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In case you were wondering the logic behind the oft-mocked name here it is...if you've seen "The Patriot" you're already somewhat familiar with the story whether you know it or not...
The "Gamecock" moniker went on to be frequently used around the state and was eventually adopted by the University after an early football game.
So yea, Thomas Sumter, the early inspiration for the South Carolina Fighting "Gamecocks", was a pretty cool dude. Remember that you're paying him tribute everytime you make a c$%k jokes.
Here's a health Thomas Sumter, forever to thee.
Anyhow. Go c$%ks. Beat Nebraska
General Thomas Sumter
The "Carolina Gamecock"
Thomas Sumter, a native of Virgina, settled in South Carolina outside the future site of Columbia following service in the British Army against the Cherokee during the Seven Years War. Sumter quickly rose to a position of leadership in the colony's militia but largely sat out the early stages of the War until Soldiers of the British Legion under direction of Banastre Tarleton burned his home with his Wife and Child still inside. The burning drove Sumter to action and he took up arms for the Patriot cause, going on to lead a partisan campaign against the British Army in the region.
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Sumter capitalized on the widespread outrage caused by Tarleton's actions and the passion in the Colony was perhaps most fueled by Tarleton's massacre of hundreds of surrendering Colonials in the Battle of the Waxhaws (near present day Buford, SC) . The massacre led to a Colonial version of "Remember Pearl Harbor" or "Remember the Alamo" in which Patriots vowed to give the British "Tartleton's Quarter", essentially no quarter at all and this was pretty bad a$$. Sumter, equally bad a$$, was a huge pain in the collective hiney of the British Army. Utilizing guerrilla tactics against a far larger enemy Tarleton earned the reluctant respect of his foes with a rival General saying that Sumter "fought like a Gamecock" leading to his nickname, the "Carolina Gamecock."
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As the war continued the loss of the Northern Colonies seemed certain with British defeat in the Saratoga Campaign and thus the Crown decided to cut its losses and focus on retaining the far wealthier Southern Colonies. The increased focus of the British Army was matched in intensity by Sumter and his men who were deemed a constant "plague" by Cornwallis who complained that they were preventing him from pacifying the region. Sumter was such a successful plague that his victories eventually drove Cornwallis to abandon his occupation of the colony and flee toward Virginia where he was ultimately defeated at Yorktown.
The "Gamecock" moniker went on to be frequently used around the state and was eventually adopted by the University after an early football game.
So yea, Thomas Sumter, the early inspiration for the South Carolina Fighting "Gamecocks", was a pretty cool dude. Remember that you're paying him tribute everytime you make a c$%k jokes.
Here's a health Thomas Sumter, forever to thee.
Anyhow. Go c$%ks. Beat Nebraska
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