Feb. 15, 2008

The University of South Carolina and New York City-based MSL Sports and Entertainment announced today that the university will host Gridiron Bash^TM The Ultimate Fan Competition^TM the day before the Garnet & Black Spring Game. The event – the first of its kind at Williams-Brice Stadium – will take place April 18 and include a live performance by multi- platinum blues-rock band, The Black Crowes.

The Bash, which begins at 7 p.m., will include appearances by coaches, cheerleaders, Cocky and the marching band, among other festive fan activities. Tickets are $38 and will go on sale Monday, February 18 at 10 a.m. through the University of South Carolina Athletics Ticket Office at the Colonial Center and can also be purchased by calling 866-4SC-TIXX, at gamecocksonline.com, at gridironbash.com, and at Columbia and Lexington Piggly Wiggly and Play It Again Sports locations.

“I think the Gamecock Nation will be excited to participate in Gridiron Bash,” said University of South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier. “I know we will show that we have the best fans in the country. Thousands of spectators come out each spring to watch our football scrimmages, but that’s typically where the `fan experience’ ends. Gridiron Bash extends the experience and enables fans to support their team, give back to their university and have a great time doing so.”

South Carolina is one of about 20 Division I schools nationwide selected by MSL (the event’s creator and producer) to serve as a Gridiron Bash host site. Some of the other universities participating include, Texas A&M, Penn State, Kansas State, Iowa, Tennessee, Kentucky, Colorado and Rutgers.

At the core of Gridiron Bash^TM is a fan contest – The USA TODAY Bash for Cash Series^TM – that will establish which of the participating schools has the most passionate and supportive fans. The USA TODAY Bash for Cash Series^TM winners will be determined by adding up the total attendance at the Gridiron Bash^TM event and combining that with the number of fans who text/call in to vote for their school. MSL projects total attendance to be about one million.

The USA TODAY Bash for Cash Series^TM winning university will receive a $1 million contribution to their General Scholarship fund, with 2nd and 3rd place schools receiving $500,000 and $250,000 respectively. Presentation of the winning schools will be aired live in conjunction with a soon-to-be-announced national television partner.

“We’re thrilled to bring Gridiron Bash to the University of South Carolina. The event will set a new tradition around spring football and feed the appetite of fans looking to be involved with the program beyond the season,” said Shawn Garrity, president of MSL Sports and Entertainment and a former linebacker at Syracuse. “Gridiron Bash truly is the ultimate fan competition. It offers fans the ideal opportunity to give back to the universities.”

For more information please visit www.gridironbash.com.

About MSL Sports and Entertainment

Manhattan-based MSL (www.mslsportsent.com) builds and develops cutting-edge entertainment properties with the purpose of connecting consumers, brands and media. In addition to rolling out trend-setting new properties — such as the Gridiron Bash^TM at Division I schools and the East Meets West All-American Game — MSL’s core services include branding, TV production (with assets including, Inside the Big East, numerous Division I Coaches Shows and other television properties), sponsorship sales, public relations, celebrity procurement and every aspect of event management. MSL also runs a nationally recognized scouting and recruiting service that works with universities, athletes and media organizations.