Thomas Sumter, one of the heroes of the Revolutionary War, was nicknamed the "Carolina Gamecock" based on his reputation as a fierce warrior.
The Gamecock is the mascot of my alma mater, THE University of South Carolina
As a west coast boy, my memories of SC bring me back to being stationed at Fort Gordon, GA in 1969 as an 18 year old and having to drive to Aiken, SC to drink legally, LOL!