Mighty Sound of the Southeast The University of South Carolina Marching Band — also called the " Mighty Sound of the Southeast " or more commonly known as the Carolina Band or the USC Marching Band , has entertained football fans at the University of South Carolina since 1921 . This 325 - member marching band performs at all South Carolina Gamecocks football games played at Williams - Brice Stadium and most football games outside of Columbia , South Carolina — including bowl games . The University of South Carolina Marching Band entertains fans , serves the community in a variety of service and performance activities , and provides a musical education for thousands of Carolina students . The " Mighty Sound of the Southeast " is an integral part of a pre - game experience culminating in the playing of the " Dawn " section of " Also sprach Zarathustra " , the theme from " " , as the Gamecocks run onto the field at the start of every game , which " Sporting News " once called " the most exciting pregame entry " in college football . History . The Carolina Band began as a student - initiated organization in 1920 , when the request to organize a band was granted by the Board of Trustees . The first band , with less than 20 students formed in September 1921 under the direction of a student ( Mr . Martin ) . The World War II years ( to 1945 ) . Still under the direction of Olson , the band became an integral part of the life of the university life and began to increasingly take on the appearance and the sound of a marching band . Olson ' s band were of the first to wear uniforms in the school colors and he offered participating students instruments for use in the band . Band membership totaled around 50 members . Additionally , as the United States was engaged in the second world war , many members were lost from the university and the band to active duty requirements for World War II . In 1941 , the formerly all - male band changed its policies to allow females into its members . The first female members only served as majorettes . Later , female members assumed positions as marching members of the band . After World War II & the 1950s . After World War II , the band began to develop more as a " show " band , with more elaborate pre - game and half - time shows . There were four different directors between 1946 and 1959 . The Pritchard years & the 1970s . The style of the Carolina Band can be traced to the appointment of James D . Pritchard as band director in 1959 . Though a regimental marching band , Pritchard brought back the majorettes and feature twirlers , who had been absent from the shows of the preceding few years . Pritchard also acquired a recording studio , more storage & practice areas and created the " Coquettes " , the official dance team of the marching band . He also collaborated with then - athletic director and head football coach Paul Dietzel in creating the new school fight song , " The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way ( Step to the Rear ) . " The song is still used today . The Copenhaver years . In 1976 , James K . Copenhaver , the longest - serving Director of Bands ( now Director of Bands Emeritus ) , succeeded O ' Neal . Under his leadership , the University of South Carolina Marching Band has grown both in size and quality of Band performance , and it continues to have a significant role in the life of the university as well as the community . Copenhaver created the most well - known USC pre - game show ( used from his tenure through the 2010 season ) . He also is responsible for the tradition of always having national or world champion twirlers as a part of the band . The SEC years ( 1990 – present ) . USC was accepted as a member institution of the Southeastern Conference on September 25 , 1990 . They began play during the 1992 season . Because the league is one of the most successful financially and its football games have traditionally been of the highest attended and most televised , this brought increased exposure to USC . Subsequently there was significant change and publicity to the Carolina Band . One change included the creation of the positions Director of Bands and two Associate Director of Bands . Under this organizational structure , the Director of Bands became responsible for administering the total band program ( which includes the Marching Band , the Pep Bands , the Concert Band , the Symphonic Band , the Wind Ensemble & the summer band camps ) . The various bands in the program would then be overseen by two Assistant Director of Bands . One of the new Assistant Directors of Bands would then become also the Director of Athletic Bands , which included direct oversight and conductor of the University of South Carolina Marching Band and pep bands . The first person to hold that position was Dr . David O ' Shields . From 1995 until 2006 , Dr . O ' Shields ' s served as Assistant Director of Bands / Director of Athletic Bands at the University of South Carolina . O ' Shields ' tenure is highlighted by the demolition of the former Band Hall , the move to an Interim Band Hall and the creation of plans for the new $ 9 . 8 million new band facility complex which later opened in April 2009 . Dr . George Brozak ' s became the new Assistant Director of Bands / Director of Athletic Bands in 2006 . His period leading the marching band is noted by the offering of scholarships for all Carolina Band members for the first time . Mr . Steve McKeithen was hired as Assistant Director of Bands / Director of Athletic Bands in 2009 . Following James Copenhaver ' s retirement in 2010 , Dr . Scott Weiss was appointed Director of Bands at the University of South Carolina . On March 16 , 2011 , it was announced that Dr . Rebecca Phillips would take over as Director of Athletic Bands beginning with the Fall 2011 season officially becoming the first Associate Director of Bands / Director of Athletic Bands . With the start of her tenure came the rise of several new changes to the band program including the creation of a new pre - game show . The position previously held by McKeithen was changed to Assistant Director of Bands / Assistant Director of Athletic Bands and is currently held by Mr . Jayme