We love our school. -we love our football team more.
Have you every heard 2001 under the lights of a night game? -I cry every single time.
Remember when you got that Christmas present you campaigned for all year long? -that's how loud we cheer when Cocky is revealed during the crescendo of 2001, just before the players run onto the field.
We appreciate that we went 0-21 once. -humility is a good thing.
We were crying like babies when we won that first game. -we stole the goal posts and bushes because we didn’t want the moment to end. (then we stole them a few more times)
We know Holtz changed it all for us- Spurrier made better. -and Beamer made us believe.
Fuck Muschamp. We genuinely HATE Muschamp. -don’t even mention that guy to a Gamecock.
We beat Ohio State. Twice. -they were National Champions the following year.
The HIT. -no other explanation necessary, other than OSU fans and players alike didn't give a fuck about those consecutive Outback Bowls when this occurred.
We are hopeless romantics. -how can we not be?
We are passionate and confidant. -some might say we are cocky.
Our passion annoys 99% of the people who don’t get it - we do not care.
We are grateful for every moment. - and understand more than anyone why George Rogers carries his Heisman around with him, every day.
We hate the color orange. -we really hate the color orange.
We don’t give an actual fuck how many “Nattys” Clemson has won. -we smile knowing Dabo fell for “may I take my pic of you,” and it was usually the little kid in the picture who held up 5 fingers.
We hate Georgia just as much as Clemson. -and never in my life have I heard a Williams-Brice Stadium ‘boo’ the opposing coaches, until Muschamp ran out on the field with them.
Cam Newton Broke every single one of our hearts in 2010. -we all know he played as one, while we played as a team.
We develop the kind of people you are proud to be around. "Second quarter, with about five minutes left, fate got me. It was dreadful. A lot of anger. A lot of disappointment. Lot of pain all wrapped into one. I was shouting in the x-ray room. I tore all four ligaments in my knee — ACL, LCL, PCL and MCL — my calf muscle and hamstring and my femoral artery had been hit, which is why I couldn't feel anything. … I was never mad at [Eric Gordon]. At the end of the day, it was a good play. It was a legal tackle." - Marcus Lattimore. -Lattimore was my favorite player to watch on the Gamecocks football team. He was so fucking good. And pure of heart. I will always respect that man.
Quick side note due to my obvious ADHD: Despite his abbreviated career, Lattimore ranks No. 6 on South Carolina's all-time rushing list with 2,677 yards and owns the school record for rushing touchdowns (38) and overall touchdowns (41). His best season came as a freshman in 2010 when he rushed for 1,197 yards on 249 carries. He earned SEC Freshman of the Year and unanimous Freshman All-America honors.
The NFL loves the players we give to them. -yet they treat us like a moped; it's okay to ride around the neighborhood, but you don’t want anyone to see you on it.
Dan Reeves, Bobby Bryant, George Rogers, Harold Green, Sterling Sharpe, Robert Brooks, Duce Staley, Sheldon Brown, John Abraham, Jonathan Joseph, Richard Seymour, Sidney Rice, Ryan Succop, D.J. Swearinger, Alshon Jeffery, CLOWNY, Melvin Ingram, LATTIMORE, Mike Davis, Stephon Gilmore, Damiere Byrd, Connor Shaw, DEEBO, Hayden Hurst, Javon Kinlaw, Nick Muse, and Xavier Legette. Phil Petty, Jonathan Martin, Ryan Brewer, Jason Corse, Trey Pennington, Travis Whitfield, Andrew Pinnock, Courtney Leavitt, Vic Penn, Anthony Wright, Jermale Kelly, Scott Browne, Rod Trafford, Reed Morton, Corey Jenkins, Eric Kimrey, Derek Watson, Steve Florio, Tyeler Dean, Cleveland Pinckney, and Corey Bridges. -each name on this list is a Gamecock. Sure, not all of these men made it to the NFL, but each name means something to us.
We truly believe that when we are yelling at the television during a game the team can hear our obvious expertise. -and truly believe the refs are perpetually against us.
