Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] On this episode of Cox Talking Gamecocks. It is the holiday edition with a naughty and nice list and a letter to Santa, all on behalf of Gamecock fans. Okay, here we go.
[00:00:55] Okay. Welcome to episode 2844 of Cox Talking Gamecocks. I am your host, Tim Cox, and merry Christmas. Happy holidays, Gamecock Nation, and welcome to the 2024 Christmas Special Episode of Cox Talking Gamecocks. I feel like I've kind of done something like this in the past. Certainly have done some fun things over social media around the holidays, but you know, between traveling and the holidays and the way it all falls this year, I said, you know what, let's just get ahead of it here and have a Christmas special episode. So I hope y'all have really nice plans, whatever you're doing, whatever you celebrate, to take some time this holiday season and relax. If you are exchanging presents, that's a fantastic thing. Regardless, though, there's always great sports on tv. There's always good movies on TV too. I'm not going to get into my favorite Christmas movies now. That's a separate conversation that could have its own 1801 episode, I'm sure, but wanted just to take some time. I don't know how long this episode's going to be just a funny episode, light hearted holiday season, Christmas magic, Christmas spirit, if you will. And again, just because the timing of things like that. Wanted to make sure we at least had something for y'all today. Now, before I get into everything, I do want to thank everyone who listens to this show, whether you've listened to me since season one or whether you just started picking it up now. Thank y'all very much. It is a really, really fun passion project that this podcast is. It's allowed me to connect with so many people in the Gamecock community, meet so many different fans. It's allowed me to meet.
[00:02:53] And it's just been a really, really cool thing. And I thank y'all for all the support, whether you listen or just talk on social media, whatever it may be. And then a housekeeping note before I get into it again, a little bit of a funky schedule. I might not have like next Friday up, but rest assured there will be an episode previewing the bowl game. So we'll be back to regular scheduled program right there. I believe it's Tuesday, will be the bowl game Tuesday afternoon. So we'll have a regular Monday episode ahead of that with crows to the game, full preview and everything like that. And then I'll also take some time to catch Y'all up on whatever sports scores and highlights and news may have missed between now and then, but let's jump into it here. So if you haven't heard by now, this is the Christmas special episode. And what do we do on Christmas time? What's it all about? You know, it's about being nice, and it's about being on the big man's good side. St. Nick, Santa Claus. So I said, you know what would be kind of fun?
[00:04:04] Let's write Santa a letter. But then before that, before we send that letter off to the North Pole, I have a little naughty and nice list here, okay? And it might not be all encompassing. And, you know, maybe I gave some people a pass when maybe they didn't deserve it, but it's the Christmas spirit. So I got a few things here for the naughty and nice list, okay? So let's start with the naughty list. Who's getting coal in their stocking this year?
[00:04:35] This is hilarious. All right, first on the list here, on the naughty list here, the referees from the LSU game.
[00:04:44] Every single one of them should get coal in their stocking and their job should be under review. I'm not pulling punches with these guys, okay? No Christmas exceptions for these guys, okay? They cost South Carolina a win. They robbed us of a win. Robbed the country, really, because that was a fantastic game and would had an electric ending with Nick E. Pick six. But no, they took the game into their own hands. The fix was in. And what did that fix get you? LSU stunk this year.
[00:05:21] Moving on kind of leads into this next one here. Next on the naughty list here, the members of the College football playoff committee. They also deserve coal in their stockings. And yes, we can talk till we're blue in the face about whether South Carolina had the resume to really get in there and the way things shook out, you needed to be 10th because you look at Bama, who got in at 11 and got bounced, but nonetheless, here. This is even beyond South Carolina football here, okay? The playoff committee operates by their own standard and their own rules with no accountability and no consistency. This is a million dollar industry, a million dollar event, multi million dollar, that they have their hands all over the playoff bracket that is now.
[00:06:15] And they basically just make up the rules as they go, seemingly. So they all are on the naughty list with. With a chance for redemption. You can fix it. But right now, you're on the naughty list. Next on the naughty list here, the Clemson Tigers.
[00:06:30] This goes without saying.
[00:06:33] Next, Juice Wells. Still on the naughty list. Next, Kim Mulkey. Feel like that's self explanatory.
[00:06:43] Next. Last season, Oregon Ducks basketball team, you'll remember they were our foe in the March Madness tournament. So they're on the naughty list because I just don't like them. And then this one, I put a maybe because, you know, you don't want to.
[00:07:02] Don't want to kick a man while he's down, but so I put maybe on the naughty list. Mark Kingston, you know, sent him packing. Wasn't necessarily the best tenure here.
[00:07:15] Might be on the naughty list. He's on the meh list.
[00:07:19] But now let's look on the other side of the coin here and talk about the nice list.
