The week leading up to the Gamecocks' big win over Nebraska on Monday was a lot of fun, but definitely a whirlwind. Now that we know the happy ending to the week, take a look back at some of the highlights from the week that you may have missed and catch all the fun! We've picked some of our favorite photos from each day as well as included links to more of our videos, photos and blog posts from last week. Enjoy reminiscing!
Day 1 - Tuesday, Dec. 27
We left Columbia last Tuesday afternoon and one of the first sites welcoming us to Orlando was this impressive custom-wrapped bus that would help transport the team around all week. At the hotel the team did some conditioning to shake off any travel weariness, which is also where they learned the news that Lorenzo Ward had been named the defensive coordinator.
More coverage of Day 1 here.
Day 2 - Wednesday, Dec. 28
Our first big day started early with an FCA Breakfast for several members of the team, then our first full practice in Orlando and some free time at Disney World.
Setting up the mobile weight room
One of my favorite photos, Coach Elliott warming up his O-linemen before practice. More Day 2 photos here.
Day 3 - Thursday, Dec. 29
Bruce Ellington arrived in Orlando after scoring 17 points Wednesday night against Wofford. Practice went well and later that afternoon the team ventured out to Universal Studios. This photo was one of the favorites among our fans on Facebook last week, defensive tackle Byron Jerideau's classic face of anxiety before they take off on a roller coaster:
More Day 3 coverage:
- Day 3 Blog recap
- Photos from practice
- Practice recap and media interviews
- Photos from Universal Studios trip
- Video highlights of Universal Studios trip
Day 4 - Friday, Dec. 30
Friday was another busy day as the team started the morning off at DisneyQuest, a large indoor arcade and virtual gaming center, for a private charity event called Day for Kids. Kids from disadvantaged backgrounds were paired up with players from both teams for a morning of fun. Later, after meetings, they had another practice out at Celebration High School (practice recap and interviews). That afternoon two seniors, Rodney Paulk and Travian Robertson, had a special experience at SeaWorld feeding dolphins and performing tricks with them.
Devin Taylor's 6-7 frame couldn't help him on this racing game vs. his kid partner
- More Day for Kids photos
- Day for Kids event blog post
- Day for Kids video highlights
- Day 4 Practice photos
Seniors and roommates Rodney Paulk and Travian Robertson took full advantage of their final bowl trip with the Gamecocks, including this special experience at SeaWorld.
- More SeaWorld photos
- SeaWorld dolphin experience blog post
- Dolphin experience video highlights
Day 5 - Saturday, Dec. 31
New Year's Eve! The Gamecocks held their final practice out at Celebration HS. After practice, Shawn Elliott, Kenny Miles, Lorenzo Ward and Melvin Ingram represented the Gamecocks at a Player-Coordinator press conference hosted by the bowl. The rest of the team made their way to Best Buy for a shopping spree to redeem part of their gift from the Capital One Bowl, a $420 Best Buy gift card. The guys bought everything from iPads and TV's to video games, keyboards and even a mixer and meat grinder that T.J. Johnson bought to process his own meat after his hunting trips:
More photos from the Best Buy shopping spree
Day 6 - Sunday, Jan. 1st
The team was focused all week and very motivated to earn win #11 (as you could tell from their performance on Monday), but on Sunday, with only one day left until the game, you could feel the intensity and seriousness go up another notch. They started off the day at the Capital One Bowl Kickoff Luncheon, an event for both teams and their staffs as well as fans. After a walk-through at the Citrus Bowl (their first glimpse of the stadium), the team returned to the hotel to relax while the four captains (Alshon Jeffery, Melvin Ingram, Terrence Campbell and Travian Robertson) headed over to Pointe Orlando with Coach Spurrier for the bowl's official pep rally. The Gamecock crowd there was fantastic!
More coverage of Day 6:
- Kickoff Luncheon blog post
- Kickoff Luncheon photos
- Video - Coach Spurrier at Kickoff Luncheon press conference
- Video - Q&A with Coach Spurrier and Coach Pelini
- Video - The Capital One Minute Challenge games
- More Pep Rally photos
- Pep Rally blog post
GAMEDAY! - Monday, Jan. 2
All the practices and fun was leading up to this moment - gameday. The team arrived at the stadium and made their way through cheering fans at the Gamecock Walk before getting into their regular warm-up routine. The game itself was thrilling, with several exciting moments such as Stephon Gilmore returning the blocked extra point, Alshon Jeffery's touchdown catch at the end of the first half which landed at #1 on SportsCenter's Top Plays, Kenny Miles's hard work rewarded with two touchdowns, tying a season-high for sacks with six (including three in a row in the fourth quarter), and more.
Gamecock Walk & Pre-Game Photos
Game Recap
Thanks for following along with us here on the blog and GamecocksOnline.com as well as social media. Hope you enjoyed the ride and coming home with the 11th win as much as we did!
