The USC mascot, often referred to as "Traveler," is a symbol of pride and tradition for the University of Southern California. Traveler is a white horse who is seen at various USC sporting events, particularly football games. The origins of the USC mascot date back to 1961 when a riderless horse named Traveler made its appearance during the USC vs. Georgia Tech football game. The horse's name was inspired by Traveler's Joy, a popular song at the time. In the years that followed, Traveler became a beloved figure and was officially adopted as the USC mascot.

South Carolina announces new name for live mascot

COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina Athletics announced a new name for its live mascot Monday, replacing the former name, “Sir Big Spur”.

The live mascot will now be known as The General in homage to Revolutionary War General Thomas Sumter, whose nickname “Fighting Gamecock” created the original moniker for Athletics.

“We know Gamecock fans are passionate about our traditions and seeing the live mascot at games and other Athletics events is something they look forward to,” South Carolina Deputy Athletics Director Eric Nichols said. “When we realized that we would have to change his name to keep that tradition alive, it seemed fitting to go back to where ‘Gamecocks’ got started.”

South Carolina’s live mascot has been a staple at Gamecock football and baseball games for nearly two decades, and The General will continue to represent the Athletics Department through a partnership with new owners Beth and Van Clark. A dispute about the care of the rooster between the Clarks and its previous owners yielded the withholding of the name “Sir Big Spur,” which neither the University nor the Athletics Department owned the rights to.

In deciding on the new name, the Athletics Department worked with the Clarks, internal staff and even reviewed fan suggestions on social media. With the University’s legal department discouraging keeping any part of the previous name in the new one, the Gamecocks chose to honor their original namesake and give the live mascot the name The General.

When football season starts next Saturday, The General will have not just a new name, but a new perch as well. The Athletics Department and the Clarks are creating a ‘C’ for The General to sit, somewhat replicating the South Carolina Block C logo.

The General is set for his first appearance of the 2022-23 athletic season at the South Carolina football season opener against Georgia State on Sat., Sept. 3, at 7:30 p.m.

South Carolina’s Gamecock mascot has a new name and we’re figuring out odds

The SEC craziness lands a week early in Columbia. And yeah, we really missed insane college football stories.

In the years that followed, Traveler became a beloved figure and was officially adopted as the USC mascot. Over the years, there have been several different horses who have held the role of Traveler. Each horse bears the name Traveler, followed by a Roman numeral to distinguish between them.

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We’re still a few days away from Week 0 in college football, and while the SEC isn’t featured heavily on the opening slate, the conference can’t seem to help itself when it comes to making headlines. The South Carolina Gamecocks have decided to move on from the “Sir Big Spur” moniker for its live mascot, and the reason is both ridiculous and peak college football.

To be clear, the University of South Carolina isn’t discontinuing using a live mascot. On the contrary, the chicken will still be paraded around through tailgates on his little cart and will be on the sidelines during games, clucking his team to victory. The formerly named Sir Big Spur has changed owners; thus, they believe a name chance is also in order. The University doesn’t own the rights to ‘Big Spur,’ which was the costumed mascot's name pre-1980 before the creation of ‘Cocky.’ The school is helping to steer the selection of the new name, and an announcement is expected ahead of the season opener against Georgia State on Saturday, September 4.

And local paper The State has come up with suggestions for a new name. They range from tame names like ‘The General’ and Coop to humorous such as Capt. Cluck or Cluck Norris. As the football team continues to turn around its tarnished image from the failed Will Muschamp experiment, the Gamecocks are in a unique position to continue their re-branding.

