South Carolina football has two games left in the 2023 regular season, and both contests are must-win games for a Gamecock squad that is 4-6 and striving to become bowl-eligible. (*Yes, some 5-7 teams could get invited to bowl games if there are not enough 6-win teams, but only 6-win teams will have traditional bowl eligibility and virtually be assured a postseason game*)
The first of these two tests will come this weekend when South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer and his team welcome Mark Stoops (who claims no beef with Beamer) and the Kentucky Wildcats to Williams-Brice Stadium for a 7:30 kickoff.
According to rumors that have been circulating online since early Tuesday morning, the November 25th Carolina-Clemson game could have a high-profile visitor in attendance.
Sure, there will be recruits present, but this particular visitor is a bit too old to be checking out a college campus or a football program.
Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States, is rumored to be coming to the game. As he campaigns for the 2024 presidential election, Trump appears set to visit the home state of fellow Republican presidential hopeful (and Clemson alum) Nikki Haley.
Fans should expect even more traffic than normal for the Palmetto Bowl if Trump does, indeed, make an appearance in Columbia.
As of now, there has been no indication as to whether the former president has a rooting interest in the game, but it would seem to be a very Donald Trump-like thing to cheer on the Gamecocks since his political opponent is a Clemson graduate. However, as the political world’s resident “Orange Man,” perhaps Trump will side with the Tigers. If he does attend the game, he is expected to be Governor Henry McMaster’s guest.
As of now, there has been no official confirmation of Trump’s attendance at the post-Thanksgiving rivalry game, but if he does show up at Williams-Brice Stadium, it is sure to be a major topic of conversation among both South Carolina football fans and fans of the Clemson Tigers.