With college baseball taking the national stage at the College World Series this week, we've gotten several emails and comments on social media about the decals the baseball team is wearing on their helmets. We even received a few "thank you's" for the gesture from Alabama natives and fans.
As many Gamecock fans may recall, the team first wore them in the series vs. Auburn at the end of April immediately following the disastrous tornadoes in Alabama. The Gadsden Times reported that "the 64 April tornadoes killed 241 people in Alabama, left thousands homeless, caused about $1.5 billion in damage, damaged 231,000 acres and created 10 million cubic yards of debris, enough to create a pile the size of Bryant-Denny Stadium and one mile in height."
Auburn's team was planning on wearing the decals, an outline of the state of Alabama featuring the state flag inside, for the series and asked the South Carolina staff if they would like to wear them as well. After getting the first set from Auburn, Carolina then had additional sets made to wear them throughout the rest of the season.
As part of the relief efforts, the Southeastern Conference donated $500,000 to the University of Alabama to support its efforts in assisting students, faculty and staff that were impacted and encouraged fans to donate to Alabama's "UA Acts of Kindness Fund".
-Brittany
The Gamecocks continue play in the College World Series on Friday, June 24th, at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN3.com. They will face the winner of Thursday's Virginia-California match-up.
As many Gamecock fans may recall, the team first wore them in the series vs. Auburn at the end of April immediately following the disastrous tornadoes in Alabama. The Gadsden Times reported that "the 64 April tornadoes killed 241 people in Alabama, left thousands homeless, caused about $1.5 billion in damage, damaged 231,000 acres and created 10 million cubic yards of debris, enough to create a pile the size of Bryant-Denny Stadium and one mile in height."
Close-up of the decal:
Auburn's team was planning on wearing the decals, an outline of the state of Alabama featuring the state flag inside, for the series and asked the South Carolina staff if they would like to wear them as well. After getting the first set from Auburn, Carolina then had additional sets made to wear them throughout the rest of the season.
As part of the relief efforts, the Southeastern Conference donated $500,000 to the University of Alabama to support its efforts in assisting students, faculty and staff that were impacted and encouraged fans to donate to Alabama's "UA Acts of Kindness Fund".
-Brittany
The Gamecocks continue play in the College World Series on Friday, June 24th, at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN3.com. They will face the winner of Thursday's Virginia-California match-up.
Thanks Brittany, I have been waiting for the ESPN announcers to bring this up. But all they talked about the last game was themselves.
My son is a redshirt baseball freshman (Tommy Johns back in January) at Bama. We appreciate the decals and are pulling for the Gamecocks. Great win last night!
People always talk about rivalries in college sports, but what I have seen in the last 2 college world series that rivalries are put aside when people are in trouble. Last year the kids of one of the coaches were missing and the Clemson Tigers assisted in the search. And this year we see the Southeastern Conference schools coming together for those whose lives were devestated by the tornadoes. Let's hear it for sportsmanship.
Thank you for such a kind gesture towards our state. I am a Bama fan and I am pulling for the Gamecocks. You guys are. Class act!
Many thanks to the South Carolina baseball team and the University for raising awareness of the relief efforts in Alabama. This display of class and sportmanship is just another reason why it is great to be part of the SEC family.
Best of luck closing out the CWS. The state of Alabama is pulling for you.
Go Cocks!
Roll Tide
I noticed the Alabama stage flag decals early in the CWS and thought they might have something to do with the tornadoes here of April 27, 2011.
Thanks so much Gamecocks for remembering us and keeping us in the national spotlight, because the road to recovery will be long and hard, and the more people that remember us and help us will make it easier. This is a class act.
I made a post last night on the ESPN/Omaha Facebook page about the decal and was told that the announcers mentioned it early in the CWS, but I never heard it. They are suppose to highlight it again tonight during the game.
Again, thanks so much for this class act. From a born and raised Tuscaloosan. God bless you all.
outrageous! I knew that was an Alabama state outline and suspected the flag was inside. This team and its coaching staff are to be commended for their social consciousness. We are watching the 2nd game tonight---go SC!!
Congrats to the SC on the World Series Win! Great Season!! On the decals I fully agree you guys are a class act and the Great State of Alabama have been with you! Thanks again for your support! War Eagle!! jimr
Congratulations Gamecocks. I Agree, wish ESPN would have focused on the decal some, but take nothing away from the great team effort Carolina showed in winning the Championship.
As a Alabama fan living here near Tuscaloosa, I spoke with many Gamecock fans who made the trip during their weekend series in Tuscaloosa in May and they all were very supportive and sympathetic towards the damage the tornados caused.
Great job again. We were pulling for you hear. Thanks for representing the SEC and College Baseball.