1. Everyone In Columbia Is Way Cocky About The Gamecocks
Columbians support their precious USC team with a fierce display of loyalty that occasionally borders on the insane.
While they may not cause crazy riots since the 2004 old-school brawl they had with the Clemson Tigers (since that disaster resulted in both schools banning their teams from postseason play) they still show up in droves to every single game, don garnet and black every single day of the week, and create the most hostile atmosphere they can without getting their favorite team in trouble.
2. And They Are Required To Hate The Clemson Tigers
There’s no one Gamecocks fans hate more than the Tigers, and they’ve been hating on them since the 1880s. To prove it, every year fans have “The Tiger Burn,” a pre-game ritual where a tiger is built and then burned to the ground.
It’s a ritual of epic proportions, and where they get out most of their Tiger aggression. Most of it.
3. Columbians Are The Definition Of Southern Sophistication
They might scream until they’re blue in the face over the Gamecocks, but the next week you’ll find them enjoying the
Columbia City Ballet or studying masterpieces at the Museum of Art.
And tea isn’t just something you drink if you don’t like coffee—it’s an affair complete with fancy hats and tea rooms that look like something out of the 1850s.
You might even spot Columbians at a debutante ball at the Forest Lake Club, complete with fancy dresses and white gloves.
4. Everyone In Columbia Makes Church Into A Reason To Party
Over half of the entire city population are church-goers from various denominations, but Columbians don’t just show up to show off their Sunday best.
These people make church a part of everyday life with year-round church socials and events, charity events and the spirit of community. They eat, celebrate and play together all in the name of the big guy upstairs.
5. Columbians Are All Nice To A Fault...
Columbia doesn’t have the nickname ‘The Capital of Southern Hospitality’ for nothing. These folks are proud to offer you the shirt off their back and feed you so much you’ll need a wheelbarrow to help you leave the table.
If you’re not from the South this might be a little off-putting, but it’s just their way. The people are genuinely helpful, warm, kind people that will go above and beyond to help you in anyway they can.
6. ...Until They Break Out The 18th Century Insults
Columbians are famous for calling people "Yankees," and it's not exactly a term of endearment. It's not an insult against you in particular, or your personality—it basically means you’re just not from Columbia. It's your choice whether to take it to heart.
And just because you’re not a Northerner doesn't mean you’re exempt, because you’re not.
7. Pimiento Cheese: Columbians Put That Stuff On Everything
Pimiento cheese is a staple of every church social, family reunion and wedding in Columbia. They eat this stuff like it’s going out of style—they’ll even scoop it into cones and eat it like ice cream. Seriously.
They add it to hot dogs, burgers, boiled eggs and celery sticks. They make pimiento cheese grilled cheese, pimiento macaroni, pimiento chili cheese fries. It’s basically the caviar of Columbia.
8. Everyone In Columbia Is A Bit Of A Drama Queen About The Heat
It’s hot in Columbia - like really hot. So hot that you’ll hear some pretty unique (and kind of dramatic) complaints from locals on a regular basis.
“Come in out of that weather. It’s hot as Hades ‘round here."
“Ugh, it’s hotter’n than blazes in here. Gimme some more pimento cheese.”
You get it. Although they’re the only ones who really have the right to complain about the heat, since they live in it all year round.
9. Columbians Are All Tailgating Olympians
Source: Instagram
If glamorous camping is called “glamping,” then Columbians are famous for “glamgating.”
Columbian pre-games are some of the best in the nation. They’re famous for doing it every chance they get, and doing it everywhere: In the parking lot, at the State Fairgrounds, on private property, and of course, the Cockaboose Railroad.
10. Everyone In Columbia Is Proud To Be The Heart Of South Carolina
A good game of football, true Southern kindness, and putting up with it being “hotter’n blazes”… it’s all part of what makes Columbians the heart of South Carolina. They know it, and they love it .
Did we miss anything? Tell us what you think of Columbia in the comments below!
