The Gamecocks got the chance to enjoy their Capital One Bowl experience a little more today. Part of their bowl gift was a $420 gift card for a shopping spree at Best Buy. The NCAA places a $550 limit on the monetary value of the gifts bowl games can provide for participating student-athletes.The players dispersed across the store very quickly, with many making a beeline for items like the iPad 2 and televisions. In my very non-scientific poll, the iPad 2 seemed to be the winner as the most popular purchase among the players. Gaming systems such as Xbox, Playstation and Wii also made their way into players' baskets. HD TV's and Beats by Dr. Dre headphones were also popular choices.
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While some players chose to use their card on the big ticket items, others decided to use theirs to purchase several lower priced items like video games, movies, phone covers, various cords and adapters, or accessories for items they already owned, such as cell phone covers and screens.
A few players actually used their cards primarily for presents for others. Shaq Wilson bought several video games for family members and an iPhone for his girlfriend for Christmas, Stephon Gilmore bought an iPod for his little brother and Kelcy Quarles bought an iPad 2 as a gift for his girlfriend.
The clear winner for the most unique purchase is T.J. Johnson. He piqued my curiosity when I saw him by himself in the home appliances section getting help from a Best Buy staffer. One of Johnson's favorite activities is hunting and he was choosing out a top of the line mixer and meat grinder to process his own meat from his efforts.
Thank you to the Capital One Bowl and Best Buy staff members who made today's event possible and helped the guys with their selections and purchases.
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