Bojangles to give out free iced tea to residents in winning state from USC-UNC bowl game
If a historic cross-border rivalry weren’t motivation enough, this week’s bowl matchup between South Carolina and North Carolina just got a little extra incentive.
Bojangles announced Tuesday that residents of the winning state in Thursday’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl will be able to get a free Bojangles iced tea on New Year’s Eve.
The Charlotte-based fast food chain is giving each fan base in its Carolinas home territory a prize for a bowl win this year. If the Gamecocks can secure their first bowl win since the 2018 Outback Bowl, head coach Shane Beamer’s inaugural season will end with fans being able to get a complementary cup of tea at any participating restaurant in the Palmetto State.
Likewise, if Coach Mack Brown can lead the Tar Heels to his second bowl win since returning to Chapel Hill, participating stores in North Carolina will be dishing out the tea on Dec. 31.
The chain is known for its Cajun-seasoned fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits, but also for its support of athletics at both USC and UNC. Players on both teams have signed endorsement deals with Bojangles now that the NCAA allows players to license their name, image and likeness for marketing purposes.
“We’re excited to have the battle of the states with the Gamecocks and Tar Heels in our hometown for a big bowl game and can’t wait to celebrate with the winning state,” said Jackie Woodward, Bojangles’ chief brand and marketing officer, in a press release.
North Carolina won the last meeting between the two schools, 24-20 in the 2019 season opener at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, the same venue as this week’s bowl game. The Tar Heels lead the all-time series over the Gamecocks at 35-19-4.
This story was originally published December 28, 2021 at 12:22 PM.
.jpg)