Dawn Staley has a Super Bowl ritual planned involving two South Carolina legends

At South Carolina women’s basketball practices, Dawn Staley is almost never not wearing Gamecocks gear. But this Sunday, her sweatshirt was in support of another team.

“Philly vs. Everybody,” it read.

Staley, a Philadelphia native, has been a very loud, very proud supporter of her hometown Eagles all season long, and this Sunday, you can be absolutely sure she’ll be watching as her team faces the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl — even as she prepares her team to face the No. 2 squad in the country.

USC departed Columbia on Sunday at 2 p.m. for Starkville, Mississippi, where it will face SEC-leading Mississippi State on Monday. The team will arrive in time for Staley to watch the Eagles from her hotel room.

“I did pack both of my jerseys, I packed a couple of my T-shirts, a pair of shorts, so I’ll be in full attire for the event,” Staley said.

Staley said she does not have any typical gameday traditions or superstitions to ensure the Eagles have good luck, but she did reveal that her attire while watching the game will change “depending on what happens out there on the field,” especially as it pertains to two South Carolina alums.

“If Alshon (Jeffery) scores, I’ll change up, put my Alshon jersey on,” Staley, who has become good friends with Jeffery, said. “And because Duce (Staley) is the running backs coach, if a running back scores a touchdown, I’ll put my jersey on, my Staley jersey. So I got an outfit for whatever happens out there on the field.”

Jeffery was actually the one to gift Staley a custom No. 5 Eagles jersey with her name on the back, and fortunately, it will double as a way to celebrate Duce Staley, a longtime Eagle himself as both a player and coach.

Dawn Staley also revealed Sunday that she has not spoken directly with either Eagle but has reached out “just through some people.”

“I don’t want to change, I want (Jeffery) to keep his same routine. Although he guaranteed we’ll be Super Bowl champions. I’m with Alshon,” Staley said.

For interested South Carolina and Philadelphia fans, Staley’s Twitter account is sure to be active all game long.

This story was originally published February 4, 2018 at 3:13 PM with the headline "Dawn Staley has a Super Bowl ritual planned involving two South Carolina legends."