From the Desk of Jeremiah Donati, No. 3

DEAR GAMECOCKS:

The spring is one of the busiest times in all of college athletics as you know!  With only weeks left in the semester our staff, coaches and student-athletes are hard at work continuing to raise the bar and representing our University on the national stage.

As I approach 100 days in the role of Director of Athletics here at Carolina, I am excited to share my monthly newsletter with updates on things happening within and around Gamecock Athletics below.

HOUSE VS. NCAA SETTLEMENT UPDATE

The final approval hearing for the House vs. NCAA class action lawsuits took place on Monday, April 7.  Judge Claudia Wilken heard arguments from plaintiff’s counsel, the NCAA and athlete objectors (it is worth mentioning that these cases represent 390,000 athlete class members). We anticipate Judge Wilken making her final ruling in the House, Hubbard and Carter (collectively referred to as House vs. NCAA) cases in the coming weeks.

We are optimistic that the proposed settlement in front of Judge Wilken can provide for much-needed stability and fairness in college sports. As written, it would provide more opportunities for student-athletes to benefit from their participation in college sports.  It will also, however, come at a considerable cost and with a number of tradeoffs as I have mentioned previously in my first two newsletters.  We do believe by settling these cases there is a path to a more sustainable environment for intercollegiate athletics than what we are currently experiencing. Once the final ruling is made by Judge Wilken, I will communicate the details of the settlement and any new details as it relates to us at South Carolina.

GARNET & BLACK SPRING GAME

Join us under the lights at Williams-Brice Stadium for the Garnet & Black Game presented by Palmetto Shirt Company next Friday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m! Personally, I am excited for my first game day-like action in the stadium and I know our fans want to see the 2025 football squad up close and in person. Admission is free and be sure to stick around for our post-game fireworks.

BASKETBALL TRANSFERS

Both our men’s and women’s basketball programs have some exciting new additions on their way to Columbia next season. In case you are not up to speed here’s the list of incoming transfers for men’s basketball, with some exciting news coming from women’s basketball soon.

• Meechie Johnson (Ohio State)
• Kobe Knox (University of South Florida)
• Christ Essandoko (St. Joseph’s and Providence)
• Treysen Eaglestaff (North Dakota)

FINISHING STRONG

As of this week our athletics teams have posted 50 wins against Top 25 teams in head-to-head competition, 23 of which were against Top 10 teams. Currently, 12 of our 21 sports have either finished their season or are in-season ranked in the Top 25. With two months left of competition against multiple top ranked teams, we will need all of Gamecock Country behind our teams at home and on the road.

WELCOME HOME TOUR

I’m looking forward to joining our coaches and student-athletes out on the road in the next few months as part of the Gamecock Club’s Welcome Home Tour. We will be making stops in Florence, Dorchester/Berkeley, Aiken/Augusta, Greenville and York counties as we celebrate all things Gamecock Athletics.

UPCOMING WNBA & NFL DRAFT

Carolina has had six players selected in the first or second rounds of the last three WNBA Drafts and they look to continue that streak on April 14 with this year’s draft.

On April 24-26, multiple Gamecocks will have their name called as part of the NFL Draft. With 11 players invited to the NFL Combine, this has the potential to be one of our best NFL draft classes to date. For the third time in school history, we will look to have back-to-back years with a player selected in the first round (Xavier Legette in the 2024 draft).

MEN’S TENNIS TO HOST SEC CHAMPIONSHIP

Between April 16-20, campus will be buzzing with fans and student-athletes from across the SEC as we host the SEC Men’s Tennis Championship at the Carolina Tennis Center. Our men’s tennis team is currently ranked 15th in the nation and second in the SEC with an 11-1 home record. Be sure to come out and help us continue that strong home court advantage.

UPCOMING EVENTS AROUND GAMECOCK COUNTRY

While numerous sports are still in their competition season, we also have some other great upcoming events that you can join in on.

Cocky Trot 5K & Fun Run/Walk presented by Palmetto Shirt Company – Saturday, April 26 at 9 a.m.: Race around Gamecock Park, the indoor and outdoor football practice fields before crossing the finish line inside Williams-Brice Stadium. Register today

Jr. Gamecock Club Movie Night on the Field presented by the Department of Social Services and ABC Quality – Saturday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m.: Join us on the field at Williams-Brice Stadium to watch Mufasa. Admission is free for all Jr. Gamecock Club members and their guests. More information

Upper Deck Golf – May 9-10: Tee off from the upper deck of the stadium down to custom tees on the field. Book your tee time

Beamer Ball – Saturday, May 17: Join us for an evening of dancing and dining on the field of Williams-Brice Stadium. Tickets include a gourmet catered meal, open bar, live music and more! Individual tickets and table options are still available. Learn more and get your tickets

I am thankful for the continued support and welcome messages I have received from fans across Gamecock Country. I look forward to continuing to get out in the community to meet all of you and sharing all the accomplishments our student-athletes, coaches and staff continue to achieve. See you on campus or around Carolina soon.

FOREVER TO THEE!