General . November 14, 2025

From the Desk of Jeremiah Donati, No. 11

DEAR GAMECOCKS:

As we enter the holiday season, I am extremely thankful for Gamecock Country. From wearing Gamecock gear wherever you may be, to cheering on our teams at home and on the road, to supporting our student-athletes through philanthropic donations and Gamecock Club memberships — one thing is certain: none of what we do would be possible without your continued support. Every day I am proud to come to work and represent the Garnet & Black.

As some of our sports enter the final stretch of their season and some are just beginning, I wanted to update you on all the great things happening with South Carolina Athletics.

IT’S HOOPS SEASON

Our men’s and women’s basketball teams are off to a great start. Both programs are currently 3-0 on the season. Our No. 2 women’s team defeated Clemson 65-37 on Tuesday night to earn a point in the SC Education Lottery Palmetto Series. They will travel to Los Angeles to take on Southern Cal at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday.

On the men’s side, Meechie Johnson had a career-high 33 points in Sunday night’s overtime win, including 7 three-pointers. The men also defeated Presbyterian on Wednesday night and now turn their attention to next Tuesday’s matchup vs. Radford at Colonial Life Arena.

Use the button below to secure tickets to catch a game in person at Colonial Life Arena this season.

Men's Basketball Single Game Tickets Women's Basketball Single Game Tickets

FALL SPORTS FAN SUPPORT

For the second year in a row, our men’s and women’s soccer teams finished the regular season number one in the country for average attendance. Our football team is currently ranked fourteenth in average attendance nationally and our volleyball team is currently ranked twenty-eighth. We are one of only five Division I schools in the country to have all four of these sports ranked in the top 30 in average attendance. In addition to this tremendous accomplishment, our University of South Carolina students are attending our fall sports in record numbers as well. I encourage you to continue coming out and cheering on the Gamecocks in person and thank you for helping us be a national attendance leader.

WOMEN’S SOCCER TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT

Congratulations to head coach Shelley Smith and our Gamecock women’s soccer team who will be making their thirteenth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. They will travel to Winston-Salem to take on Wake Forest in the first round tonight at 6 p.m.

WILLIAMS-BRICE REIMAGINED

This is an exciting time for Gamecock Athletics as we are less than a month away from beginning construction for the Williams-Brice Reimagined project. Over the next three years, we will work to preserve the legacy and tradition of Williams-Brice Stadium while enhancing the experience for all of our fan bases.

For the 2026 season, our fans can expect to see new restrooms and concessions spaces on the West Main level and East Ground levels as well as expanded concourse spaces on the West Main level.

If you haven’t checked out our Williams-Brice Reimagined website, I encourage you to click the button below to see how we are reimaging the stadium.

Williams-Brice Reimagined

HISTORIC SEASON FOR CROSS COUNTRY

Congratulations to our cross country team who made history at this year’s SEC Cross Country Championship. For the first time in program history, the Gamecocks earned a podium finish receiving the bronze medal. This was the program’s best finish at the SEC Championship and the sixth time this season they’ve earned a podium finish. This morning, the team finished as runners-up at the NCAA Southeast Regional and will head to the NCAA Cross Country Championships as a team for the first time in program history.

HALL OF FAME

Last month six former Gamecock student-athletes officially became members of the University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame sponsored by the Association of Lettermen. Congratulations to this year’s inductees:

Natasha Hastings (Track & Field 2005-2007)
Brandon Hulko (Diving 1998-2002)
Paul Jubb (Men’s Tennis 2016-2020)
Akram Mahmoud (Swimming 2014-2018)
Mollie Patton (Women’s Soccer 2006-2010)
A’ja Wilson (Women’s Basketball 2014-2018)

SOCCER HONORS

Congratulations to women’s soccer senior Gracie Falla who was recently named the SEC Defender of the Year. She is a two-time recipient of this honor, as she was named the Defender of the Year for the 2023 season. In addition to her Defender of the Year honor, she was named an All-SEC First Team selection, the third of her career.

Gracie joins teammates Katie Shea Collins (All-SEC First Team), Taylor Bloom and Cuyler Zulauf (All-SEC Third Team) and Mackenzie Johnson (SEC All-Freshman Team) in earning conference honors.

On the men’s side, Ethan Ballek (All-Sun Belt Second Team) and Matthew DeJianne (Sun Belt All-Freshman Team) earned conference honors.

GARNET & BLACK MADNESS

Last month, we hosted GarNET & Black Madness featuring Waka Flocka Flame as a way to tipoff basketball season. I want to give a shout out to our staff who worked tirelessly to put this first time event together and thank all of our fans who made it out to Colonial Life Arena. I look forward to seeing everyone at next year’s event.

SEC WEEKLY HONORS

Congratulations to Sophie Verzyl and Amy Riordan who earned SEC Weekly Awards this week. Both seniors played a key role in leading the No. 17 women’s swimming and diving team to a victory over No. 14 North Carolina. Sophie picked up her second SEC Diver of the Week honor this season while Amy was named the SEC Women’s Swimmer of the Week.

GAMECOCKS GIVE BACK

Next week, our Student Athlete Development team will be leading the charge as our department participates in a Week of Giving. Throughout the week, our department and student-athletes will participate in a canned food drive, holiday card making and assisting Habitat for Humanity ReStore. I appreciate the work that our team has put into planning for this week to give back to the community that gives so much to us.

BACK ON THE DIAMOND SOON

Our baseball and softball teams wrapped up their fall practice slate and now turn their attention to the 2026 season. Both programs recently released their schedules with softball opening their season on February 5 and baseball opening their schedule on February 13. It’s not too early to start making your plans to join us at Carolina Softball Stadium and Founders Park in 2026.

Baseball Schedule Softball Schedule

As we enter the holiday season, I hope you are able to relax and spend time connecting with your family and friends. If you are looking for things to do, I hope you consider attending one of our events to cheer on the Gamecocks together.

Again, I am extremely thankful for your continued support of Gamecock Athletics and I look forward to us accomplishing great things together as we close out 2025.

FOREVER TO THEE!