Gamecock fans came out in full force and packed the Vista, one of Columbia’s downtown entertainment districts, to cheer on the home team. Vista restaurant, Wild Wings was among the many eateries packed to capacity. Folks there were in high spirits ready to see their favorite team play in another bowl game.
Chris Johnson, a 2007 University of South Carolina graduate, was excited to see Carolina in a bowl game. He stated, “It’s always good to be in a bowl, especially a bowl after New Year’s Day. It’s prestigious and very nice.”
Chris watched the game with his wife and in-laws and just like another die-hard fan, he was hoping for the best. He said as we was watching the first half, “Well I’m hoping for a win but it doesn’t look like it right now.”
Father-in-Law, Joe Musgrove, who graduated in 1980, was equally excited to see Carolina take the field today. He already had his prediction ready and waiting to be fulfilled stating, “Well I came in saying (Carolina) 31, (UConn) 21, but now I’m hoping we can squeak by.” But despite what was happening on the television screen, Musgrove remained optimistic. Last year’s Outback Bowl quickly came to mind for him as he said, “It’s not like last year where we gave it away early and lots of turnovers. We just haven’t stopped them. I think we’ll make some adjustments and we’ll be alright.”
Win or lose, for this crew, it was all about spending time with family and friends. Musgrove exclaimed, “It’s great! I’m here with my wife, daughter and son-in-law. Three out of four of us are Gamecock Alumni, so we’re looking forward to it.”
And as any Gamecock fan knows, there’s always next year.
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