Only ten seconds into the game and the Gamecocks fumble the ball to a recover by the Gators.

Succop punts the ball, only to be blocked by one of the Gators for an awesome possession for them on our turf.

Tebow breaks records like there's no tomorrow.

My friend gives me a call with 10 minutes left on the clock: De-nun-de-nun-de-nun! GATORBAIT!

*SIGH*  It really was quite another game we had this past weekend, and boy, how much I wish that it had turned out a different way.  A win would definitely have been better than a loss, but all was not lost, well everything except my voice that is.  I get so excited and into the games that I forget that I might actually need my voice come Monday!  I guess I must suffer through this sore throat, but it was all worth it.  The weekend was fun, and as predicted, was definitely a great 10-some odd hours away from the "loftacave"

Here's the Saturday in pictures...enjoy!

Tailgating Pictures:

Top: (Left) Megan and I at the game...ready to cheer the Gamecocks on! (Right) That's me!

Bottom: (Left) The ladies with Aaron!  (Right)  As if y'all haven't had enough...Megan and I again!!!

Last but not least...COCKY!!!  He had fun himself.  It's kind of blurry because I had to zoom in real far, but that picture on the left is of Cocky with this little boy who must have been only like 3.  He was so adorable dressed up as Cocky!  Big Cocky took him out to the endzone during the chanting of the "GAME" - "COCK".  Then Cocky also took him on the side stage to dance, and he was just so cute!!!

Well, guys...hope y'all had a fun time over the weekend.  Let's hope that this week off for the Gamecocks will help them get focused for the big game of the year against our rivals.  We'll have to show them Tigers!

Catch y'all later on the flipside, Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 04:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So, after being on the road for two weeks, the Gamecocks are back at home to play in yet another big game.  Spurrier will have to face his old Alma Mater and show his old team what his new team can now do...of course, this is fingers-crossed that our dear Gamecocks will have their game together tonight!

My boyfriend's parents are coming up for the game, and they have invited my roommate and I to join them at their tailgate.  I think that gates open up by 2:45 this afternoon for the 7:45PM game here at Williams-Brice.  I am so definitely looking forward to a good afternoon away from my lil cave of the loft and just be far, far away from my desk even if it's just for today.  I always love tailgating with his parents, and well, the game should be quite something tonight.  (Let's really hope that the Gamecocks can pull out a win tonight!)

Well, I just wanted to greet y'all good morning on this fine Saturday.  Well, I guess there's only about 50 more minutes of this morning!  Hehe!  I hope y'all have a great day--grab that bowl of chips and dip, have at it on the wings, and watch and scream at your TV screens for some good ol' time football!

Catch y'all later on the flipside, and GOOOOOOOOOO GAMECOCKS!

Posted by Kriska at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

No words can describe last night's victory over the Wildcats!  All I've got to say is...man, can i be a meteorologist or what?!?  Hehe!  The rain pretty much started as soon as Megan, Shawn, and I made it to Williams-Brice.  At first it was just light rain, but soon enough it turned into a pretty steady downpour.  I couldn't imagine being one of the band members with the big tubas playing in the opening.  Carrying that huge thing, walking in the formation, and playing it alone looks like some talent much less having to do all of that coordination while in the rain!  I guess that the band's not called the "Mighty Sound of the Southeast" for no reason.  The rain miraculously ended, however, right before the game really got started.  We got off to quite a bit of a rocky start, but our great defense got us back on the right foot.  And well, I'd keep talking about the game, but I think I'll just leave that to ESPN so they can do their job.  Plus, I don't know all of the football terms.  Hah!

Here are some pictures for y'all to enjoy of last night's fantastic game.  I can't wait for the rankings to come out at the end of the weekend.  It's so great to be a Gamecock!

Keep on cheering y'all, and well, catch y'all on the flipside, GAMECOCKS!

Posted by Kriska at 04:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Gamecock Spirit is definitely in the air around campus today.  Almost everyone is sporting their Garnet and Black already as they head to class.  Everyone's excited for the game, and despite it being on a Thursday night, student attendance is expected to be at its highest.  Some professors are doing their part as well in allowing students to enjoy this great piece of the college experience by allowing a different meeting time for class if the scheduled class conflicts with the game.  Of course, that's not just an incentive for students as it is for the professors who also want to be a part of the game's spirit.

