Nov. 27, 2006

A recent internet survey of 2,200 Gamecock Club members shows dramatic differences in the level of understanding by members about seat upgrades, parking allocation, and how much money the club raises to support University of South Carolina athletics. Results of the survey, conducted among current club members just last week, show that:

• 70 percent don’t feel there is a fair opportunity to upgrade parking or seating

• 57 percent do not understand the current priority system

• 66 percent believe the University raises more money than other Southeastern Conference schools such as Tennessee, Florida, Auburn, Alabama, LSU and Georgia when in fact the Gamecock Club raises about half the amount of those universities.

Survey results, however, also show that 82 percent believe USC will be winning major SEC championships within the next 10 years and that 67 percent of club members are willing to give more money to see that happen. The survey is the first step to elicit feedback that will result in a more consistent, fair and equitable system comparable to those at peer SEC institutions.

“This data tells us we need to do a better job of sharing information and soliciting feedback with club members,” said Chris Wyrick, University of South Carolina Associate Athletic Director/Director of the Gamecock Club. “We want everyone to contribute in making the Gamecock Club the best fund raising organization in college sports. I know we will succeed because the Gamecock Nation loves to see our student athletes win in the classroom and on the field.”

Chris Fulmer, four-year president of the 500-member strong Aiken, S.C. chapter, believes better communication is one of the keys to a strong membership base. “If you give a fair reason to someone about any situation, whether it is tickets or anything else, they may not like the answer but they at least know that everyone is treated the same,” says Fulmer. One thing that frustrates people more than anything else is ticket distribution for rivalry games such as Clemson, according to Fulmer. Fulmer believes on-going research is one way to keep members informed and to keep tabs on the attitudes of members. “If our members are in on changes, they’re not going to be down on them,” says Fulmer. That’s why other Gamecock Club officers and members believe listening is the first step to change. “We’re seeing better communications now than we have at times in the past,” says Wayne Lorick, President of the Orangeburg chapter of the Gamecock Club. Lorick says. “We’ve got an energetic group leading the club now and they want to be 100% transparent and do what’s right for the fans.”

The Orangeburg Gamecock Club has more than 225 members but Lorick sees growth as a big challenge that all club members must address. “When you see the kind of numbers other universities are generating from their fan base it lets us know we’ve got a little bit of a hill to climb.”

Rock Hill, S.C. chapter Gamecock Club President Chip Comer is optimistic that any enhancements made to the Gamecock Club will make the organization better. “I know our new athletic director and his assistants are doing a great job keeping the local presidents informed,” says Comer. Comer and his officers have worked hard to grow the York County club this past year from 440 to almost 500 members. Comer knows there is more work to be done. He believes all members of the club need to step up giving.

“We’ve been rocking along thinking the amount of money we’re raising annually is fine, but it’s not. We’ve fallen behind some of our key competition and we need to step it up if we’re going to compete,” says Comer.

Member research and feedback will be used to enhance guidelines for The Gamecock Club. Over the next several months, member and fan comments will be evaluated and their input will lead to enhancements in the entire organization.

The Gamecock Club, chartered in 1940, is a non-profit organization made up of more than 14,000 alumni and friends of the University of South Carolina athletics. The organization has 50 local chapters throughout South Carolina and numerous other chapters across the U.S. In 2006 the Gamecock Club raised $16 million to support the University of South Carolina athletics.