The University of South Carolina is one of the top schools in the Southeastern Conference! Also called USC or Carolina, this school excels in academics and athletics. Located in the city of Columbia, the school is in the heart of the state! The campus is just a few blocks from many historic buildings including the state capitol building. Students choose to go to college here because they want to live in a city, be a part of one of the most loyal fan base in the United States, or want to graduate with a degree from one of the many highly ranked schools within the college.

The University was founded in 1801 and since has grown to having nearly 45,000 students at all campuses and over 350 areas of study. The Horseshoe at the University of South Carolina is an area of campus that is the location of the original campus. The Horseshoe is on the national register of historic places and is a common tourist attraction when visiting Columbia. Students use the Horseshoe as a nice, quite space to hang out in the grass, play Frisbee, or just to take a stroll around the path. Most of the buildings that are located on the Horseshoe are original structures that have survived a fire, the Civil War, and an earthquake. The first freestanding academic library in the country is on the Horseshoe and is called the Caroliniana Library. Now, the University has spread out over 359 acres and includes buildings such as, the Longstreet Theatre, the Carolina Coliseum, the Koger Center for the Arts, the Colonial Life Arena, the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center, the Greek Village houses, the Honors Colleges, and various other academic buildings and residence halls. The Greek Village houses are relatively new and before the houses were built sororities had "halls" in a residence building and fraternities had "halls" and social rooms in the quad. Some fraternity halls are still located on the quad.

Greek Life at this college is a big deal. Sorority Rush and Fraternity Rush is held at the beginning of the school year in the fall, yet some sororities and fraternities have spring rush as well. During Sorority Rush, there are different events each day for a week. Each day the girls will need a outfit to show their style and personality. SidelineSweetie.com has your outfits for Rush! Look your best in a gameday dress by Joy Joy or Judith March! Try out a day dress for Sorority Rush by Ellen & Ollie! The owner of Ellen & Ollie is from Columbia, South Carolina, so she knows the weather and what Carolina Girls like! Some of the most well known sororities on campus are Alpha Delta Pi, Kappa Delta, Zeta Tau Alpha, Delta Delta Delta, Chi Omega, and Alpha Chi Omega. Some of the more popular fraternities are Sigma Nu, Kappa Alpha Order, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Delta Tau Delta, and Sigma Chi.

The colors of the South Carolina Gamecocks are garnet and black. At a football game at Williams Brice Stadium you will be surrounded by a sea of people sporting their gamecock gear or garnet and black. When attending a football game, there is no doubt that you will be tailgating first! You can tailgate in one of the surrounding parking lots, in the fairgrounds, in the farmer's market, or at the fraternity tailgating spots! Make sure your game day dress in something comfortable because it is known to get really hot here! Columbia is known as the armpit of the South and once you attend one game in the early Fall you will know why! Once the weather starts to cool down, layers are always great to wear to the game! Girls attending the game or just tailgating, normally wear dresses and flats or cowboy boots to the game. A few girls will wear more comfortable clothes like shorts and t-shirts, but they will always have on a shirt that says USC, Carolina, Gamecocks, Go COCKS or that is garnet and black. Carolina fans love to show their Gamecock pride! No matter what type of football season the University of South Carolina Gamecoks are having, the fans will always be supportive and show up at the games to cheer on their team.

At football games there are a lot of traditions that take place. First of all, before kickoff, the mascot "Cocky," is set up on a pedestal near the middle of the field behind a curtain. The band starts playing the song "2001" and by the end of it the curtain falls and Cocky is going crazy! Williams Brice Stadium is one of the loudest stadiums in the United States. Smoke goes up and banners spelling out "CAROLINA" and "GAMECOCKS" are run out onto the field by the cheerleaders while the football team runs out behind! The crowd always goes wild during this part and it is a part of the game that most fans do not want to miss. Cocky can always be found interacting with the fans and is one of the most recognizable mascots in Division I football. It is certain that at every game a few things are going to happen no matter what. First of all, the song "Sandstorm," by Darude will be played after scoring or kicking off the ball. Second, the crowd will always chant "Game" "Cocks" "Game" "Cocks" with the student section always saying "Cocks." Next, after a first down is achieved by the gamecocks, the announcer will say, "and that's another Carolina.." and the crowd will say, "First Down!!" Also you will see one of the largest marching bands in the nation, known as the "Mighty Sound of the Southeast." The South Carolina band keeps the crowd involved and always plays up to date music that everyone enjoys! Lastly, you will always hear the fight song played after all touch downs and scores, and the alma mater will be played and alumni will sing and lift up their right arm as if toasting to the health of Carolina. All in all, going to football games at the University of South Carolina, in Williams Brice Stadium is a very exciting event! Go Gamecocks!!!