Good morning. Shane Beamer's Gamecocks didn't flinch when it came time to take on the back-to-back defending national champs, and after the game, South Carolina proved they can play with anyone. In Episode 5 of The Story, Battle Tested, we reminisce about the biggest moments of a rivalry that dates back to the 1800s.

What else is mixed in today’s Brew? ⤵️

☀️ Sun rising
🔁 Repeating trickery
🤙 And much, much more

🎥 GAMECOCKS+

Almost Game Day! In case you missed any of it, here’s a Friday recap of the best pieces of content we dropped this week:

The Story, Episode 5: Battle Tested: Any time you take on the number one team in the nation, you know you have a test ahead of you. Throw in the fact that they're the back-to-back national champions, and you're looking at an uphill battle. In a rivalry that dates back to the 1800's, and the future schedule uncertain, the Gamecocks gave the Bulldogs everything they wanted this year. Before the matchup takes at least a year off, reminisce about the biggest moments of the past and buckle in for a dogfight in 2023.

Carolina Traditions: 2001: You've seen the new changes to the Gamecocks' entrance at Williams-Brice Stadium: more lights, a new tunnel, and of course, the Cockyboose. But one thing remains the same. A tradition that goes back 40 years, South Carolina football has become synonymous with the song known around here as "2001." You may think you know the full story, but in the first of our Carolina Traditions series, we talk to the man who brought it to Columbia, and a player who ran out to it for the very first time four decades ago.

Gamecocks Film Room: Alshon Jeffery: One of the greatest Gamecocks to don the Garnet & Black, Alshon Jeffery's name will forever be lit up in Williams-Brice Stadium as of this Saturday. Who better to look back on his career highlights than the man who recruited him to South Carolina? Step into the film room with Coach Beamer as we reminisce on some of the biggest plays No. 1 made on his way to history.

The CockTale Hour with Jay Philips and Bill Gunter: We’ve got an all-new episode of The CockTale Hour with Jay Philips and Bill Gunter as the Gamecocks continue SEC play back in Williams-Brice this weekend. We'll take a look at the trip to Athens, and get you ready for the next Bulldogs to roll into Columbia. Fill your glass, get comfy, and join us for The CockTale Hour!

Cat Barry Scores Big Goals (and Has Them, Too): Senior forward Cat Barry is a marked woman. She earned first-team All-SEC honors last year, and led the South Carolina women's soccer team with 10 goals and seven assists as the Gamecocks won the SEC Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Opponents will be doing their best to put the clamps on her in 2023, but she still has big goals for this season and beyond.

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📈 STOCK UP

A Different Type Of Respect. QB1 is lighting it up this season, on and off the field. His play (he’s ranked ninth in the nation with 954 games through three games) speaks for itself, but his teammates are taking note of his leadership.

“The command he has within the huddle, it’s a different type of respect. When you can correct somebody or show them how to do this and do that, and you go out there and back it up yourself, there’s a different type of respect you can have for somebody,” Ahmarean Brown told GamecockCentral. “When you go out there and perform the way he does, that’s a guy you want to be around. That’s the guy you want to listen to, because he’s smart, he’s our quarterback.”

🔼 Sun Rising. The Connecticut Sun are heading to the WNBA semifinals, thanks in no small part to some 🔥 perimeter shooting from our own Tyasha Harris! Harris drilled four of her six three-point attempts as the Sun knocked off the Lynx. The semifinals start on Sunday at 12:00 pm ET for the Sun, who will take on the New York Liberty.

Out west, A’ja Wilson, Alaina Coates, and the Las Vegas Aces will take on the Dallas Wings in Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals on Sunday at 4:00 pm ET.

🔼 Repeat Trickery. If you watched Sunday Night Football, then you saw the New England Patriots block a field goal attempt with a creative play design that set the football world aflutter. It’s no surprise that folks turned toward our legendary special teams guru for his take on the play. Special teams coordinator Pete Lembo broke down why he thinks that play was so successful, why it might not work in the future, and whether it’s something he might bring to Columbia one day.

🔼 Draw It Up. Gamecock women’s soccer played to a 0-0 on the road in Lexington yesterday. The match was a defensive battle throughout with South Carolina coming away from the road test with its seventh clean sheet of the season and the 26th in goalie Heather Hinz’s career. The Gamecocks are back at it on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET in Stone Stadium.

🤔 GAMECOCK TRIVIA

An Offensive Explosion. When South Carolina and Mississippi State clashed on the gridiron in 1995, it produced the highest combined point total in Gamecock history. Do you know how many points were scored that day?

Think you have it? Scroll down to the bottom of this email for the right answer!

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📬 THE WEEK AHEAD

Friday 9/22- Sunday 9/24

🎾 Women’s Tennis @ the NC State Ranked +1 Tournament

Friday 9/22 - Sunday 9/24

🎾 Women’s Tennis @ the Charlotte Fall Invite

⛳ Women’s Golf @ the Mason Rudolph Championship

Friday 9/22

🐎 Equestrian vs. UC Davis @ 1:00pm ET

⚽ Men’s Soccer vs. Georgia State @ 7:00pm ET with Charlie Arndt’s jersey retirement ceremony

🏐 Women’s Volleyball @ Arkansas @ 7:00pm ET

Saturday 9/23

🏈 Football vs. Mississippi State @ 7:30pm ET

Sunday 9/24

🏐 Women’s Volleyball @ Missouri @ 2:00pm ET

🥎 Softball Exhibition @ College of Charleston @ 2:00pm ET

⚽ Women’s Soccer vs. Tennessee @ 7:00pm ET

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: The two squads combined for 104 total points, with South Carolina coming out on top, 65-39.

🤙 Have a good weekend, y’all.