Yes, ladies and gents!  Tonight is the night that the #8 Wildcats come face to face with the #11 Carolina Gamecocks!  Tonight's game has been a much-talked about game in the SEC Conference, what with Kentucky being the only team in the SEC East with an undefeated record and us, Carolinians, only falling behind to a loss to the nation's #2 team of LSU.  Indeed tonight will be a big night.  Whoever comes out victororious in this head-to-head football game will definitely put themselves at the lead in the conference.

And so I say...Today's forecast is cloudy skies, scattered rain showers, and a possible move up the Football Rankings of the Carolina Gamecocks!  Rain or shine (or well black skies of the night) as Weather.com has predicted some "T-showers" and "T-storms" for the Columbia area, you can expect the Gamecocks to make our own noise in the stands of the Williams-Brice Stadium!  There's no turning back now, and as Spurrier has said, "THE GAME IS ON!"

Catch y'all later on the flipside (after the Kentucky game that is), GAMECOCKS!

Posted by Kriska at 12:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Besides yet another awesome win that our completely awesome Gamecocks pulled off, this past weekend's game was a blast and completely a whole new and different experience for my roommate and me.  This experience has lead me to blog about..."THE VIEW."

Yes, "THE VIEW."  No, not the show, silly guys!  "THE VIEW" from the upper stands.

See, I always wondered why my boyfriend would rather watch the game with his parents up in the upper stands because I thought that it was just so far up you probably could not see a darn-tootin-thing from up there.  I mean, what could you see from being so high up?!?  I figured he had his reasons.  I guess he's always watch the game up there with his parents with those same season tickets since he was 8 yrs. old and also because season tickets are hard to come by and expensive...so I guess it's okay that he'd rather not watch a game with me.  I guess...I didn't quite understand until I got a chance to see what it was like for myself.

His parents decided that the drive is getting to be too much for them and that making every single home game is just getting to be quite expensive.  So, for the first time in several years, they missed a home game and so nicely gave their tickets to my roommate and me...

I will let the pictures speak for themselves, just think..."THE VIEW"

Catch y'all later on the flipside and enjoy the picture, Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 09:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I don't really know what one word could encompass how the South Carolina v. Georgia game was like for me from yesterday.  I mean it was amazing...exciting...intense...riveting, oh and did I mention, such A BIG RELIEF!

During the entire game, I was on the edge of my seat.  I knew that a lot was riding on the game for this season for the Gamecocks, and something was also in it for me...BRAGGING RIGHTS!  I have numberous friends who live in Georgia.  Several of them actually attend UGA.  I knew I was never going to live it down if we lost again.  It's been pretty much a battle of the smack talks for the past couple of weeks.  I actually had a missed call from a friend 5 minutes before kick-off, and a message along these lines was left: "I just wanted to remind you that it is about five minutes before the Dawgs beat some Gamecocks.  I hope that you are ready for another let down."  There was just no way we could lose.  So with my Garnet South Carolina shirt and my garnet and black bracelet, I prayed to the Gamecock gods for a win.  Mitchell getting sacked in the beginning of the game had me worrying and shaking, but I knew the gamecocks would pull through.

There was no doubt in my mind that the Gamecocks had their hearts and minds set in winning and beating "the-team-we-lost-to-5-years-in-a-row."  Spurrier has his own motivation as he has not won a game against the "Dawgs" since his stay here in Carolina even if he's beaten them numerous times during his reign in Florida.  In addtion, a win against UGA would give us a good stepping stone towards the oh-so-glorious SEC Championship!  Lastly, with some of our key Carolina football players being Peach State natives, the goal of winning the game seemed just oh-so-sweet! 

And boy was that victory SAH-W-E-E-T!  Even before we took a knee to end the game, I had already picked up the phone and was already waiting for my friend to pick up.  A completely embarassed, "I know.  I know.  I know," followed three rings.  Oh, what a great hello!

