Defense making a name for itself
Two of the defenses considered among South Carolina’s all-time best – the 1984 and ’87 editions – had cool nicknames.
The ’84 D was the “Fire Ants,” so named for the way defenders flocked to the ball in the Gamecocks’ garnet uniforms.
The ’87 defense was dubbed “Black Death” because, well, it was a bad-a$$ nickname that sounded menacing. There’s a cool YouTube video, btw, showing the “2001” entrance before the ’87 Clemson game.
(Note the band member with “Black Death” towel attached to his/her drum.)
Anyway, if this year’s D does in fact rank among the school’s best – and I’d like to hear where y’all think this group stacks up with the others – then it needs a nickname.
Some of the players have taken to calling themselves the ‘Goon Squad,’ which is apparently a rap reference that hip-hop artist Plies helped popularize. A group of students held up signs spelling out ‘Goon Squad’ at the Tennessee game.
Given that goon squad also refers to “group of individuals serving as enforcers, bodyguards, and the like, especially persons hired for such a purpose and using violent, thuggish methods,” according to wiktionary, maybe the name fits.
What do you think? Like it? Does it have staying power?
Let’s hear some other suggestions.
179 Comments to “Defense making a name for itself”
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USC football beat writer Joe Person has covered the Gamecocks since the start of the 2002 season. He's been on the college football beat since 1993. 
Hey, Huge cock fan…are you really a fan??? Gang members on the team??? Please look up ignorant in the dictionary…you’ll probably find your picture….
You are not a fan. Please stop going to message boards and being such a downer….
You are not welcome here.
ARMY OF DARKNESS!!!!
I like the “Wrecking Bomb” D. It sure looks like a wrecking ball/bomb when the blitz. Plus, they play in the W-B. (Cheesy, I know.)
Anyway, I sawy the ‘84 and ‘87 defenses up close, and personal as a student. This is by far the best defense ever. The ‘87 defense is a distanct 2nd, in my opinion.
i thought the pink leotard squad post was really funny
How bout them Roost Rockers!
Welcommmmmmeeeeeeeee to the……………..
Processing Plant – it is one step past the Coop
You do not want to get processed by our defense at all.
JB
the legion of DOOM!!!
OR legion of GOONS!!!
How about “The Great Wall of Carolina”.
How about :THE COCK FIGHTERS”
The Spurs!
Cooked Crack
Ellis D.
Forget the nicknames and stay FOCUSED on getting it done. Remember the hype and fizzle over Thunder and Lighting?
Get the job done against Tebow and co., then we can call them what they are….the best bloody defense in the country!
“Hit Squad”
The value I see for naming a unit is that it fires up the unit. If our defensive guys know the fans think they can hit and get the job done, it will motivate them to live up to it. It can definitely bring out the best in each of them.
“Death-Eaters”
“The Death-Eater D”
“Black Shadow D”
How about the how many teams that have had to deal with the fury of our “Black Wrath”. Catchy huh?
Why not ” the Garnet Grinches”?
because they ruin the holidays for their opposition…. ask Phil Fulmer.
Remember, with an offense anything as good as this defense, they easily
could be 10-0 and arguing about BCS ratings.
The perfect name (The Fighting Spurs)
I just returned from orthopaedic and I have lot of spurs in my neck.
The pain is severe. We need to inflict fear on other teams.
The Fighting Spurs
My selection is “The Fence”
How about The Carolina Wall?
Got to be “The Beasts in the East”!
How about Black Thunder. Will lower the boom on you too!
Seeing that they’re playing Florida this week, how about Gator Bait?
“One Stop To Nowhere”
COCKSTORM
Black Nasty
The Stingy Spurs
I think the defense should be named the HIT SQUAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!