I have actually...I went all over the deep South with my college roommate in late 1996/early 1997. We drove through Louisiana and stopped at a Popeye's in Lafayette. We practically needed subtitles. The girl kept asking me if I wanted my chicken "spasoomal." (Spicy or mild.)
I first heard of fried turkey right before I left the US in spring 2001. Maybe I'm just slow with food trends. :-)