I'm so excited that we won against "them dawgs."  I know this will surely get us ranked!  Oh, keep on pulling and cheering for our boys, Gamecocks!  The excitement can only keep on growing, but 'tis shall be all for now until I get pictures from my trip home this weekend uploaded for another picto-blog!  Catch y'all later on the flipside, Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 10:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Carolina Gamecocks don't just bleed any shade of red.  A true gamecock bleeds only GARNET, and starting this season, we want to let the entire nation know it!  "Garnet on Game Days" is the new tradition that has recently been declared for all Gamecocks.  It's not just for current students but for alumnis and fans as well--Calling ALL GAMECOCKS!!!

Everyone's encouraged to sport their favorite garnet apparel when attending any of Carolina's athletic events, and really what a great way to show school spirit!  Williams-Brice Stadium looked amazing at the game over the weekend as it was swarmed by fans donning the team colors.  It really emphasized school unity!

Here's a picture of part of the stadium during half time:

In launching the "Garnet on Game Days" tradition, the Athletics department also made a shirt, and for the 2007-2008 season, one can proudly wear a "WE ARE CAROLINA" shirt.  Spurrier is really pushing for this one because as you can see in the picture, the atmosphere is just more pumped and more Gamecock-y (for lack of a better word, hehe!).  I actually bought a shirt for myself last week and have already worn it to the game over Saturday.  I hope everyone will also go out and get one!  Let everyone know that we are the TRUE CAROLINA!

Well, guys, I can't wait for this weekend.  I'm actually going home to spend some time with the family since I stayed home this weekend and also because it's my mom's birthday the following week.  I hope y'all got to enjoy your labor day weekend.  I sure enjoyed mine with the game and by just catching up on some good ol' fashioned rest today!  I really just can't wait for my trip back home and for the Georgia game for this upcoming weekend though!  Thanks for only a 4-day week of school!  I sure do hope that it goes by fast!

Well, catch y'all later on the flipside, Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 11:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Final Score: 28-14  GO GAMECOCKS!!! 

We're off to a great start this season.  Keep on cheering and sporting the Garnet & Black, and catch y'all later on the flipside, Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 10:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So, I always thought that the Carolina-Clemson Rivalry was retarded and just plain and simple, straight up EXXAGGERATED until I found myself screaming at every single key play, striking my fists at every unfortunate interception, and running around the living room barely missing the big screen tv as I screamed for our defense to tackle those Clemson runners who scored their 76-,82-,and 86-yd touchdowns...My gosh, it was an exciting game, and it kept me on my toes the entire time.  I feared that we were going to lose yet another Gamecock-Tiger showdown, and I just almost lost it...until the Tiger Kicker missed that field goal and I DID END UP losing it...Losing it because YES, I AM A GAMECOCK and dang proud to be one because we just won!

This entire weekend, it seemed that everywhere I went I was outnumbered by Clemson fans.  Being up here in the Upstate, the trend is a 20-to-1 ratio of Clemson to Carolina fans.  Donning their orange and purple, I stuck out like a sore thumb in my garnet red...but after this afternoon's win, I can't wait to go out and proudly strut my Carolina apparel...even if it means just a quick trip to the Wal-Mart!  A win...a win...a win!  I've already called up my die-hard Tiger fans.  Not that any of them picked up their phones, but as if that was going to stop me from rubbing in the victory.  I made sure to leave them, "Dun, dun, dun, DUN...U-S-C...Goooo COCKS! (repeat)."  Man...I've been sucked into the crazy hole of rivalry...hahaha!

Well...I best get going because I still have homework to do.  Like usual, whenever I go home, it seems I never get any work done...

So, well...Enjoy the rest of the weekend and catch y'all later on the flipside, future Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 06:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thank God Middle Tennessee won (a slight understatement, I know, we slaughtered Mid Tenn at 52-7) because the story that I'm about to tell you about today's happenings would totally not be worth it had we lost the game!

