Cock Tales: From Anonymity to the State House

Any student, alumnus, or faculty member of the University of South Carolina has probably seen Sir Big Spur at a sporting event. This proud gamecock-or rather, a long line of them-has served as USC’s live mascot for nearly twenty years. In Cock Tales, for the first time, the history of USC’s mascot program is detailed through the eyes of the current Sir Big Spur.

Sir Big Spur’s caretaker, Mary F. Snelling, has been a University of South Carolina sports fan since she was a little girl. She is also an avid rooster raiser. When she discovered a way to not only combine her passions but also bring joy to fans and children at the games, the tradition of Sir Big Spur (first called Cocky-Doodle-Lou) was born.

It hasn’t been smooth sailing for Sir Big Spur. Controversy has plagued the mascot program. When a booster complained about his presence, fans and students led a movement to keep Sir Big Spur. From these hometown spats to the fun and adventure of away games, Sir Big Spur’s journey captures the sometimes whimsical and sometimes strange life of live sports mascots.