South-Carolina

The Verdict: Gamecocks can’t shy away from moment

Published

2 years ago

November 13, 2024

The Verdict: Gamecocks can’t shy away from moment

South Carolina football superfan Chris Paschal writes a weekly column during the season for GamecockCentral called “The Verdict.” Chris is a lawyer at Goings Law Firm in Columbia.

In 2022, we thought we had turned the corner.

After some early season conference losses, the Gamecocks rolled into a visiting SEC stadium (Kentucky) in October and killed their opponent. A few weeks later, South Carolina whipped Texas A&M in front of a raucous, sold-out Williams-Brice Stadium. After being doubted for most of the season, the 2022 Gamecocks were finally ranked in the AP Top 25 and were hosting an underdog Missouri team.

Sound familiar?

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Just like in 2022, these 2024 Gamecocks host Missouri coming off a massive SEC road win over Oklahoma followed by a whipping of the Aggies. And just like in 2022, we have finally been told we are nice and pretty and accomplished and that we should beat the Missouri Tigers for a late-season conference victory.

In 2022, Missouri dismantled the Gamecocks in front of their home fans. They had the edge, the gameplan, and the physicality needed to win a Southeastern Conference football game. We did not.

It is almost inherent for a South Carolinian to be the underdog. Our state is smaller than our neighbors. Our state is not as wealthy as other states. We are a little grittier. We are a little tougher. We are underestimated at times.

I felt it all the time in mock trial competitions while a student at the South Carolina law school. We competed against North Carolina, Wake Forest, Duke, Georgia, NYU, University of Denver, William & Mary, Washington & Lee, and on and on. Many of them thought they were better than us simply because they went to some school not named South Carolina. And many of them left the weekend wiser and sadder following a resounding Gamecock victory. (My team never lost to a team from a North Carolina law school.)

Our football team under head coach Shane Beamer has taken on that same mindset. If you doubt us, if you think we are the underdog, if you think we can’t beat No. 5 Tennessee or No. 8 Clemson or No. 10 Texas A&M, then you better think again. Some people take offense to Beamer’s postgame rants where he can sometimes come across as defensive (or vindictive), but to me, that just shows how much he truly cares about this program and how in many ways he is just like the people that fill Williams-Brice Stadium every Saturday.

If he feels as if someone is disrespecting the Gamecocks, then I hope he always possesses that hellfire to prove them wrong. We have wanted that in our football coach for years. We have wanted a coach that believes in Carolina, fights for Carolina, and wins for Carolina.

But what about when Carolina is finally deemed the favorite? I’m not talking about being the favorite in a few one-off games against Vanderbilt or Mississippi State or fill-in-the-blank bottom dweller. I’m talking about being tabbed a double-digit favorite over a team that has won 18 of their last 22 games.

This team has been fueled by being doubted. And certainly, there are still plenty of doubters. But can there be something else from within this program that fuels their fire other than being the underdog? I don’t worry about the Gamecocks being outmanned by Missouri, because I think we have the better team. What I am worried about is that the moment is just too big for us. For Carolina to win this weekend, they must go out and prove that the past few weeks were not just nice wins but the status quo. A win this Saturday proves that these Gamecocks win not in spite of being Gamecocks, but because they are Gamecocks.

[Win two tickets to the South Carolina-Missouri football game]

For years, heck for decades, when South Carolina wins it’s because they did something outside their character. When Carolina wins, it’s because they didn’t play like Carolina and instead played like winners. That’s what the national media and rival fanbases think when we win.

In years past, if Carolina won, it was because Carolina decided that weekend to buck the usual trend. That is what they all thought. And (withstanding the 2011-2013 seasons) the second the narrative outside Columbia was anything remotely close to “we think these Gamecocks are actually pretty good,” the very next second was when they all pointed and laughed as we failed to live up to the moment.

The national media, the playoff committee, the rival fan bases, they all think deep down inside that a massive letup is right around the corner. Sure, they may pick us to win this game, but they all know a choke job is a matter of when not if.

Almost everything positive being said about this team is still somewhat backhanded. This Carolina team is ranked? This defense has elite players? This quarterback – the quarterback some preseason prognosticators picked last in the conference – is playing good football? Wow, good for them! Many pundits and fans didn’t have much hope for this team in August and September and October. And those same pundits and those same fans are just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

A win this weekend is not only a win over Missouri and their smug head coach, but it’s also a win for living up to expectations. It’s a win for proving you do belong. It’s a win that allows you to still sit at the table, even if the rest of the college football community doesn’t want you there. A win this weekend tells the wolves dressed in sheeps’ clothing that they’ll have to wait a little longer than expected before they can turn their back on this team.

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South-Carolina

The 3 Democrats vying for SC governor’s seat take jabs at each other in SCETV debate

Published

8 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

The 3 Democrats vying for SC governor’s seat take jabs at each other in SCETV debate

COLUMBIA — Three candidates seeking to become South Carolina’s first Democratic governor in more than two decades squared off in fiery rebuttals on live television June 3.