Odds for Potential South Carolina New Live Mascot Names*

Coop: -125
Cluck Norris: +100
Capt. Cluck: +150
Kickin’ Chicken: +300
General: +500
Marco Pollo: +750
Brooster+900
Mr. Chicken Scratch: +1000
Cock-a-doodle-dude: +2000
Cock Commander +10000

* Not actually available for betting anywhere because c’mon y’all

When it comes to determining which name will be chosen, Coop stands as the favorite. It has it all. It is a pun, it is harmless for kids and fun for the whole family, which the school would enjoy. One could even say it pays homage to standout wide receiver Pharoah Cooper who played for the team from 2013-2015. The fan-favorite installed at +100 would be Cluck Norris. Even typing that out, I had to smile. It just reeks of awesomeness and would ensure that the live mascot would forever win any hypothetical fights against other mascots in the NCAA. Right on the heels of that would be Capt. Cluck (+150) and Kickin’ Chicken (+300).

A name like ‘General’ is too basic and doesn’t inspire excitement from fans, young or old, so it is a long shot at +500. Marco Pollo is clever, but if we are being honest, fans likely wouldn’t pronounce it the correct way, which drops it down to +750 odds. Cock Commander has been tossed around, but there is no shot the hoi polloi in Columbia will allow it even with a majority of people voting for it in a poll, so it’s +10000 odds for that one.

It depends on the direction the owners and the University want to take. Sir Big Spur is mainly seen around campus, and at sporting events, so the name will hopefully be either rich in tradition or a punny name that fans can come together and get behind. There is ample opportunity for a uniting name between the Gamecocks’ women’s basketball team success, back-to-back baseball national championships and football history should they go with something sports related. All in all, the name likely won’t measure up to Sir Big Spur, given that the moniker was not only a tribute to the school but to the unique animal that it was attributed to. We should know the new moniker of the live mascot over the next 10 days as the football team plays gears up for its home opener under the lights of Williams Brice Stadium.

Traveler is not just a symbol of USC's athletic teams but also represents the university's history and spirit. The sight of Traveler galloping across the field, with the rider dressed in USC's iconic cardinal and gold colors, is a special moment for fans and players alike. The USC mascot embodies the values of strength, determination, and excellence that are characteristic of the university. It serves as a rallying point for students, alumni, and supporters to come together and show their Trojan pride. In addition to his appearances at football games, Traveler also makes appearances at other USC events and functions. He is often seen leading parades, participating in community outreach programs, and even attending weddings and other special occasions. The USC mascot, Traveler, is a beloved figure in the Trojan community. His presence at games and events adds an element of excitement and tradition that is unique to USC. As the embodiment of the university's spirit, Traveler continues to inspire and unite USC fans around the world..

Reviews for "Meet the Man Behind the Mask: The USC Mascot Name Mascot"

1. Jessica - ★☆☆☆☆

I found the mascot name of USC to be quite uninspiring and lackluster. It's simply unimaginative and doesn't bring any excitement or enthusiasm to the university's spirit. It doesn't represent the vibrant and dynamic culture of USC at all. I believe a more creative and unique mascot name could have been chosen to better reflect the university's rich heritage and diverse student body.

2. Brian - ★★☆☆☆

The USC mascot name is just bland and unremarkable. It lacks originality and fails to capture the essence of what the university stands for. It's neither memorable nor catchy, making it forgettable and easily overshadowed by other schools' mascot names. USC should have aimed for something more interesting and distinctive that would resonate with both current and prospective students, creating a stronger sense of community and school spirit.

3. Amanda - ★★☆☆☆

I personally found the USC mascot name to be too cliché and generic. It's a missed opportunity to showcase creativity and uniqueness. The name lacks the charm and character that would make it stand out among other universities. USC should have taken a bolder approach and chosen a name that would have represented the university's legacy and accomplishments with more flair and pride.

4. Mike - ★☆☆☆☆

The choice of the USC mascot name is disappointing and doesn't reflect the university's prestigious reputation. It's a dull and unoriginal name, failing to inspire any sense of pride or enthusiasm. USC deserves a mascot name that showcases its exceptional academic and athletic achievements, not something so unimpressive and unimaginative. This decision feels like a missed opportunity to elevate the university's identity and create a stronger connection with the students and alumni.

The USC Mascot Name Debate: Tradition vs. Progress