Gamecocks fans approve of Williams-Brice upgrades

They came packed in truck beds, overstuffed into golf carts, lugging coolers and cases, smiles upon their Gamecock-tattooed faces, all on their way to see the Gamecocks play.

But first there were tents to be raised, cornhole bags to be tossed, beverages to be downed – and bricks to be found.

Joe Biggerstaff could not find his brick.

His whole family wandered with their heads bowed, scanning each of hundreds of engraved bricks at the new Springs Brooks Plaza surrounding USC’s Williams-Brice Stadium.

Like thousands of other donors, the Biggerstaffs had purchased a personalized, commemorative brick to be laid at the corner of George Rogers Boulevard and Bluff Road, near the newly unveiled George Rogers statue that gazes toward the stadium.

“I just thought it’d be neat to have a piece of history, I’d call it,” Biggerstaff said.

A lifelong Gamecock fan and graduate of USC-Aiken, Biggerstaff holds the iconic Williams-Brice in dear regard.

“I love it. I’ve been coming here all my life,” he said. “I know (the stadium) like the back of my hand. A lot of good memories. Even with my dad bringing me when I was a little boy. So I’ve carried on the tradition, bringing my son.”

It’s a similar feeling of Carolina family pride for the Hofferth family, who were lucky enough to find their brick among the thousands – thanks to a handy guide who pointed them toward the area they should search.

“This will be here forever, I hope,” said Lisa Hofferth.

The family’s brick commemorates the graduation years of her husband, father-in-law, son and eldest daughter from USC. Her 7-year-old daughter, Lilly, wondered why her future graduation year wasn’t included.

“It just meant so much to be here all these years and to bring my kids back here and have it mean as much to them as it has to us,” Lisa Hofferth said.

Nearby at Gamecock Park, George Leventis and his son Chris whetted their football appetites with friends Tom and Nancy Kotti by watching Auburn’s overtime win against Jacksonville State on a television beneath their adjoining tailgating tents.

The families have been tailgating together for years. One of George Leventis’ favorite tailgating traditions hung beside him from the tent’s rail: a stuffed Clemson tiger with a rope around its neck.

The friends hadn’t yet made their way to the stadium to check out the upgrades, but “it’s fair to say it’s overdue,” Tom Kotti said.

Overdue, perhaps, but worth it, George Leventis said.

“I think we’ve got a shot now to have – in time, it’s going to take a little while – but when this looks like The Grove at Ole Miss, then we will have it all,” he said.

This story was originally published September 13, 2015 at 10:48 AM with the headline "Gamecocks fans approve of Williams-Brice upgrades."