There’s a common misconception involving College Football Hall of Famer Sterling Sharpe and The University of South Carolina.

The beloved punt returner and fan favorite at wide receiver during his time with the Gamecocks in the 1980s says he has no hard feelings toward the university or its football program, despite various murmurs that have surfaced revealing otherwise since his departure.

“I love my school,” Sharpe said Tuesday, according to Spurs & Feathers. “Anyone who knows me will tell you my staff bag has the biggest Gamecock logo on it and my walking bag has a Gamecock logo on it. I love my school.”

Sharpe, who still lives in the Palmetto State, rarely makes appearances at local events and has been a ghost in the area for the better part of the last two decades, choosing to stay away from the spotlight and media interviews while working as an analyst for NFL Network, among other gigs.

Long-time friend and fellow former Gamecock Corey Miller of local news station WACH FOX57 sat down with Sharpe for a rare 1-on-1 this week after the Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer came out to support the Calhoun Traumatic Brain Foundation as the featured speaker during ‘A Night With Sterling Sharpe’ in South Carolina.

You can watch Miller’s full 1-on-1 interview with Sharpe, here.

Some of the highlights include …

On reputation Sharpe doesn’t talk to media:

“Wait, is this me? You are media (laughs). You better be glad we friends and we go way back. You know what it is? I try desperately to stay as far out of the public light as possible. For my friends, I’ll do just about anything.”

On playing career in Columbia:

“I had a lot of fun playing football here. Having my jersey retired … I think I’m only one of two of the four of us who have our jerseys retired that I got to play in mine. I think George (Rogers) got to play in his. That’s the highest honor you can get. Being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (is a) tremendous honor for a bunch of people who probably never saw me play in person. Having my jersey retired by the University of South Carolina is like icing on the cake.

“I don’t think I’m ready to die yet, but having your jersey retired you’re ready to go on to heaven, my friend, because it doesn’t get any better than that. Steve Spurrier, his wife, Jerri, of course Ray Tanner have been tremendous to me and my friends and my family. I try to stay as far out of their way as possible. I love my South Carolina Gamecocks win, lose or draw. doesn’t really matter how they play. I know they’re playing their hardest.”