Cock-A-Doodle Brew 6/24: Catching Up

Catch up with former reliever Jose Mata!

Author

Sydney Fields
June 24, 2026

 

Good Morning, Gamecocks! This is Columbia.

What else is Brewin’? Check it out below!

⚾ Catching up
🏇 Equestrian schedule
🤙 And much more!

🎥 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

"Schnall Ball" has landed in Columbia! Here's your very first chance to hear from new University of South Carolina head baseball coach, Kevin Schnall. After spending more than two decades at Coastal Carolina, the 2025 Baseball America College Coach of the Year takes over for the Gamecocks, ready to compete in the SEC. In his first appearance as Carolina's new skipper, Schnall shares his philosophy on hitting, the transfer portal, and why now was the right time to make the move to USC.

📈 STOCK UP

🔺 Catching Up. Former South Carolina pitcher Jose Mata now serves as a manager at Vanguard Financial Services in Charlotte. He credits his post-baseball success to the strong Gamecock alumni network. He received support from fellow Gamecocks in finding his first job and values the community built around the university. Mata, along with his championship-winning teammates, will be inducted into the South Carolina Association of Lettermen’s Athletics Hall of Fame.

“I won a national championship, came back for the parade, and then realized I was unemployed. It just hit me like a ton of bricks. So, I took my resume and posted it on Twitter where I was followed by tons of Gamecock fans. I had 10 or 15 people reach out to me that said they’d love for me to come work for them.”

- Jose Mata

🔺 Schedule’s Set. The 2026-27 Gamecock equestrian schedule is here! The Gamecocks will kick the regular season off with a four-meet homestand as they come off a National Championship season. The schedule features nine non-conference opponents and home/away series with all three fellow SEC programs.

🤔 GAMECOCK TRIVIA

Fill in the blank…

What was Jose Mata’s record in the 2010 season?

Think you know it?

Scroll down to the bottom of this email for the right answer!

📅 WHAT’S ON TAP?

Friday, Aug. 28
🏐 Volleyball vs. UNCG @ 7 p.m.

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🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: 7-1

🤙 Have a great week, y’all!