South Carolina has announced a new name for its live mascot, Sir Big Spur, following a dispute between the mascot’s new owners, USC alumni Beth and Van Clark, and the bird’s original owners.

The school announced that the new name would be known as “The General” which is an homage to Revolutionary War General Thomas Sumter, whose nickname “Fighting Gamecock” created the original moniker.

The 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.

“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 in a release. “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.”

Media outlets like The State conducted polls, and the top 3 names in the poll were Cock Commander, Cluck Norris and Coop (or Cooper). Other names suggested included Cock-a-doodle-dude, Marco Pollo, Brooster, Capt. Cluck, Kickin’ Chicken and Mr. Chicken Scratch.

When football season starts against Georgia State on Saturday, The General will also have a new perch as well. The athletics department and the Clarks are creating a ‘C’ for The General to sit, which replicates the South Carolina Block C logo.

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.