A Gamecock sports Christmas wish list

This year has been, to put it mildly, rough. Since it’s the holiday season and Christmas is upon us, though, let’s take a moment to have a little hope. I’ve been told Santa hears wishes all the time, even if you send them at the 11th hour, so it’s worth a shot. Here are some things I’m putting on my Gamecock sports wish list - weigh in in the comments with anything else you’d like to ask for this year.

The men’s basketball season to resume

To be clear, given that there’s an ongoing pandemic, I don’t want them to play if people are sick and/or it’s unsafe for any reason. Trying to have sports in general in these times remains a tricky situation, and every precaustion should absolutely be taken to keep people safe, including postponing and canceling games. Unfortunately, the Gamecocks haven’t been able to play a game in weeks due to COVID-19 issues in the program, and that’s a bummer on a multiple levels. Their next game is scheduled for Jan. 2, and it would be nice to be able to start the new year off with a victory, if they’re able to get that game in.

A well-run football team

Let’s be real, asking for the Gamecocks to be a winning, above-.500-finishing team in 2021 might be too tall of an order, even for the big guy. It’s become clear over the past few weeks that there may have been some deeper issues in the football program outside of just a lack of success on the field, and it’s gonna take some time for Shane Beamer and his staff to get things back to the way they should be. That’s why I’m just asking for a program that’s run well, with the right priorities and attitude. I mean, I want us to win too, and as GABA’s resident Eternal Sports Optimist I’ll keep predicting that we do, but at this point I’d be happy with a team that operates with the right mindset and does the best they can on the field.

A College World Series appearance

The 2020 season doesn’t really count since it barely got to be played and there’s no telling how things would have shaken out if the Gamecocks had played a full schedule. That being said, it’s been a while since we went to Omaha, and it’s time to get back there. Mark Kingston and his staff have been here for several yuears now and the team was off to a pretty good start before the pandemic derailed things in March, so hopefully they can carry that energy into this upcoming season. If not, the fanbase might start getting a little more than restless.

Clemson losing to Ohio State

Look, I grew up in Big Ten country and Ohio State just beat Northwestern, my other alma mater, so it pains me to want them to win anything. Clemson-OSU is really a no-winner-please matchup for me, but since someone does have to come out on top, let it be the Buckeyes.