The Gamecocks display their National Championship Trophy

Story by: Patrick M. Daniel

Carolina fans arrived by the thousand today at Colonial Life Arena to help celebrate their National Champion Gamecock baseball team.

Eric Hyman

The festivities were scheduled to begin at 4:30 pm EDT, but the parking lots surrounding the arena filled up much earlier in the afternoon.  The first 5,000 fans to enter the event received commemorative prints depicting the championship photos, and players were also signing autographs. 

Athletic Director Eric Hyman addresses the crowd

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The already raucous crowd grew to even more of a frenzy upon the arrival of the team, and was overflowing into the parking lot.  The celebrating first began late last night after the winning run crossed the plate, and does not appear to be coming to a halt in the foreseeable future.  Five Points became Ground Zero for celebration last night, and easily provided the wildest Tuesday night in recent memory. 

USC coach Ray Tanner and players address the crowd

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Ray Tanner

Carolina fans have had to endure over a century of futility in major college sports until last night’s 11th inning 2-1 victory over UCLA, and this will surely go down in history books as a truly epic night for Gamecock athletics.  Men and women of all ages can finally realize their dream of witnessing a major Gamecock national title, and in doing so, banishing the so-called “Chicken Curse.”

Now that Steve Spurrier has witnessed the reality that Carolina can win a National Championship, will the ever-competitive  “Head Ball Coach” be next?

Whit Merrifield talks to reporters

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Ray Tanner gets the Gatorade bath in Omaha

Governor Mark Sanford today applauded the University of South Carolina baseball team for its inspiring national championship run, culminating in the Gamecocks’ World Series victory over UCLA last night in Omaha.

“Given last night’s classic come-from-behind victory by the South Carolina Gamecocks in Omaha, I’d congratulate Coach Tanner and the entire baseball team for their relentless spirit, superior skill, and ongoing success both on and off the field in representing South Carolina.

It’s with great excitement that I’d join with multitudes across the state in celebrating the first-ever major men’s championship for USC, and it’s with great pride that I’d make the following three announcements:

First, we will be raising the USC Gamecocks Baseball flag above the Statehouse tomorrow in tribute to the team’s amazing season and dominant performance over the last few days in Omaha. In the same way the state flew the Clemson flag over the Statehouse almost 30 years ago after Clemson University’s football championship, we’re tomorrow honoring USC and specifically the baseball team for their baseball championship.

Second, we will be officially designating tomorrow, July 1, as Gamecocks Baseball National Champions Day.

Finally, it will be my distinct honor to award Coach Ray Tanner with the Order of the Palmetto, our state’s highest civilian award. For his years of success on the ball field, his work with the Ray Tanner Foundation, and his dedicated service to the university and community at large, Coach Tanner is deserving of this recognition and I’d wish him and the Gamecocks all the best as they take a well-deserved victory lap.

So here’s to South Carolina and last night’s victory in Omaha.”

USC moving the party indoors

The celebration planned for the 2010 National Champion South Carolina baseball team has been moved indoors to Colonial Life Arena due to expected inclement weather in the Columbia area. The event will be free of charge and open to the public.

Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. and the first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a commemorative print. Due to the venue change and expected large crowd, there will not be an autograph session to conclude the event. A replay of Tuesday night’s contest will be played on the scoreboard at the arena, and concessionswill also be open with a limited variety of food and beverages.

Parking for all patrons attending the event will be on a first-come, first-serve basis in all of the surface lots at Colonial Life Arena and the Discovery Garage.