[00:07:24] Talking the entire 2024 Carolina Gamecocks football team. They're all nice, they're all fantastic. They all should get everything that they asked for this year because they put their heart and soul into it this year and boy did they deliver. They gave us one of the more memorable seasons that we've had. The best season like statistically that we've had in what, 11 years, 12 years and a chance to do something that has only happened four times in program history. Getting a 10th win. So they're all on the nice list here. Next on the nice list, the national championship winning women's basketball team. Of course. I mean, come on, when you bring the big trophy home, you're absolutely, you deserve to be on the next list. Next. Asia Wilson. Just having a great year. She seems really nice working with the Garnet Trust. Love it. Next. Colin Murray Boyles. Love cmb.
[00:08:22] Next. Whoever introduced Lamont Paris to quarter zips. Whoever said, hey Lamont, this is a great versatile piece of clothing here.
[00:08:32] Made it a mainstay in his wardrobe. They deserve to be on the nice list. They should get a quarter zip for Christmas because next on the nice list here is Lamont Paris.
[00:08:43] Nice list. I like him. I think he's doing a good job. Let's see how SEC plays go. But hey, he's on the nice list this year for sure.
[00:08:53] Next on the nice list, I got Rico Dowdle. Having a nice season in the NFL. Gotta love that guy that really grinded to get to where he is. Was a big fan of his at South Carolina. I don't necessarily like the Cowboys, but I like Rico Dowdle. He's on the nice list this year.
[00:09:11] Next on the nice list, Connor Shaw. I just. He's like a permanent spot. He's a permanent figure.
[00:09:17] He's the, he's on the Mount Rushmore of South Carolina football if you ask me.
[00:09:23] Gotta Be next to be honored. And he's on the nice list. Next on the list here, I. I put this name down, and then I said, you know what? He might be on the naughty list, but, like, for a funny way. And that's Steven Garcia. Absolutely love Stephen G. Have had a couple of fun interactions with him over Instagram, and I actually did have the pleasure to meet him once or twice. One time at a tailgate, actually, so you can imagine how that was. But for that reason, I think he might be on the naughty list, but he's on the nice list because he's just a cool guy.
[00:09:55] Next, I got new athletic director Jeremiah Donati. So welcome to Columbia.
[00:10:02] Love his energy. Seems like a nice guy. He's on the nice list. Why not?
[00:10:06] Next on the nice list, the Citrus bowl people, whoever they are. Thanks for inviting us. You know, they looked at South Carolina, and they chose us over the other SEC options. You know, they could have picked Alabama, they could have picked Ole Miss, but they looked at the facts, unlike the CFP people, and said, this is the best team right now. So thank you. Then he's got to get a special shout out. He's got to be on the special nice list. Shane Beamer, he gets his own shout out. He actually seems like a really nice guy.
[00:10:41] So thank you for everything for this year, Coach. And then last on the nice list here, I guess this is not all encompassing, of course, but cocky. I mean, come on, who doesn't love cocky? So those people are getting extra special gifts here, and then some of those people are getting coal on the naughty list as well. And then last but not least here, like I said, I wrote a little letter to Santa. It's all good fun here, people, so if you want to write it down and send it yourself off, be my guest. It's been a blast this season, so why not try and parlay that into some good fortune this upcoming year from Santa. So here we go.
[00:11:21] Let me share you my letter to Santa.
[00:11:25] Dear Santa, how's it going? And Merry Christmas. On behalf of all Gamecock fans, I'd like to wish you a safe and happy holiday season.
[00:11:35] Also, as a Gamecocks fan, I assume you know that it is not always easy for us, but this past year has been very, very fun, and I want to thank you. And because this past year has been fun and pretty successful, all things considered, I think all us Gamecock fans have been very good boys and girls, so I'd like to ask for a few things.
[00:12:01] First, a Citrus bowl win for the football team. They certainly deserve it and it would make a lot of us happy.
[00:12:10] I don't have time to get into the whole playoff thing, but this team deserves that.
[00:12:16] Second, I'd like a Final Four appearance for the women's basketball team. Oh, and maybe a new white game day polo while we're at it.
[00:12:26] Last but not least, two more things. A deep postseason run for the baseball team and a tournament bid for the basketball team. Thanks again, Tim.
[00:12:38] So I don't think we're asking for too much there. Just continued wins, just some success across sports here. Don't think I'm asking for too much. And a white game day polo too.
[00:12:49] But yeah, y'all, it's been a, it's been a fun year. I can't wait to preview the bowl game with you guys. I can't wait to watch that game. But just again, want to take a minute, a minute here and just shout out to anyone who has interacted with me, whether it be on social media, in person, at tailgate, talking podcasts, talking Gamecock sports. It's been a fun year. It really has been. And we are sort of anchored down by this now from a fantastic football season. So still got one more to play there. And we obviously are in the throes of basketball season as well. But again, Merry Christmas, happy holidays. I'll see y'all ahead of the bowl game. But with that, that wraps up this episode. Please follow me on social media Twitter or X is Cox Gamecox. Instagram is just the name of the show. Cox Talking Gamecocks. And please like subscribe and review the podcast. I appreciate all y'all. Go Cox.
