Country music star Darius Rucker is everything South Carolina. The former Hootie & the Blowfish lead singer was raised by his mother in Charleston, South Carolina. She made a living as a nurse at the University hospital.
So, it’s not necessarily surprising that Rucker fancies himself as a major Gamecocks football fan. We’ve seen him on hand for multiple games in Columbia.
That was the case for Saturday’s affair with the SEC rival LSU Tigers. Only this time, Rucker was on hand to perform in front of the home crowd during ESPN’s College Game Day. It was an entire scene in Columbia.
“Wagon Wheel” was actually written by Bob Dylan and originally performed by Old Crow Medicine Show. Rucker’s cover of it is considered one of the best in modern country history. It’s down home south in every possible way. And Rucker absolutely killed his rendition on Sunday.
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South Carolina Amped For LSU Game With Darius Rucker Performance
“Every Saturday night we had a karaoke party at our house in recruiting, and the No. 1 requested song was ‘Wagon Wheel’,” former Alabama head coach Nick Saban said on the set Saturday morning.
There is every reason for Gamecock fans to be excited. South Carolina finds itself at 2-0 on the campaign after wins against Old Dominion and Kentucky to open up the season. They are also taking on an LSU team that struggled in a loss to USC in its opener. Head coach Brian Kelly is under fire big time in Baton Rouge.
As for the song, it hits home big time in the south.
“Headin’ down south to the land of the pines. I’m thumbin’ my way into North Caroline. Starin’ up the road and pray to God I see headlights. I made it down the coast in seventeen hours. Pickin’ me a bouquet of dogwood flowers. And I’m a-hopin’ for Raleigh, I can see my baby tonight.”
Yeah, perfection.
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