Alan, finished your book a few days ago! Absolutely loved it! I am a 1986 USC graduate so I lived through much of what you talked about in the book! I especially love the level of detail provided on so many topics. While the book covers the years when Carolina was an independent, it really covers much more. Many thanks for your amazing work! I bought 5 copies of the books for friends. Please let me know if you are ever in Columbia for a book signing. One very small question, you list, Jackie Brown as the first black scholarship athlete in football but then later, he is listed in baseball. It’s a very minor point but wanted to make you aware. Also, in your blog, have you or anyone ever discussed how the Confederate flag on the State house affected athletes? I’ve never heard anyone discuss this. Yes, quite painful topic but I do recall an NAACP led boycott and a NCAA prohibition on NCAA events like the NCAA basketball tournament. As I know you well know, the flag was finally removed in 2015 after 9 parishioners were killed at a church in Mother Emanuel in Charleston but would be interesting to examine how this impacted athletes at South Carolina. Again, sincere thanks for writing an amazing book! Go GAMECOCKS!
Keith, thanks so much for reading, and for your very kind comments! I am so grateful for you purchasing additional copies as gifts as well, and for you taking the time to comment here. There will be a book event at Columbia's All Good Books in Five Points on Friday evening, February 9. More info to come here on SxSE as we get closer.
Jackie Brown came to Carolina on a baseball scholarship in 1969, then switched to football in 1970, so he was a two-sport star at Carolina.
Great comment on the Confederate flag and the impacts on recruiting at Carolina. I am sure it was used against USC by other schools on the recruiting trail, and presented an ugly legacy just a stone's throw away from the Carolina campus. Definitely worth some additional exploration and I appreciate your thoughts on the matter.
Got my copy a few weeks ago and read it in a couple of nights. Fantastic stuff, it was part trip down memory lane (I'm 62) and part history lesson, and enjoyable on both counts. Thanks Alan from a lifelong Gamecocks fan. Jeff Whitten
Alan, finished your book a few days ago! Absolutely loved it! I am a 1986 USC graduate so I lived through much of what you talked about in the book! I especially love the level of detail provided on so many topics. While the book covers the years when Carolina was an independent, it really covers much more. Many thanks for your amazing work! I bought 5 copies of the books for friends. Please let me know if you are ever in Columbia for a book signing. One very small question, you list, Jackie Brown as the first black scholarship athlete in football but then later, he is listed in baseball. It’s a very minor point but wanted to make you aware. Also, in your blog, have you or anyone ever discussed how the Confederate flag on the State house affected athletes? I’ve never heard anyone discuss this. Yes, quite painful topic but I do recall an NAACP led boycott and a NCAA prohibition on NCAA events like the NCAA basketball tournament. As I know you well know, the flag was finally removed in 2015 after 9 parishioners were killed at a church in Mother Emanuel in Charleston but would be interesting to examine how this impacted athletes at South Carolina. Again, sincere thanks for writing an amazing book! Go GAMECOCKS!
Keith, thanks so much for reading, and for your very kind comments! I am so grateful for you purchasing additional copies as gifts as well, and for you taking the time to comment here. There will be a book event at Columbia's All Good Books in Five Points on Friday evening, February 9. More info to come here on SxSE as we get closer.
Jackie Brown came to Carolina on a baseball scholarship in 1969, then switched to football in 1970, so he was a two-sport star at Carolina.
Great comment on the Confederate flag and the impacts on recruiting at Carolina. I am sure it was used against USC by other schools on the recruiting trail, and presented an ugly legacy just a stone's throw away from the Carolina campus. Definitely worth some additional exploration and I appreciate your thoughts on the matter.
Best wishes and Go Cocks!
And thank you for your dedication to making this happen. Would love to get a copy to Mrs Raftery.
Got my copy a few weeks ago and read it in a couple of nights. Fantastic stuff, it was part trip down memory lane (I'm 62) and part history lesson, and enjoyable on both counts. Thanks Alan from a lifelong Gamecocks fan. Jeff Whitten
Thanks so much, Jeff!
Alan, Our books arrived last week. So proud of you!
Thank you, my friend!