Sandstorm by Ben Nicholson

by Ben Nicholson

It’s 2018, and South Carolina football fans find their beloved Gamecocks in an all too familiar dichotomic posture—potentially poised for an SEC East title, while concurrently susceptible to a disheartening repeat of 2015’s cataclysmic 3-9 campaign. Despite the program’s 110-year history of nothing short of above-average mediocrity, every devoted Carolina fan (that is, the real “Carolina”) holds certain Gamecock triumphs near and dear, whether it be an unanticipated prosperous season, an historic win over a bitter rival or top-ranked opponent, or a single highlight play. For those more “seasoned” supporters than I, perhaps the Gamecocks’ entrance to 2001: A Space Odyssey or tailgating in style with friends and family at the cockabooses or fairgrounds is the gameday tradition which he or she regards most intimately. However, for some of us encompassing the younger USC (again, the real “USC”) faithful, a more recent tradition may be his or her fondest.

On September 24, 2009, Heisman hopeful Jevan Snead and the No. 4 ranked Ole Miss Rebels rolled into Willy B with the third-highest scoring offense in the country as -3.5 point favorites for a Thursday night ESPN SEC showdown. Unbeknownst to the Rebels, Ellis Johnson’s stingy defense, which featured Gamecock legends and future NFL standouts such as Eric Norwood, Stephon Gilmore, Darian Stewart, Melvin Ingram, D.J. Swearinger, etc., was entirely prepared to stymie Snead, Dexter McCluster, and the explosive Mississippi offense. Norwood set the tone early, sacking Snead on the Rebels’ first drive to break the school career sack record. Locked into a defensive impasse late in the second half, both teams were in need of a spark. With just under 10 minutes left in the game, Snead heaved a 45-yard bomb to cut Carolina’s lead to 16-10. Having controlled the tempo of the game for the first three quarters, Stephen Garcia and the Gamecock offense sputtered on their final four drives, failing to convert a first down and seal the victory.

Image from TheTandD

With Ole Miss driving inside USC territory in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, Johnson’s defense was fully aware that the responsibility of securing the program’s first home win against a top-five ranked opponent would rest upon its shoulders. Having piecemealed his offense down to the USC 32-yard line, Ole Miss Coach Houston Nutt put all his cards on the table. But Darian Stewart smelled out Nutt’s attempted double-reverse pass on second down and crushed a fleeing McCluster for a three-yard loss! Timeout Ole Miss. Elated by Stewart’s instinctual play and the close prospect of victory, the sold-out crowd erupted as the sound of Darude’s 1999 electronic trance techno song Sandstorm roared through the stadium loudspeakers. I looked to my left to witness what can only be described as the epitome of organized chaos, as the entire student section jumped up-and-down in unison, fists and garnet “shaka” sign-shaped foam fingers pumping away. Both of us ecstatic beyond belief, my father and I made eye contact, double high-fived, and simultaneously joined in the students’ jubilation. The celebration was infectious, permeating Williams Brice until the entire stadium was in harmony (even my 72-year old grandfather had joined in).

With no decline in the stadium revelry, the sides returned to the field for third and twelve. . . Snead dropped back, scrambling from pressure, sack! Cliff Matthews! Nutt called his final timeout and the Rebels were down to their last shot. The cheer from Matthews’ sack never faded, as Sandstorm once again galvanized the crowd, and Ole Miss was penalized for having twelve men on the field—no doubt a product of the crowd’s pandemonium. Fourth and nineteen, with only 1:26 left to play and the game on the line; could Johnson’s defensive unit lockdown for one final play? Snead once again dropped back, searching for just his eighth completion and the pivotal first down. Ole Miss’ standout senior wide receiver Shay Hodge ran a crisp 20-yard curl route up the Ole Miss sideline and Snead rifled his pass. Just as it appeared Hodge would make the first down reception, Darian Stewart made a career-defining play, swatting the ball and securing USC’s first ever home win against a top-five ranked opponent! What a play, what a game, what a feeling.

While every college football program and their respective fans enjoy numerous traditions, both old and new, I would pit the feeling that I experience—the memories that come to mind, the sense of camaraderie, and the prideful reminder that my hand was one of many in establishing this enduring tradition—as I leap uncontrollably, waving my white gameday towel every time Sandstorm blares in Williams Brice, against any other feeling induced by any other college football tradition.

A Columbia, SC native and 2017 graduate of Wofford College, Ben lives in Columbia, SC, where he continues to be a lifelong University of South Carolina Gamecock fan.