South Carolina Football Under the Lights: Spring Game and Spring Practice Announced

There’s nothing quite like a night under the lights at Williams-Brice Stadium in the fall. Last season, the Gamecocks were undefeated at night, including 5-0 during night games at Williams-Brice such as the big win over Texas A&M or the playoff hope-dashing beatdown against Tennessee. The next best thing to a night game at Willy B? A night spring game at Willy B.

As part of the second annual “Big Gamecock Weekend,” the 2023 Spring Game will officially be kicked off at 7:00 PM on April 15th. Admission will be free for all Carolina fans. In addition to the game, the Big Gamecock Weekend will include a pregame concert courtesy of Patrick Davis & His Midnight Choir, a postgame fireworks and lights show at Williams-Brice Stadium, and several charitable opportunities like the Cocky Trot 5k and Fun Run.

Spring practice is set to begin about a month earlier, with March 14th being the first day of official practices in 2023. The Gamecocks will be welcoming 18 new scholarship players (and several walk-ons) to their first practices as Gamecocks. It is important to note that several members of the 2023 recruiting class and transfer portal class have not enrolled at South Carolina yet, and those players will not be participating in spring practice.

Spring practice will also be Gamecock fans’ first look at new Offensive Coordinator Dowell Loggains in garnet and black. The replacement for maligned former Offensive Coordinator Marcus Satterfield, Loggains has attacked his new role with an energy that has been noticed by coaches, players, fans, and recruits.

While spring practice is especially useful for young players and players new to South Carolina, it is more of a learning opportunity than a showcase for fans. Spring practice and summer practice will play large roles in determining what starting lineups might look like once it is time for the September 2nd opener in Charlotte against North Carolina. Beginning with the first day of spring practice on March 14th, fans all across Gamecock Nation will be imagining what their team will look like after returning players’ offseason progression and the additions of all the new talent on the squad.

This Thursday, some of the newcomers who made their way to Columbia via the transfer portal will speak to the media beginning at 8:45 AM before Head Coach Shane Beamer speaks at 11:15 AM.