State Rep. Jermaine Johnson, attorney Mullins McLeod and businessman Billy Webster debated for an hour during SCETV’s Democratic gubernatorial square-off where McLeod attacked the other two candidates almost every chance he got to speak.

It was the second SCETV debate this week and all three candidates participated, compared with the Republican debate June 1 where only half the six candidates appeared.

Nearly every question, McLeod exceeded his allotted time, often using his messaging to attack his opponents.

Democrats face long odds in the November general election. The Palmetto State has not elected a Democratic governor in more than a quarter-century, and the party’s prospects have diminished in recent election cycles.

But the three candidates on the debate stage made it known they’re not afraid of the challenge.

“In this state there are at least 1.1 million people who are willing to vote for a Democrat and a Black person statewide,” Johnson said on his odds of winning, referencing the number of people who voted for Jaime Harrison in 2020 against Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.

And while it wasn’t mentioned during the debate, Democratic early voter turnout has reached historic levels this election cycle. On the first day of early voting, Democratic primary voters outnumbered Republicans more than four-to-one, about 46,000 to 10,000. Early voting will end June 5.

While the three candidates largely agreed on broader policy like Medicaid and abortion access, they did have some key differences in opinions on issues like gambling and even how to work with the legislature.

Where candidates agreed

The three men largely agreed there are major issues that need to be addressed in the state’s health care systems, but went about addressing them in different ways.

Medicaid expansion was something all three candidates broadly agreed on, specifically tied to ensuring the state decreases the rise in infant mortality rates. All three believed there is corruption in the government.

All candidates had issues with data centers. McLeod labeled himself as the only anti-data center candidate, while Johnson boasted about his Statehouse experience in introducing a moratorium to stop data centers from coming into the state. Webster poked at flaws surrounding promises of transparency associated with the projects and the environmental hazards the centers bring.

Both Webster and Johnson went after Republicans who have campaigned on getting rid of the state income tax, saying it was unrealistic for the state to do so.

“We cannot eliminate the state income tax and even have a state that is recognizable in 10 years,” Webster said.

Where they disagreed

There were some stark disagreements, including how to go about working with the legislature. Johnson and Webster reflected on their time working across the aisle with Republicans while McLeod said bipartisanship is not the answer.

“More politics is not the answer. Bipartisanship is not the answer” McLeod said. “You know what’s been missing? The truth, the light … servant leaders who are willing to stand for the people of South Carolina.”

Public education was another area the candidates differed. Webster said there needs to be less regulations and restrictions on South Carolina teachers so that they are not so weighed down by requirements. Johnson proposed adding universal pre-K and McLeod said he wanted to pay teachers $85,000-$100,000 per year.

Candidates also had different answers on gambling. Johnson reflected on personal experiences where he saw gambling bring havoc to his family, but said the opening of casinos in South Carolina could be possible with great oversight. Webster said he didn’t have enough knowledge on the topic but could see the benefits that casinos could bring in the form of jobs in counties like Orangeburg if given proper regulation. McLeod said gambling causes problems and was against the opening of casinos.

Surprises

Much of the campaign attacks from Democratic candidates have been directed at Republicans, not necessarily each other. But the night was different.

Multiple times during the debate, McLeod went over his allotted time to try to attack Johnson or Webster. Both candidates repeated the same response in return, sometimes laughing, saying they had no idea what McLeod was talking about.

McLeod continued to reference both Webster and Johnson as being part of the corruption in South Carolina that he could “shine a light” on. He referred to himself as a servant more than six times.

“If you’re going to be on the stage and run for governor, you better start checking your facts,” Webster said to McLeod.

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South-Carolina

WATCH: Gov. McMaster signs bill protecting SC police animals

Published

18 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

WATCH: Gov. McMaster signs bill protecting SC police animals

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – A ceremonial bill signing was held We Wednesday for a new law that enhances penalties for harming police animals in South Carolina.

H.3034 – also known as Fargo’s, Hyco’s, Rico’s, Coba’s, Wick’s, Mikka’s, and Bumi’s Law – was passed and ratified by state lawmakers in May.

The bill is named after seven police K-9’s lost in recent years acros South Carolina.

Gov. Henry McMaster later signed the bill into law, with it going into effect on May 15.

The law makes killing or severely injuring a police animal, such as a K-9 or horse, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

It also states that anyone convicted of that crime must pay back the full cost of the animal – including buying a new one, training and any veterinarian bills. The law also makes it a crime to fire at a police vehicle if an animal is inside.

Police are also required by law to keep detailed records when a K-9 bites or causes injury.

Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.

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South-Carolina

South Carolina Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for June 2, 2026

Published

1 day ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

South Carolina Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for June 2, 2026

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at June 2, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 2 drawing

15-26-43-48-60, Mega Ball: 12

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from June 2 drawing

Midday: 8-7-6, FB: 6

Evening: 3-8-3, FB: 6

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from June 2 drawing

Midday: 2-8-6-6, FB: 6

Evening: 7-1-4-4, FB: 6

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 2 drawing

Midday: 02

Evening: 06

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from June 2 drawing

01-04-05-07-34

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.

Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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