Taylor . Traditions . Alma Mater . After any gathering of the Carolina Band , the University of South Carolina Alma Mater is sung in four - part harmony . Whether it ' s rehearsal , a football game , or any other band event , the Carolina Band never breaks without singing their Alma Mater . Amazing Grace . After every football game , the Carolina Band plays an arrangement of " Amazing Grace " that features a member of the trumpet section as soloist , a tradition introduced by Dr . David O ' Shields sometime around 2000 . Many members of the crowd , including band alumni , refuse to leave Williams - Brice Stadium until Amazing Grace is played . Boogaloo ( What ' s That You Say ? ) . A collection of dances formerly done after every Carolina Victory . Many band alumni in the crowd would often join in with relish each time the Boogaloo was performed , and to many band members this tradition ( which had been at Carolina since 1974 , if not earlier ) was the highlight of the day . Its performance was suspended in 2010 due to its crude and sometimes offensive lyrics . It was reinstated for post - game performance after a major revision but ultimately discontinued following the 2010 season . Gameday Pep Rallies . On game day , the Carolina Band performs at numerous pep rallies on the way to the Williams - Brice Stadium . These include a rally at Gamecock Village , the Cockabooses behind the Stadium , and a special performance on certain days for the President ' s Pep Rally at the ETV Studios . Pre - Game Show . The Copenhaver pre - game show traditionally began with a perimeter that was formed around the field ; this then became a 100 - yard long block that started off with the " Carolina Moon Fanfare . " The band then began the " Old USC Fight Song " , followed by the popular " Go Carolina " while forming the " USC " formation on the field . Then a single high step began the " Step to the Rear " fight song , electrifying the crowd . After flipping the " USC " formation to face the East stands , the band played " America the Beautiful " and ended in concert arcs to perform the National Anthem and the Alma Mater . This was followed by " Gridiron Cocks Fanfare " , and a lengthy drum cadence as they moved to spell " CAROLINA " across the filed . The band then repeated " Go Carolina " as they moved down the field , finally ending with another cadence while forming a tunnel through which the football players would enter the field . The pregame entrance was changed in 2006 by Dr . George Brozak receiving criticism from some band alumni and students . The " run - on " to the field , say some , left band members breathless for much of pregame and unable to perform at a high level . Alumni also stated that the new beginning to pre - game lacked the energy and drive that the old pre - game had in abundance . With the arrival of Mr . Steve McKeithen , pregame was changed back to the traditional entrance Mr . James Copenhaver adopted shortly after becoming the Director of Bands in the early 1970s . Under the direction of Dr . Rebecca Phillips and designed by Mr . Jayme Taylor , " The Mighty Sound of the Southeast " debuted a new pre - game show in the Fall of 2011 , displaying a more traditional " high - step " marching style while maintaining traditions of the band from decades earlier . Band members enter the field from the North ( student ) end zone to the powerful " Gridiron Cocks Fanfare " and are led by two mace - carrying drum majors . This is followed by the " Old USC Fight Song " at the end of which the Band forms a large Palmetto Tree surrounded by gates , the official logo of the University of South Carolina System . Following the National Anthem and School Alma Mater , the band plays the " Step to the Rear " fight song while forming the giant " USC " . A major change to this tune was created by adding the " CAROLINA " Spell - out between the two verses of the song during which the Band flips the formation to face the East stands . Following the fight song is a new tune called " The Garnet & Black March " , based upon the USC Alma Mater . The band then plays " Go Carolina " while forming the giant " CAROLINA " on the field which then moves towards the South end zone . After a final fanfare the band moves into its tunnel formation to drum cadence to await the start of " 2001 " and the team ' s entrance . Third Quarter . A newer tradition happens at the end of the third quarter , before the beginning of the fourth quarter of a home football game . " Thus Spake Zarathustra " , more commonly referred to as the theme song from " 2001 : A Space Odyssey " is played again while fans hold up four fingers , alluding to the fourth and final quarter . ( This is believed to have some relation to former professional wrestler Ric Flair , who was associated with the Four Horsemen . Flair has been a frequent attendee at home games , especially since the arrival of head coaches Lou Holtz and later Steve Spurrier ) . Entering Stadium . Upon entering any stadium , the band members yell and hold their instruments in the air until they emerge outside onto the field . This move is often mimicked by drunk crowd members with entertaining results . Cockfest . From 1971 until sometime in the late 2000s ( ? ) , the Thursday or Friday preceding the homecoming game , the Carolina band performed at the pep rally called " Cockfest " . It featured appearances by the cheerleaders , players , and coaches at Williams - Brice Stadium . Alumni Band . The alumni band performs during one of the half times every year and consists of a volunteer group of former members of the Carolina Band during the normal half time of the game . Songs of USC . " Thus Spake Zarathustra " ( aka 2001 ) . The South Carolina Gamecocks feature perhaps the most unique and electrifying pregame entry in all of college football with the use of " Einleitung " from " Thus Spake Zarathustra " As the minutes wind down on the game clock prior to the opening kickoff , the Gamecocks leave the locker room and assemble in the tunnel in the southwest corner of Williams - Brice Stadium . " The Sporting News " rated USC ' s " 2001 " as the most exciting pregame entry in all of college football . It was written by German