Aug 27, 2013

With kickoff just two days away, catch a sneak peek at this week’s game program highlighting senior quarterback Connor Shaw on the cover and in a feature article. Other features will include team previews for men’s and women’s soccer as well as this week’s Carolina’s Finest profile taking a look at junior baseball catcher Grayson Greiner, who spent this summer playing for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team.

Our Journey Inside the Vault feature looks back on the history of ESPN’s Thursday Primetime Football Openers and South Carolina Football. Our Inside Look at the University features a unique national ad that will debut during the opener.

Check out an excerpt below from the Inside the Vault feature on the Gamecocks’ success in Thursday openers:

“When Steve Spurrier began his coaching career at the University of South Carolina, it was on a Thursday night on ESPN and it was the first game of the 2005 regular season in college football.

Flash forward nine years later, the ESPN College Football Thursday Primetime Opener has featured South Carolina seven of the last nine seasons including today’s matchup between the Gamecocks and Tar Heels.

Coach Spurrier’s opening game at Williams-Brice Stadium was played in front of a capacity-plus crowd on Sept. 1, 2005 as the Gamecocks earned a 24-15 win over UCF. The Gamecocks did not waste any time making highlights for the nationally televised audience as Blake Mitchell connected with wide receiver Noah Whiteside for a 49-yard touchdown pass five plays into the opening drive.”