South Carolina names live mascot after Thomas Sumter

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South Carolina announced the new name for its live mascot on Monday, a moniker that is very familiar to those from Sumter.
The Gamecocks’ live mascot will now be known at “The General” after Revolutionary War General Thomas Sumter. The athletic program’s name already paid homage to Sumter, who’s nickname was the “Fighting Gamecock.”
“We know Gamecock fans are passionate about our traditions and seeing the live mascot at games and other Athletics events is something they look forward to,” South Carolina Deputy Athletics Director Eric Nichols said. “When we realized that we would have to change his name to keep that tradition alive, it seemed fitting to go back to where ‘Gamecocks’ got started.”
South Carolina has used a live mascot at football and baseball games for nearly two decades. That continues through a partnership between the USC Athletic Department and new owners Beth and Van Clark. A dispute between the Clarks and the previous owners over the care of the rooster led to the withholding of the name “Sir Big Spur,” which neither the university or the athletics department owned the rights to.
In deciding on the new name, the Athletics Department worked with the Clarks, internal staff and even reviewed fan suggestions on social media. With the University’s legal department discouraging keeping any part of the previous name in the new one, the Gamecocks chose to honor their original namesake and give the live mascot the name The General.
When football season starts next Saturday, The General will have not just a new name, but a new perch as well. The Athletics Department and the Clarks are creating a ‘C’ for The General to sit, somewhat replicating the South Carolina Block C logo.
The General is set for his first appearance of the 2022-23 athletic season at the South Carolina football season opener against Georgia State on Saturday.