Thanks to the flood, it’s been over a week since I last posted here. While we have been extremely fortunate, much more so than many of our friends who live only a couple of miles away, the whole state of South Carolina has been thrown a curve ball, to say the least.  Even with my son back in school before most of the others in the area, I have had to play catch-up with other aspects of work.

But I have to take a moment and express gratitude, as a lifelong South Carolina Gamecocks fan, for the love, sportsmanship, and hospitality shown to my state by Louisiana. The Gamecocks were scheduled to have a home game in Columbia this weekend, against LSU. Columbia is one of the parts of the state that have been hit hardest by the flood, and many are now homeless. The state and the city are still struggling to pump out water and keep more dams from breaking, with water still rising on some rivers. We can’t even get to the clean-up yet, because the event is still ongoing in many places. 17 lives have been lost, and folks are still evacuating their homes.

So this weekend’s game was moved to Louisiana State University’s stadium in Baton Rouge. That decision makes sense. But LSU, no stranger to natural disasters, is taking extraordinary measures to make the Gamecocks feel that it’s still a home game.

LSU has sent their jet to pick up the Gamecocks. LSU’s band has held extra practices this week to learn USC’s alma mater and the fight song, which they will play for them during today’s game. They are collecting donations such as bottled water to send back to Columbia. They will play “Sandstorm” before kickoff, as is the custom at home games in Columbia. A visit to LSU’s website today looks like this:

But that’s not all.

All ticket sale profits for tomorrow’s game in Baton Rouge will be donated to flood relief in South Carolina.  LSU is hosting a tailgate for Tiger and Gamecock fans with free food.  LSU Student Government will present USC student representatives with keys to the LSU Tiger stadium. And then there are billboards all over Baton Rouge like this one I saw on Facebook: 

I wish I could add photo credits to this, but I don’t have them…if someone knows whose picture this is, please tell me so I can give proper credit. It makes me cry every time I see it. If you would like to see more like this, you can check out the Gamecock Born & Bred Facebook page.

And here’s what people flying into the Baton Rouge airport are seeing today:

Photo credit: Judi Gatson

The last time I traveled to Louisiana, I was in my twenties. I flew into Baton Rouge, rented a car, and drove to Lake Charles to visit a friend. Other than doing some catching up and giggling, my standout memories of the trip are of trying my first muffaletta and of the long, pretty drive over some marshy areas. But I intend to go back to Louisiana soon. While I’m there, I won’t give everyone I meet a hug, because that would be weird. But I will hug someone. If you live in Louisiana, watch out, because I’m coming, and I might hug you. That’s what Louisiana is doing for South Carolina right now – giving us an enormous state-to-state hug.

In the years to come, I won’t remember who wins the game today. But what I will never forget is the friendship extended to the Gamecocks by the LSU Tigers.  I’ll always be a Gamecocks fan, but I’ve got a new team to root for now, too. Geaux Gamecocks, and Geaux Tigers.

-Perrin Conrad, Azalea Travel

 

LOCALS, PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU STILL WANT TO GO TO A FOOTBALL GAME TODAY, CSU IS EXCHANGING USC-LSU TIX FOR SEATS AT THEIR HOME GAME TODAY: http://csusports.com/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/20151009estoso