Go Cocks!

Thursday last week marked the beginning of American football season with the battle of the Carolinas! South Carolina vs North Carolina – only the best would win! But playing on home turf with thousands of screaming fans UNC didn’t really stand a chance. One thing I’ve noticed since arriving here is that the school spirit is incredible! At Kent the Swimming team struggle to get supporters down to watch our biggest meet of the year, but at USC there is never a lack of support for any sports team. Especially when it comes to football!

After dressing up in school colours, garnet and black, I had the opportunity to experience possibly one of the most ‘American’ traditions when it comes to football; tailgating. The ‘tailgate’ is basically the pre-party to the game; hundreds of fans park up their huge 4x4’s and set up gazebos in car parks surrounding the stadium. Hordes of garnet clad supporters and girls wearing black dresses and cowboy boots enjoy cookouts’ (bbq) and games of beer pong. Although, with the temperature reaching highs of 37 degrees Celsius the drinks were somewhat simmering in the heat.

The match itself was insane! The Williams-Brice Stadium in South Carolina holds 80,250 people (bigger than the London 2012 Olympic Stadium) and once inside the atmosphere blows you away. From one side to the other fans shouting ‘GAME’ ‘COCKS’ in an almost deafening tone. Being in a stadium that big reminded me of the Olympic games last summer when my family and I were lucky enough to get tickets to watch the Athletics on the ‘Super Saturday’ and cheer on Brits Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford to win Gold. Exhilarating! Although I’m not sure I quite understand the rules of American football yet, it’s all very stop and start, apparently USC won so everything is dandy here in the land of the cocks!