, thanks Obama.

But like most Gamecock teams, losing some games that we always aren’t supposed to lose, bounce back to beat a few teams that we shouldn’t- and are constantly left at the end of the year saying “What if we didn’t…”

The Cocks rolled East Carolina the following week and had “The Game” coming to the concrete city. Luckily for us, in the words of the Ole Ball Coach, the boys between the hedges would likely have some boys behind the bars, since this was early in the season. This was a game I sure as heck wasn’t going to miss.

Like great game-day traditions everywhere- I’m sure you’ll receive submissions that our school has the best food, our school has the best tailgating, our school has the best grass, our school has the best FAA and agriculture training (you know who you are). That’s why we call it IPTAY- I plow ten acres yearly.

But I tell you- nothing beats the good ole, southern, Carolina girls. I had my truck rollin’ through the concrete jungle, headed to ole Willy B, and every girl within 10 miles was wearing a Garnett sundress and high ole cowboy boots. It doesn’t matter where you look, you are going to find something pretty to look at. Now I was still a young buck at the time, and the fact that I had my father (who is much older than your normal pop) sitting shotgun didn’t help my chances of finding true love in Columbia. Of course, the backseat was loaded down with the Bojangles Tailgate special, an all out tradition in Carolina on Saturday, with two extra large sweet teas and a double order of mac and cheese. Carolina “MTV crib” style golf carts rolled around everywhere, and the girls hopped onto every truck they could find to make it to the stadium.

There’s a reason this was the last game my father ever took me to. Like I said, I was younger at the time and had other things on my mind. As I was driving my big, lifted, loud truck, feeling like I was Steve Taneyhill- three drop dead gorgeous girls come running up to my window.

“Hey! Hey!!!! Can you please let us ride to the stadium?! We really need a ride! I’ll let you come to my tailgate and let you have whatever you want!”

Hmm.. Well, I looked at the road, back to the girls, back to the road, back to my father, back to the road, and again, back to the girls. It was at this moment, the words came out of my mouth that you get the feeling the second they leave your lips “Oh ****”

“Yeah, of course. I don’t have a lot of room right now, hop in the back. Let me drop my grandad off at the retirement home first, and then we can go have some fun!”

Well- needless to say going to Carolina games sure were fun with my dad. Maybe this year I can stop by the assisted living place and catch a couple of games on CBS, if they have it. I’m just lucky I wasn’t left in Columbia that night.

Scott is a recent graduate of Wofford College and a long time Carolina Fan. Raised in Lexington, Ky- he would drive down to Columbia with his father and catch the Cocks play until moving to the state in high school. He will be attending Clemson University in the fall to obtain my Masters in Real Estate Development. “Hey- It’s a good school, not a good athletic program.”