Gamecock Gala Awards: Gamecock Leadership Award - Spencer Eason-Riddle

South Carolina football fifth-year senior Spencer Eason-Riddle has earned numerous team and conference awards during his career for academics, community service, and for his hard-nosed, unselfish play on the field. More recently, Eason-Riddle was honored with the Gamecock Leadership Award this spring. The award is presented from South Carolina Athletics to a Gamecock who goes above and beyond what is expected as part of the Athletics Department to elevate an issue or cause within the community.

“I was shocked because the award has such prestige,” Eason-Riddle said. “I’m very honored and very thankful to receive the award.”

During his career, Eason-Riddle has balanced his academics and athletics schedule while also performing more than 200 hours of community service, most notably spearheading the Sandstorm Buddy Program, which was launched last fall at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital in Columbia. The program pairs student-athletes with patients at the hospital to show support, help their families and show they care beyond just a one-time visit.

“There are so many opportunities across Columbia to help better the community and to help others,” Eason-Riddle said. “It’s important that we, as athletes, use our platform to have an impact on others and make a difference in other’s lives. I just want to do that and make it easier for student-athletes by helping set up different community events so we can all serve the community. The Sandstrom Buddy program has worked out well. There were a lot of meetings beforehand to get it all figured out. We had a really good system starting last fall and coming into the winter with weekly visits from student-athletes from several different sports. It was really great because we saw the same kids and they’d remember us. That’s how we built a really good relationship with a lot of them. I’m really proud of it.

“My own experience with it has been really great. It’s very eye-opening, and it has changed my perspective on a lot of things. During the season, I have a jam-packed schedule, and I get really tired, but then I look on my wrist where I have a couple of wrist bands that the kids give me, and I just think about them. I know I can get through whatever I’m doing. They’re going through some kind of illness, and I’m going to try to be a role model for them. In seeing the same kids over and over and learning their backstory and about their illnesses, it helps put things in perspective.”

“I really want to be able to reach all of our sports and broaden the outreach of community service we can obtain.”

While he and the Gamecocks are currently not allowed to visit with the children in the hospital due to COVID-19, Eason-Riddle said he checks in with hospital staff to see how they’re doing.  Eason-Riddle still has another year at South Carolina, and he hopes the Sandstorm Buddy Program will continue after he’s gone.

“Even after the (football) season, I’ll definitely stay involved with it,” Eason-Riddle said. “I’ve gotten a lot of younger student-athletes involved with it from different sports, so I’m hoping they will get more comfortable with coming over and meeting some of the staff so they can pick it up and keep it rolling.”

Eason-Riddle originally joined the team in 2016 as a preferred walk-on. He worked his way up from the scout team to eventually earn playing time on special teams and as a backup linebacker before earning a scholarship prior to the 2019 season.

“It was a total surprise for me,” Eason-Riddle said. “It was the last day of our fall training camp, and Coach (Will) Muschamp told me my school was paid for. There was just a rush of emotions all at once – tears of joy and just a lot of excitement. My teammates were very supportive and appreciative of all my hard work. My parents got a call that morning and drove down from Raleigh, where I’m from, and surprised me there, too. It was a cool moment, and one I’ll never forget. I just wanted to go and make the best of my opportunity, and I fought really hard for it. I was extremely grateful! A lot of hard work paid off.”

Eason-Riddle earned his degree in public health last May and is working on his master’s degree in health administration. He is looking forward to his final season in the Garnet and Black, and as usual, he has a lot on his plate for the next year.

“I’m very optimistic about the team we have,” Eason-Riddle said. “I’m excited to get it going! Off the field, I’m always looking to find other events and activities where I can get other student-athletes involved. I’m definitely going to continue doing the Sandstorm Buddy Program. I also go to the South Carolina Oncology Associates, which is a cancer center. There are a lot of adults there, and I bring a lot of student-athletes there as well to talk to them while they’re receiving their treatments. I do some things with Habitat for Humanity, too, and also at Harvest Hope Food Bank. I like going to the local middle schools to do some tutoring or just talk to them. I really want to be able to reach all of our sports and broaden the outreach of community service we can obtain. I want to get as many involved as possible.”