We know that every season we could (and probably will) beat the best team in the USC. -and then lose to the worst.
We have one logo for the entire university- aside from the baseball team. -they get their own, and no one really knows why.
We show up. We have no issue learning 100 different chants- depending on the direction of The Might Sound of the Southeast. We understand that we could be up 1million points going into the 4th quarter- and lose. We understand that we could be down 1million points going into the 4th quarter- and win. We are fiercely loyal. We do not give up. We see the potential. We get frustrated. We fight.
We are the mighty Gamecocks and the REAL CAROLINA. We are the mighty Gamecocks and the REAL USC.
Article originally written by Katherine S. Von Haden, in the Dec/Jan 2025 issue of Luxury Home Magazine.
In the world of luxury homes, innovation isn’t just an upgrade; it’s a way of life. Picture this: you stroll into your marble-floored, art-deco haven after a long day. Instead of flicking switches and fumbling with remotes, you murmur, “I’m home,” and your opulent residence takes it from there. Suddenly, the lights dim to your preferred “unwind” setting, your playlist gently hums in the background, and the blinds glide closed as if auditioning for their role in a futuristic ballet. This isn’t the plot of a sci-fi movie; it’s the reality of smart luxury living, and it’s coming to a home near you sooner than you think- if it hasn’t arrived in yours already.
The Butler is Now Digital
Gone are the days when the ultimate sign of luxury was a live-in butler named Chadwick, who’d bring you a warm towel and just the right amount of sass. Today, that role has been usurped by AI-driven smart assistants with names like Alexa, Siri, and Google Home. Except these domestic servants don’t sigh judgmentally when asked to dim the lights for the third time that evening. In the ultra-luxury market, the integration of voice-activated systems now extends beyond the living room. With a simple command, homeowners can lock or unlock doors, adjust the thermostat, or start their jacuzzi, all while comfortably ensconced in your Hermès slippers and cashmere robe.
Temperature Wars, Settled
One hallmark of living with other humans is the ongoing battle over the thermostat setting. “Smart” means no more thermostat feuds or passive-aggressive sticky notes. With zoned climate control, each area of a luxury home can maintain different temperatures, creating a truce that even Goldilocks herself can appreciate. The system learns your preferences and schedules, so if your partner likes to feel like they’re in the Arctic while you prefer a subtropical vibe, everyone’s happy-without lifting a finger.
Luxury homes have long been fortresses of security, but smart technology has taken it up a notch, making them feel like the set of a high-budget spy movie. Facial recognition at the front gate? Standard. Motion sensors that can tell the difference between a prowling intruder and Chauncy, your champion standard poodle? Of course. And let’s not forget about 360-degree cameras with real-time feeds that can be accessed from anywhere in the world. Want to check if your Amazon delivery has arrived while on a yacht in Capri? There’s an app for that, too.
Kitchens That Know More Than You Do
In a luxury smart home, even the kitchen can outwit its owner. Smart refrigerators remind you when the organic strawberries you bought two weeks ago are about to hit their expiration date (even though you planned on eating healthier). Ovens can be preheated from your phone, ensuring that your gourmet dinner is cooked to perfection by the time you’re done enjoying your martini in the hot tub. Thank you to companies, such as De’Longhi Magnifica, that learn your 7 a.m. espresso habit, making the morning rush feellike a scene from a five-star resort, not a Monday.
The Future is Now- And It’s Gloriously Extra
The rise in smart technology has turned luxury homes into a seamless blend of elegance and cutting-edge innovation. Every moment, from a light switch to an elaborate security check, is designed to be as intuitive as it is impressive. Whether it’s waking up to windows that reveal a pre-programmed sunrise or ending the day with automated blackout blinds that set the stage for a perfect night’s sleep, smart homes ensure that luxury living doesn’t just keep up with the future-it welcomes it with open, judgement-free, sensor-activated arms.
So, if you’re wondering what the new gold standard is in luxury living, it’s not just a coveted address with water views, marble countertops and grand foyers anymore-it’s a home that knows you as well as you know yourself.
