Aug. 11, 2004

Columbia, S.C. –
Gamecock fans will get a sneak preview of the 2004 University of South Carolina football season Wednesday, Sept. 1 at the first annual “Salute to Carolina” scheduled for the Colonial Center. The evening will begin with a stylish sit-down dinner on the arena floor at 7 p.m. Tickets to the dinner are available at a cost of $35 through the USC Athletic Ticket Office on Rosewood Drive (800-4SC-FANS or 803/777-4274). Doors will open at 6:45 p.m. The “Lou Holtz Call-In Radio Show” will also take place beginning at 7 in the atrium of the building. Those fans that do not purchase tickets for the dinner will still be provided with an opportunity to be part of the program, free of charge, and sit in the arena bowl beginning at 7:30 p.m. The program will begin at 8:00 and will feature comments from USC President Andrew Sorensen, Athletics Director Mike McGee, and remarks from keynote speaker Lou Holtz, USC’s head football coach. The entire varsity squad will be in attendance and a few of the seniors will speak on behalf of the team. The USC band will perform and the Gamecock cheerleaders and Cocky will entertain the crowd. Also in attendance will be the head coaches from USC’s other varsity sports. The event promises to be a terrific way to salute the 2004 Carolina team and provide the Gamecocks with an enthusiastic send off for the season opener Sept. 4 at Vanderbilt.