ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit delivers unique praise about Williams-Brice Stadium atmosphere

The new nighttime game environment in Williams-Brice Stadium drew the attention of people far and wide. Among those sharing an opinion: ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, who shouted out South Carolina’s in-game operations team for making it happen.

Herbstreit commented Monday on a Twitter video that showed the Gamecocks dancing to Sandstorm during their 35-14 victory over Georgia State, with the lights flashing across the stadium under the Saturday night sky.

“The pressure to deliver has never been more intense for Game Ops crews at every stadium in the country,” Herbstreit wrote. “With people not as motivated to come to games-these folks are the MVP’s to the fan experience. Some get it better than others. Great example of getting it here! Congrats!!”

The popularity of the new LED lights in the stadium increased even more after Saturday night, when fans got to witness them live for the first time. Herbstreit’s comments had more than 4,500 engagements on Twitter as of Tuesday morning.

Eric Nichols, who oversees the team’s marketing and external operations, showed his appreciation for the shoutout in his response.

“Wow, what an incredible acknowledgment,” Nichols wrote. “It takes hundreds to bring a 90 year old facility to life 7 times a year. Thank you Kirk.”

The new lights were part of the overall efforts to enhance the atmosphere of home games, including expanded space on the concourse, new elevators and other changes.

South Carolina will play its next home game on Sept. 17 against Georgia, though that game is at noon. The game times for the next two home games against Charlotte and S.C. State.

South Carolina 2022 football schedule

• Sept. 3: South Carolina 35, Georgia State 14

• Sept. 10: at Arkansas, noon (ESPN)

• Sept. 17: vs. Georgia, noon (ESPN)

• Sept. 24: vs. Charlotte

• Oct. 1: vs. South Carolina State

• Oct. 8: at Kentucky

• Oct. 22: vs. Texas A&M

• Oct. 29: vs. Missouri

• Nov. 5: at Vanderbilt

• Nov. 12: at Florida

• Nov. 19: vs. Tennessee

• Nov. 26: at Clemson

Jeremiah Holloway

The State

Jeremiah Holloway covers South Carolina women’s basketball and football for The State. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, he is from Greensboro, N.C. and an avid basketball fan. Holloway joined The State in August 2022.