Day 1 - Tuesday, Dec. 27
We left Columbia last Tuesday afternoon and one of the first sites welcoming us to Orlando was this impressive custom-wrapped bus that would help transport the team around all week. At the hotel the team did some conditioning to shake off any travel weariness, which is also where they learned the news that Lorenzo Ward had been named the defensive coordinator.
More coverage of Day 1 here.
Day 2 - Wednesday, Dec. 28
Our first big day started early with an FCA Breakfast for several members of the team, then our first full practice in Orlando and some free time at Disney World.
"I can't even really explain how much work goes into setting up a mobile practice from scratch in a new location. College football is a large operation with a lot of people and a lot of moving parts. Several departments and functions have to be picked up from Columbia and established in temporary fashion in Orlando for a week. Athletic training/sports medicine, equipment, ticketing, video, media relations, the football staff and office... everything. You're picking it all up and moving it." - Excerpt from our Day 2 blog recap
Setting up the mobile weight room
One of my favorite photos, Coach Elliott warming up his O-linemen before practice. More Day 2 photos here.
Day 3 - Thursday, Dec. 29
Bruce Ellington arrived in Orlando after scoring 17 points Wednesday night against Wofford. Practice went well and later that afternoon the team ventured out to Universal Studios. This photo was one of the favorites among our fans on Facebook last week, defensive tackle Byron Jerideau's classic face of anxiety before they take off on a roller coaster:
More Day 3 coverage:
- Day 3 Blog recap
- Photos from practice
- Practice recap and media interviews
- Photos from Universal Studios trip
- Video highlights of Universal Studios trip
Day 4 - Friday, Dec. 30
Friday was another busy day as the team started the morning off at DisneyQuest, a large indoor arcade and virtual gaming center, for a private charity event called Day for Kids. Kids from disadvantaged backgrounds were paired up with players from both teams for a morning of fun. Later, after meetings, they had another practice out at Celebration High School (practice recap and interviews). That afternoon two seniors, Rodney Paulk and Travian Robertson, had a special experience at SeaWorld feeding dolphins and performing tricks with them.
Devin Taylor's 6-7 frame couldn't help him on this racing game vs. his kid partner
- More Day for Kids photos
- Day for Kids event blog post
- Day for Kids video highlights
- Day 4 Practice photos
Seniors and roommates Rodney Paulk and Travian Robertson took full advantage of their final bowl trip with the Gamecocks, including this special experience at SeaWorld.
- More SeaWorld photos
- SeaWorld dolphin experience blog post
- Dolphin experience video highlights
Day 5 - Saturday, Dec. 31
New Year's Eve! The Gamecocks held their final practice out at Celebration HS. After practice, Shawn Elliott, Kenny Miles, Lorenzo Ward and Melvin Ingram represented the Gamecocks at a Player-Coordinator press conference hosted by the bowl. The rest of the team made their way to Best Buy for a shopping spree to redeem part of their gift from the Capital One Bowl, a $420 Best Buy gift card. The guys bought everything from iPads and TV's to video games, keyboards and even a mixer and meat grinder that T.J. Johnson bought to process his own meat after his hunting trips:
More photos from the Best Buy shopping spree
Day 6 - Sunday, Jan. 1st
The team was focused all week and very motivated to earn win #11 (as you could tell from their performance on Monday), but on Sunday, with only one day left until the game, you could feel the intensity and seriousness go up another notch. They started off the day at the Capital One Bowl Kickoff Luncheon, an event for both teams and their staffs as well as fans. After a walk-through at the Citrus Bowl (their first glimpse of the stadium), the team returned to the hotel to relax while the four captains (Alshon Jeffery, Melvin Ingram, Terrence Campbell and Travian Robertson) headed over to Pointe Orlando with Coach Spurrier for the bowl's official pep rally. The Gamecock crowd there was fantastic!
More coverage of Day 6:
- Kickoff Luncheon blog post
- Kickoff Luncheon photos
- Video - Coach Spurrier at Kickoff Luncheon press conference
- Video - Q&A with Coach Spurrier and Coach Pelini
- Video - The Capital One Minute Challenge games
- More Pep Rally photos
- Pep Rally blog post
GAMEDAY! - Monday, Jan. 2
All the practices and fun was leading up to this moment - gameday. The team arrived at the stadium and made their way through cheering fans at the Gamecock Walk before getting into their regular warm-up routine. The game itself was thrilling, with several exciting moments such as Stephon Gilmore returning the blocked extra point, Alshon Jeffery's touchdown catch at the end of the first half which landed at #1 on SportsCenter's Top Plays, Kenny Miles's hard work rewarded with two touchdowns, tying a season-high for sacks with six (including three in a row in the fourth quarter), and more.
Gamecock Walk & Pre-Game Photos
Game Recap
Thanks for following along with us here on the blog and GamecocksOnline.com as well as social media. Hope you enjoyed the ride and coming home with the 11th win as much as we did!
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