Despite an early kickoff time and cold weather, football fans did not stay home in Columbia, South Carolina this past weekend. The matchup between the Florida Gators and South Carolina Gamecocks proved to be enough to lure scores of fans.
Florida, 3-5 overall coming into the matchup, was looking to improve its bowl chances with a win over the Gamecocks. Meanwhile, South Carolina (6-3) were the clear favorite, but they surely hoped to shake off a 24-10 loss to No. 1 Georgia the week prior.
More than 4,000 football fans visited the Wendy’s College Tailgate Tour area within Gamecock Village, the Fan Zone adjacent to Williams-Brice Stadium. These fans not only got to enjoy live sports and gaming action from the TCL eSports Lounge, but they also enjoyed encounters with two very special guests.
Former NFL running back Fred Taylor stopped by to meet fans and cheer on his alma mater, the University of Florida. South Carolina fans also got to see a hometown hero, former NFL wide receiver and current NFL Network analyst, Sterling Sharpe. While visiting the TCL eSports Lounge, Sharpe was also interviewed by local Columbia CBS affiliate, WLTX, where he discussed his Gamecock career, the Tailgate Tour, and TCL.
With former college and NFL football players on hand, this stop was one of the most memorable for fans. It also delivered plenty of entertainment on the field. The Gamecocks went on to beat Florida 28-20 in front of nearly 80,000 fans to mark their seventh win of the season. Florida was unable to capitalize on South Carolina’s early errors, which ultimately gave the team from Columbia the opportunity to overcome and take the win.
Don't miss this weekend’s exciting matchup between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Arkansas Razorbacks. If you plan on tailgating in Fayetteville, AR this weekend, be sure to stop by the TCL eSports Lounge and say hello!
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