So, I had to get up early today because there was a meeting for us, bloggers.  The meeting was at 10:30  at the Thomas Cooper Library, but before then, I did some homework first and grabbed breakfast.  I met up with the other bloggers and Morgan, and we talked about how we should be blogging on this thing.  Anyways, the meeting ended around 11:50, which meant that the kick-off was in 40 minutes and I was about 234,580,935 miles away from the William Brice Stadium.  I ran as fast as I could back to Maxcy to drop off some things and get my roommate, Megan.  Finally, at about 12:05, Megan and I were en route to the game...

We didn't really know how to get to the stadium because we have taken the bus the past two other games we've been to, but we didn't make it this time.  There is usually a shuttle bus that takes students to the game about an hour prior to kick-off.  We checked a map before we left the dorm and figured that we would take Sumter Street all the way down until it got to this area that is all gray on the map (gray because it is no longer part of the USC campus).  We just thought that once we got to that gray area that we would just cut through buildings and such.

In case you didn't know, the USC area is not really flat... NOT REALLY FLAT!  So, off my roommate and I were, trying to make the game.  We made it to Blatt in 10 minutes, which usually would take about 15-17 minutes.  (Yes, the minutes do make the difference.)  We were jogging down Sumter Street, which doesn't sound too bad until we realized that a hill was up ahead.  We tried to jog up the hill, but that was not a great idea at all.  (We should have stretched before the trip... my calves were killing me!!!)  We thought it was bad--running down and up the hills--then we reached the end of Sumter Street.  We soon found ourselves in this sketchy part of town.  One of the houses had signs all over the garden that read, "NO TRESSPASSING. BEWARE."  Megan and I could only think of jogging faster to get out of the area... we really wanted to get to the game.. ALIVE!  Eventually, we made it to an area with buildings and found Habitat for Humanity.  We figured that we were in a better part of town until we made a turn around the building and found ourselves in tall grass.  We thought, "What the heck!"  We've already made it through the sketchy neighborhood that walking through grass and weeds should be a piece of cake.  So, we made the turn through the grass and then another surprise!  We were startled by this old guy on a lawn chair with a bottle of Bud in hand and a case sitting next to him.  Megan and I got scared and decided to walk... jog.. yes, JOG!  We jogged away from the scary old man and then found ourselves stuck in this thing because a fence wrapped around the entire area.  We had to backtrack and FINALLY found William Brice... It only took us 40 minutes to get there... had to be some record though.

So, we're finally at the game, and we're trying to find some seats.  On our way up to the bleachers, this guy pushes his friend, and just guess who was there to "catch" the guy?!?  As a poor bystander, I found myself flat on my butt on a bleacher with a guy twice my size on me.  The excitement just does not end...

Finally... FINALLY, we're settled and such.  I'd go over the amazing plays we had during the game and all, but I'm not really football-lingo-savvy.  I'll just say... THANK GOD WE FINALLY WON... and THANK GOD FOR 52-7 VICTORY!

The game ended about 3:30, and Megan and I decided that we would try to make it to Bates for lunch by 4.  I'll explain this more later, but to enjoy your "lunch meal plan" you have to redeem it within the time frame of 11AM and 4PM.  We didn't want to waste our meal plan, and the closest place was Bates.  Too bad that "closest" did not mean close at all!  We soon found ourselves on another trek--I felt like G.I. Jane.  Dodging cars as we crossed streets and running up hills through Bull Street, we finally made it to Bates at 3:58... two minutes to spare to get to the diner... DOORS CLOSED!  Bates closes on Saturdays after 1PM and does not open until 5PM.  There went a meal plan and 28 minutes of running and jogging and power-walking.

Finally, Megan and I regrouped and got ourselves together.  To cap out today's strenuous adventure, we decided that we needed to treat ourselves to some great comfort sweets. We went across the street from Bates and headed to this Italian restaurant DiPrato's for some awesome canolis, great tiramisus, and CUTE servers.

The last leg of our trek back to Maxcy was still 25 more minutes, but with canolis and tiramisu in tow and the vision of the dreamy server in our minds... we knew that we would be just fine, and we would make it alive back to our dorm.

Yes, today was very TIRESOME.. but it would definitely have to go down in the books as one of 'em great crazy adventures!

Here's to more crazy fun.. Catch y'all on the flipside, future Gamecocks! 

Posted by Kriska at 05:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)