composer Richard Strauss . Though the piece was a part of the classical repertoire and introduced in 1896 , it became known to the general public because of its use as the key musical motif in Stanley Kubrick ' s 1968 film " . " In 1969 , it became the beginning of the introductions to every show performed by Elvis Presley . followed by the Elvis theme , and Presley appearing on stage . Professional wrestler Ric Flair also famously used the piece as his " entrance " music . The Gamecocks began using it at all home games in 1981 because of the correlation to the year 2001 , which is when the University of South Carolina celebrated its bicentennial year . Because of the level of excitement and noise level of fans at Williams - Brice Stadium , the Carolina band no longer plays the song during the entrance ; instead only playing it during other points of the game or at special functions . The Gamecocks now play the song over the stadium sound system so that it can be heard throughout the stadium . " Cocky ' s 2001 " . " Cocky ' s 2001 " or " Thus Spake Cocky " is an uptempo arrangement of " Thus Spake Zarathustra " . It is generally played during periods where less time is available for " Thus Spake Zarathustra " or when the Gamecock football team is enjoying an advantage in the score of the game . The highlight of this song is that it is directed by Cocky , who is the school ' s mascot and one of the most celebrated mascots in the country by winning four ( 4 ) Mascot of Year / Championships since his arrival in 1980 ( Universal Cheerleading Association - 1986 and 1994 ; Capital One Mascot Championship in 2003 ; and the National Cheerleaders Association national championship in 2009 ) . " Go Carolina " . Premiered at the 1980 Gator Bowl when the school was looking for another fight song to use . ( From interview 10 / 6 / 06 with James K . Copenhaver - confirmed by USC band archives ) . Also appears on 1980 University of South Carolina marching band - Carolina Band LP 5262 c . 2 . Dick Goodwin , long time arranger and composer for the marching band and professor emeritus of the School of Music at the University of South Carolina , states : Go Carolina is my original composition meant to be used independently or with a cheer . " Fight Songs " . In a letter dated May 16 , 1969 to James Pritchard , Salley describes the origin of the piece , including some wry comments concerning the pecuniary reward for his efforts : " In about 1933 , OΔK Omicron Delta Kappa fraternity sponsored a contest for a fight song for the University of South Carolina . The winner of this contest was to receive $ 500 . 00 . I entered this contest and my song was declared the winning song . Later the award was reduced to $ 300 . 00 . I was paid $ 50 . 00 and promised the rest as the pledges were collected . I didn ' t press for the remainder because I felt I was lucky to get fifty and would have entered the contest if there had been no reward offered . " Salley provides a bit more information on the later history of the song in a letter to Coach Paul Dietzel of 10 December 1968 : " [ ' Carolina Let Your Voices Ring ' ] was first introduced by Dean George Olson , who at that time , was acting bandmaster . It wasn ' t until Mr . James Pritchard came to us as bandmaster that interest was revived in this slightly used song . " Pritchard elsewhere comments , " This fight song was rearranged by myself and used throughout my 10 years as Director of Bands ( Fall 1959 though Spring 1969 ) . " It was not used the following year when Ralph Wahl became director . This fight song is now known by the title " Old Fight Song " . The lyrics are : USC band director James Pritchard obtained a band arrangement of the song " Step to the Rear " from the Broadway musical " How Now , Dow Jones " in 1968 and the marching band played the song at the first game of the 1968 season . It caught the ear of Coach Paul Dietzel who contacted Prichard about making it the official fight song of the University to replace the original fight song , " Carolina Let Your Voices Ring " . Dietzel wrote the lyrics for the song , but asked that he remain anonymous because knowledge that the football coach wrote the lyrics might render it unacceptable to the basketball program . The song was officially introduced on November 16 , 1968 prior to the football game against Virginia Tech . The lyrics are : There are now several versions of this fight song suitable for different game events . A short version consisting of the last two lines of music follows any touchdown . After the extra point or following a field goal , the song is played in its entirety including the " CAROLINA " spell out between the two choruses . A different short version is used after every Gamecock first down . Facilities . The home of the Carolina Band is on the University of South Carolina campus at 324 Sumter St . On April 26 , 2009 , the University of South Carolina opened a state - of - the - art facility dedicated to its 300 - member marching band and a newly accredited dance program . The $ 9 . 8 million complex features practice areas , rehearsal rooms , storage for band instruments / uniforms and an adjacent 110 - yard long practice field complete with field lighting and a three - story observation tower . The main level building plan is organized around a series of large practice areas and dance studios along the field - side to the north . Smaller offices and support spaces are located to the south . Pep Bands . The Carolina Band prides itself on providing spirit and school songs at every football game the South Carolina Gamecocks play . This includes providing smaller pep bands for all away games not attended by the full band . Men ' s and Women ' s basketball and Women ' s volleyball games feature " Concocktion " , the official pep band of the University of South Carolina . This band performs at several home volleyball games and all men ' s and women ' s home basketball games hosted at the Colonial Life Arena , the largest arena in the State of South Carolina and the tenth largest on - campus basketball facility in the United States . " Concocktion " travels with the basketball teams for both SEC and NCAA post - season tournaments .