Written by student assistant Rebecca Duensing and Brittany Lane
On Monday night's "Inside the Roost" radio show host Derek Scott was joined by Colonel Clayton Sheffield, commanding officer of the 165th Infantry Brigade at Fort Jackson, and Josh Waters, Associate Director of Marketing here in the athletics department, to discuss the Men's Basketball team's recent visit and the strong relationship between Fort Jackson and Gamecock Athletics.
In the past few years, a lot has been done on both sides to grow the Gamecocks' relationship with the military, perhaps most visibly with the Military Appreciation Day during football season. But the bond and partnership goes beyond just that day. Waters mentioned that several coaches have done speaking engagements at the base and that many of the troops enjoy bringing their kids to some of the smaller sporting events at Carolina.
This Saturday's Men's Basketball game (vs. #2 Ohio State, Noon) is our latest partnership. The game will feature a military halftime presentation and COL. Sheffield will be the honorary captain. The men's basketball team's recent day out at Fort Jackson (featured in the "Gamecock Confidential: Men's Basketball Back to Basics" show that aired on ABC Columbia this past weekend) was another example of the relationship.
"The team was looking for a day long team-building event," said Waters. "COL. Sheffield laid out a plan for us and it worked out perfectly for those guys."
COL Sheffield decided on a program that would give the team both a taste of what they do in basic training at Fort Jackson, but also several team-building opportunities.
"We brought them in and introduced them, had them relax a little bit and then we brought the heat," said COL Sheffield.
The entire atmosphere changed as he introduced his drill sergeants as a starting lineup, calling them out by height, weight, where they've been, what they've done, and said that "when they came marching into the room with drill hats on, you could tell they meant business."
Scott said that he got a bit of a laugh watching the team's reactions during the show, but admitted he wasn't sure what he would've done in the same situation.
"I don't think the reality hits you until you see it firsthand like that, and know this isn't a film, this is what these guys face," said Scott. "They come in for basic training and that's the way they get initiated."
COL Sheffield responded that people get a perception of what the military is either through media, through movies, or through family members who have served, but the number of people who have actually served in the military is a very small segment of the population. They brought the team-building principles they use in the military to the day's exercises.
"We're the ultimate team-building group; that's what we do. Second place is not an option for us," said COL Sheffield. "How do you build a team - you want to talk about the values you have, so you all buy into the values we're going to operate under. You have to have discipline, strict discipline from the beginning."
"If I tell you to do something, you're all going to do it together. If one guy's doing it wrong, you're all doing it wrong. One guy's got his helmet on backwards? You're all going to pay the price and do pushups. It's about learning along the way, are you doing what's right when no one is looking."
The athletics department looks forward to continuing to develop the relationship with Fort Jackson and the thousands of active military, retirees and their families in the area. COL. Sheffield is new to Columbia, having only been in his position for about five months, but says it was his top choice and he specifically asked for Fort Jackson.
"It's the first capital city that I've ever been stationed in with a large university," said COL Sheffield. "Mostly I've been in insulations that have a very good supportive community on the outside, but here it's a unique experience because you have the seat of the government of South Carolina and an SEC school which I'm a big fan of. I'm a sports fanatic, so I'm in the right spot."
Be sure to give COL. Sheffield a warm welcome on Saturday when he is introduced as honorary captain at the Men's Basketball game vs. Ohio State. Tip-off is at noon. Tickets
Listen to "Inside the Roost" every Monday night from 7:00-8:00 p.m. on 107.5 The Game for insight into Gamecock Athletics with Derek Scott and AD Eric Hyman along with weekly guests.
On Monday night's "Inside the Roost" radio show host Derek Scott was joined by Colonel Clayton Sheffield, commanding officer of the 165th Infantry Brigade at Fort Jackson, and Josh Waters, Associate Director of Marketing here in the athletics department, to discuss the Men's Basketball team's recent visit and the strong relationship between Fort Jackson and Gamecock Athletics.
In the past few years, a lot has been done on both sides to grow the Gamecocks' relationship with the military, perhaps most visibly with the Military Appreciation Day during football season. But the bond and partnership goes beyond just that day. Waters mentioned that several coaches have done speaking engagements at the base and that many of the troops enjoy bringing their kids to some of the smaller sporting events at Carolina.
This Saturday's Men's Basketball game (vs. #2 Ohio State, Noon) is our latest partnership. The game will feature a military halftime presentation and COL. Sheffield will be the honorary captain. The men's basketball team's recent day out at Fort Jackson (featured in the "Gamecock Confidential: Men's Basketball Back to Basics" show that aired on ABC Columbia this past weekend) was another example of the relationship.
"The team was looking for a day long team-building event," said Waters. "COL. Sheffield laid out a plan for us and it worked out perfectly for those guys."
COL Sheffield decided on a program that would give the team both a taste of what they do in basic training at Fort Jackson, but also several team-building opportunities.
"We brought them in and introduced them, had them relax a little bit and then we brought the heat," said COL Sheffield.
The entire atmosphere changed as he introduced his drill sergeants as a starting lineup, calling them out by height, weight, where they've been, what they've done, and said that "when they came marching into the room with drill hats on, you could tell they meant business."
Scott said that he got a bit of a laugh watching the team's reactions during the show, but admitted he wasn't sure what he would've done in the same situation.
"I don't think the reality hits you until you see it firsthand like that, and know this isn't a film, this is what these guys face," said Scott. "They come in for basic training and that's the way they get initiated."
COL Sheffield responded that people get a perception of what the military is either through media, through movies, or through family members who have served, but the number of people who have actually served in the military is a very small segment of the population. They brought the team-building principles they use in the military to the day's exercises.
"We're the ultimate team-building group; that's what we do. Second place is not an option for us," said COL Sheffield. "How do you build a team - you want to talk about the values you have, so you all buy into the values we're going to operate under. You have to have discipline, strict discipline from the beginning."
"If I tell you to do something, you're all going to do it together. If one guy's doing it wrong, you're all doing it wrong. One guy's got his helmet on backwards? You're all going to pay the price and do pushups. It's about learning along the way, are you doing what's right when no one is looking."
The athletics department looks forward to continuing to develop the relationship with Fort Jackson and the thousands of active military, retirees and their families in the area. COL. Sheffield is new to Columbia, having only been in his position for about five months, but says it was his top choice and he specifically asked for Fort Jackson.
"It's the first capital city that I've ever been stationed in with a large university," said COL Sheffield. "Mostly I've been in insulations that have a very good supportive community on the outside, but here it's a unique experience because you have the seat of the government of South Carolina and an SEC school which I'm a big fan of. I'm a sports fanatic, so I'm in the right spot."
Be sure to give COL. Sheffield a warm welcome on Saturday when he is introduced as honorary captain at the Men's Basketball game vs. Ohio State. Tip-off is at noon. Tickets
Listen to "Inside the Roost" every Monday night from 7:00-8:00 p.m. on 107.5 The Game for insight into Gamecock Athletics with Derek Scott and AD Eric Hyman along with weekly guests.
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