Gamecocks support wounded warriors

By MIKE A. GLASCH, Fort Jackson LeaderOctober 22, 2009

Gamecocks support wounded warriors
University of South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier and Soldiers from the Fort Jackson Warrior Transition Unit display a Gamecock jersey with a desert camouflage design Tuesday during the team's weekly news conference at Williams Brice Stadium... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- The University of South Carolina football team will honor wounded warriors during the Nov. 14 game against the University of Florida at Williams Brice Stadium. The Gamecocks have teamed up with the Wounded Warrior Project and Under Armor to wear special uniforms during the game.

USC Athletic Director Eric Hyman made the announcement during Tuesday's weekly football press conference.

"On behalf of the University of South Carolina, I am truly excited to announce the first Wounded Warrior Project game," he said. "We don't want to forget the people who have served our country and who have done some things that allow us to play football, and do the things we do today because of people like them. This is a way to recognize and support those who have given so much for our country."

The Gamecocks will wear black uniforms with desert camouflage numbers and the Wounded Warrior Project logo. The players' names will be replaced with seven characteristics meant to honor service members -- duty, honor, courage, commitment, integrity, country and service.

Coach Steve Spurrier said he is proud to be part of the partnership supporting the men and women who risk their lives to keep others safe.

"We're honored to be associated with these brave men [and women]. I like that word courage. We're trying to encourage our football players to play with a little more courage like the way these guys do for our country," Spurrier said.

After the game, the jerseys will be auctioned on the university Web site, with all the proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Project.

The Wounded Warrior Project is a non-profit organization that aims to:

-- Raise awareness and seek the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service members.

-- Help severely injured service members aid and assist each other.

-- Provide programs and services to meet the needs of severely injured service members.

The University of Maryland will be donning similar uniforms that same day. Both games will be nationally televised.

"This is an amazing platform that will help us let others know about what we do and why honoring and empowering wounded warriors is so important," Steven Nardizzi, executive director of the Wounded Warrior Project, said in a release. "The incredible design of these uniforms, especially the use of warrior character traits in place of the athlete's names on the jerseys, and the overall visibility of these games will generate excitement and greatly increase public awareness of our organization and the men and women we are privileged to serve."

In addition to honoring wounded warriors, Soldiers from the 171st Infantry Brigade and the Soldier Support Institute will take part in the game's halftime activities.