From the Desk of Jeremiah Donati, No. 16

DEAR GAMECOCKS:

I hope your summer is off to a great start.  We continue to build a lot of momentum going into the fall semester. From our July 1 transition to Nike, the hiring of head baseball coach Kevin Schnall, and the progress of our Williams-Brice Reimagined project, there’s a lot to be excited about as we turn the chapter to the next academic and athletic year.

Here is the latest update on some exciting things going on around our department.

SOUTH CAROLINA + NIKE

The day is finally here! On July 1, our Athletics Department will officially begin our new apparel partnership with Nike. This is a pivotal movement for us, our department, student-athletes and coaches and we join you in the excitement of what this means for us.

I want to thank Under Armour for their incredible partnership over the past 19 seasons. They have been involved in a lot of iconic Gamecock moments over our longstanding partnership.

As we transition to Nike, starting on July 1, you will see a coordinated effort across our department to showcase what this new partnership means. One of the most common questions I’ve received is when and where can I get the new apparel. On July 1, shop.gamecocksonline.com, our official online retail website, will begin selling Nike product. We also encourage you to shop at your local retailers in the Columbia area as they begin to receive shipments of Nike gear. Please be a little patient as this process will take time as retailers scale their operations to meet the large demand of our fan base.

NEW NCAA ELIGIBILITY RULES ADOPTED

Last week the NCAA D1 Cabinet unanimously approved a sweeping overhaul of eligibility rules for student-athletes, permitting Division I student-athletes up to five years of eligibility if they enroll in college no later than the academic year after their 19th birthday. The new rule streamlines a significant portion of the Division I rule book by eliminating season-of-competition limits, sport-specific eligibility and redshirt rules, and eligibility extension waivers. The reforms will align athletics eligibility with enrollment and graduation patterns for the general student population.

CATCH A GAME AT WILLIAMS-BRICE

Along with game times for the first three games of the season, ESPN and the SEC recently released our remaining kickoff windows for this fall’s slate of games. The experiences you will have at Williams-Brice Stadium can’t be matched by staying at home. We’ve got a lot planned this fall and want to see you in the stands.

There will be a lot of changes to what game days look like this fall as we are in the middle of the Williams-Brice Reimagined project. There will be new ways to get into and around the stadium, new restrooms and concessions locations and much more. As we approach the season, be on the lookout for a series of releases related to these changes to ensure you’re prepared for game day.

GAMECOCK SPORTS PREVIEW PARTY

It’s not too early to start thinking about the 2026-27 athletic year. I hope you can join me at the annual Gamecock Sports Preview Party presented by Founders Federal Credit Union on Thursday, August 20 at the Pastides Alumni Center. This insider event provides early access to insights from our coaches, hosted by Gamecock legend Connor Shaw. Tickets are now on sale for Gamecock Club and USC Alumni Association members.

FALL OLYMPIC SPORTS

As we look ahead to the upcoming seasons, our fall sports are beginning to announce their schedules. Both volleyball and equestrian have released theirs with men’s and women’s soccer being released soon. I hope you will come out and catch some of their competitions this fall. Be sure to check out the Gamecock Go Pass, our monthly subscription mobile ticket plan that costs only $25 a month. With the Go Pass, you’ll enjoy access to all non-conference home football games (excluding Clemson), most men’s and women’s basketball games, most baseball games, and every home softball, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball match. You’ll also have the opportunity to purchase tickets to SEC home football games and select premier basketball and baseball matchups at a discounted rate.

THANK YOU JUDY AND STEVE

For those of you who have been around the athletics department you will know how big of an impact Judy Van Horn (Deputy AD/Internal Operations and Risk Management) and Steve Fink (Senior Associate AD/Communications and Public Relations) have had on Gamecock Athletics. Both recently announced their retirements and will leave big shoes to fill for those who follow. We wish you both luck and happiness as you turn to the next chapters!

CONTINUING TO EXCEL IN THE CLASSROOM

Our student-athletes ended the spring 2026 semester with a department grade point average of 3.426. This is the fifth highest semester departmental GPA in program history and marks the department’s 39th consecutive semester with a departmental GPA above 3.0. While much has changed in college athletics over the last several years, the word “student” in student-athlete remains as important as ever. I am grateful for the tremendous support provided by our academic services staff and the members of the Gamecock Club, whose philanthropic generosity helps make our student-athlete scholarships possible.

I continue to be thankful for the support and impact you, our amazing fans, provide. In the eight ticketed sports that we sponsor, during the 2025-26 season, we were the only school in the country to be ranked in the top 35 in average attendance for all of them. This is a true testament to the unwavering loyalty that our fan base is built on.

I hope you and your families enjoy the rest of your summer and I look forward to seeing what things we can accomplish during the 2026-27 year together!

FOREVER TO THEE!