Just in case that wasn't enough to make the game worth watching it appears the two will likely be battling over a trophy.
The trophy is going to feature James Butler Bonham who is one of the heroes of the Alamo. For those not from Texas, the Alamo was a pivotal battle in the Texas War for Independence. A Mexican force of around 1500 faced off against around 200 Texans (historical accounts put it at 182-257) inside of an old mission (the Alamo). The Texans held up under a 13 day-siege but were eventually overrun.
Not a single Texan survived.
Bonham--who was educated at South Carolina--had left the Alamo in hopes of finding reinforcements. Even though he knew the size of the force the Alamo defenders were up against he snuck through enemy lines to rejoin them.
The trophy is going to depict Bonham on his horse headed back to the Alamo.
One of the best ways to spark a rivalry is to give the two teams something to do battle over, but if the history of the trophy is any indication it will be one born more out of respect and admiration. Here you have a person from South Carolina that died fighting for the independence of a state he had no real ties to.
Definitely plenty to respect and admire there.
[GoGamecocks]
In addition to James Bonham (From SC and educated at USC),William Barret Travis, the commander of the Alamo, was from SC.
ReplyDeleteAlso another great name to add would be Calvin Crozier, a gallant Texas, that was murdered by the US army in Newberry SC. On his way home from a prison camp (after the war) He defended two young ladies that were being accosted by a union solder. The union solder was wounded so they sent out a party to capture crozier. The union troops captured the wrong man and were going to execute him. Crozier step forward and admitted it was him that had wounded the union soldier that was attempting to rape the young ladies and requested for the man to be set free. The union soldiers executed Crozier. The citizens of Newberry erected a monument in his honor.