From the Desk of Jeremiah Donati, No. 18
South Carolina Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati discusses the hot topics around Gamecock Athletics
DEAR GAMECOCKS:
Campus has come to life over the last three weeks as the students and student-athletes are back home and fall sports are in full swing.
While these are exciting times for the Gamecocks, we’re also in a time of mourning. On behalf of all of Gamecock Athletics, I want to extend our condolences to the family members and coworkers of Officer Christopher DeLong of the Columbia Police Department who tragically lost his life in the line of duty. Our thoughts are also with Officer David Dymock as he continues his recovery journey. The Columbia Police Department as well as over twenty additional agencies assist in the protection of our fans on game days all year long and we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without their support.
There’s a lot that has happened over the past month that I want to share with you. I also want to ensure fans are ready for gamedays at Williams-Brice Stadium this fall by sharing some important information.
GET READY FOR GAME DAYS
There’s a lot that’s new at Williams-Brice Stadium for the 2026 season. While construction for Williams-Brice Reimagined will be ongoing during the season, Phase 1 of the project is near completion. There are quite a few new elements you will see this Saturday such as wider concourses on lower east and west, new additional restrooms and enhanced concessions offerings.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve sent out specific releases related to game day logistics, guest service amenities, fan experience and concessions. I encourage you to read each release but wanted to reinforce some of the most important details with you.
Digital Tickets
We have transitioned to a fully digital ticketing model, and printed tickets will no longer be available. Please view our Digital Ticketing Guide to learn how to access and manage your tickets. To help reduce the hassle on game day, please add your tickets to your digital wallet before arriving to the stadium.
Gate Identifier Tool
Due to construction and some restricted movement within the stadium, fans must enter Williams-Brice Stadium through the gate designated on their digital ticket. We’ve also created a gate identifier tool that will allow you to see which gates you can enter based on the section you are sitting in and when those gates open and close.
Game Day Logistics
With the changes to gates and some parking areas, please plan your parking and arrival routes ahead of time. There will be temporary changes to how you’ll be able to move around the stadium this year. With the removal of the southwest ramp, we’ve constructed two new ground level to upper level stairwells for fan movement.
Guest Services
We’ve also expanded our guest service amenities at the stadium. We’ve created Williams-Brice’s first sensory room and a nursing mothers room, added additional bottle filling stations and expanded first aid services. We will have Gamecock Ambassadors on the plaza around the stadium and throughout the inside of the stadium to provide real-time support.
Concessions
Fans visiting the East Ground and West Main concourses will have access to new grab-and-go marketplaces that will offer faster checkout, game day favorites and specialty menu items. To help keep lines moving, we’ve also created expanded Brew Thru locations for fans looking to purchase just alcohol.
GAME DAY HUB AND INTERACTIVE MAP
To help fans get ready for game days this fall, we’ve launched a new interactive stadium map and game day hub, available at map.gamecocksonline.com or in the Gamecocks App. The hub’s homepage covers stadium policies, parking information, game day timelines, game day experiences and the game day help line. The interactive map makes navigating Williams-Brice Stadium easier than ever: fans can search for their entrance and seating section, find the closest concessions and restrooms, and locate guest services, all from their phone.
PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT
As you have heard me say before, the landscape of college athletics continues to evolve at a remarkable pace. One important development we are closely following is the Protect College Sports Act (PCSA), a bipartisan legislation currently awaiting consideration by the U.S. Senate in September. This bill – while not perfect – seeks to bring greater stability, consistency and clarity to college athletics. The legislation would establish national standards around NIL, student-athlete compensation, transfers and eligibility, while providing greater ability to enforce those rules. It also includes protections for student-athletes related to scholarships, healthcare, and representation. There is still work to be done, but we are encouraged by the progress and the acknowledgment that we are in need of a much more sustainable framework. Stay tuned.
PALMETTO SERIES OFF TO A STRONG START
Our men’s and women’s soccer teams are off to a hot start. Our men have started the season 3-0 and No. 13 in the United Soccer Coaches rankings. Our women’s team is off to a 5-1 start and are No. 20 in the United Soccer Coaches rankings.
Two weeks ago, our women’s team defeated No. 24 Clemson 1-0 at Stone Stadium and last Friday, our men’s team defeated No. 16 Clemson 3-2.
If you haven’t made plans to catch a soccer match at Stone Stadium this season, I encourage you to secure your tickets to join in on the excitement.
RECORD CROWDS AT STONE STADIUM
You, our fans, help create a home field advantage for our teams and your support does not go unnoticed. When the women’s soccer team took on Clemson a few weeks ago, we set a few records thanks to your support. 5,659 students showed up, marking the highest student attendance for a match at Stone Stadium and the total attendance was 7,004 a women’s soccer and Stone Stadium record.
Then, last Friday, both records were broken again for the men’s soccer matchup vs. Clemson with 5,858 students attending and a total attendance of 7,671.
So far this season, over 22,000 students have attended a soccer match at Stone Stadium.
We can’t thank them enough for the support the Cockpit provides to all of our sports.
VOLLEYBALL’S OPENING WEEKEND SWEEP
Congratulations to head coach Sarah Rumely Noble and our volleyball student-athletes who began their season sweeping both opponents in the Gamecock Classic. They’re on the road for mid-week matchups for the SEC/Big 10 Challenge, where they defeated Michigan last night and take on Michigan State tonight. They’ll be back in action at the Carolina Volleyball Center on Sunday to take on Troy at 2 p.m.
I encourage you to come catch a match at the CVC this fall!
BASKETBALL SEASON WILL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT
Our men’s and women’s basketball teams are back on campus preparing for their upcoming seasons that will get under way in early November. For fans who had season tickets last year, be sure to renew your season tickets by September 18. For fans interested in season tickets, you can click the links below to request more information.
STUDENT-ATHLETE HONORS
Congratulations to our student-athletes who have recently received conference honors.
- Loïc Sany – Men’s Soccer: Sunbelt Conference Offensive Player of the Week (announced Aug. 25)
- Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez – Men’s Soccer: Sunbelt Conference Offensive Player of the Week (announced Sept. 1)
On behalf of our student-athletes, coaches and staff, I want to thank you for the support you’ve given our teams so far this season. For those joining us at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday, I look forward to welcoming you home. If you don’t have your tickets yet for Saturday’s home opener there’s still time to get your tickets to join us for that game and all fall athletic events throughout the season. Let’s have a great fall!
FOREVER TO THEE!
