Tailgate Talks with DiMarco and Garcia

A two-for-one special this week on the Tailgate! Heisman candidate and South Carolina's QB1, LaNorris Sellers, is up first. The game-changing playmaker is back under center for the Gamecocks in one of the most anticipated seasons in recent history. He's followed up by a man who protects him in the pocket and opens up running lanes. Cason Henry has become a leader on the offensive line, and if they...

Arguably the greatest backfield trio in Gamecock history, together again like it's 2010. Marcus Lattimore will go down as one of the best to ever wear the Garnet & Black purely based off his accomplishments on the field, but it's the lasting impact he left on all of us that will be immortalized. You know part of his story already, but you haven't heard it like this. Brothers in the backfield shari...

There are some conflicting reports around our next guest on the Tailgate, so let's go to the source, himself. Mike Uva, a transplant from New England, has made a name for himself as a Gamecock insider, covering South Carolina athletics for a decade. How did he get his start, what are the biggest stories he's reported on, and how does one become an "insider?"

First team All-SEC, NCAA record, top ten NFL draft pick. Troy Williamson covered a lot of ground in his three years in the Garnet & Black, and surely left his mark. The South Carolina native went on to play for six years in the NFL and is now back in the Midlands, raising kids and cheering on the Gamecocks.

Steve Spurrier's right hand man, DFO, NFL liaison. Whatever title you want to use, one thing is certain: Jamie Speronis wore more hats than you could count. The man who spent 12 seasons with Gamecock football and more than two decades alongside the Head Ball Coach has plenty of great memories and even more stories to share.

Offensive lineman never get the love they deserve, right? Well, they do on the Tailgate! John Strickland, the Gamecocks' center from 2000-2004, might be the biggest South Carolina fan out there. From big bowl wins, to a brawl, and playing for legendary coach Lou Holtz, John has plenty of great stories for Gamecock nation.

From under-recruited to second round pick, who doesn't love an underdog story? Demetrius Knight played sparingly his first four years in college, but became a fan favorite in a matter of a few months in the Garnet & Black. D-Knight joins the Tailgate right after his life-changing phone call on NFL Draft night.

Up next on the tailgate is a man who truly needs no introduction to Carolina fans. He's the 2010 College World Series MVP, an MLB All-Star, a Gold-Glove winner, and World Series champion, but true Gamecocks only need to hear three letters: JBJ.

There's a diehard Gamecock fan in just about every industry you can think of, and NASCAR is no different. "Spotter Brett" made a name for himself on the circuit, helping change the game and how spotters are used during a race. Stephen chops it up with his old friend, Brett Griffin, to learn more about the racing industry, his Carolina fandom, and hear some stories from the pit any racing fan will...

He might just be one of the most famous Carolina fans on the internet right now. USC alum, current "Bussin' with the Boys" producer, and diehard Gamecock fan, J.P. Hovey joins the tailgate! Stephen and Pat dive into J.P.'s career, how he's always reppin' the Gamecocks, and some wild stories from the Bus.

Where were you for Whit's hit? Every Gamecock fan can answer that question. Next up on the Tailgate is South Carolina baseball legend, Whit Merrifield. A guy who came in the same time as Stephen and Pat, Whit made a name for himself in Columbia before going on to play in the big leagues for nearly a decade.

It's an '07 recruiting class reunion on the tailgate this week as T-Rob -- ah em --  Coach T-Rob sits down with his former teammates. The guys share stories from their days in Bates West, chat about the keys to the success they had, and share why they think the current Gamecock football team is showing a lot of similarities.

It's time for round two with former Gamecock football strength coach, Joe Connolly! This time, we dive into the specifics of sports performance training with the 2024 Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year. What all goes into getting a college football team ready for play? How has training changed over the years? What is a wet fart in an astronaut suit, and how is that relevant? We answer it...

Coming off one of the most impressive NFL Combine showings to date, Nick Emmanwori is finding himself flying up the draft boards. Before he hears his name called in just a few weeks, he's joining the tailgate to talk with Pat and Stephen about where it all started, his time at Carolina, and getting ready for the NFL.

Plenty of people immediately come to mind when thinking about the success of the South Carolina football program during the Spurrier era. Some of the greatest Gamecocks of all time came from those days, but there's a name you may or may not recognize that contributed greatly to the program's historic stretch: Joe Connolly. Pat and Stephen catch up with their old strength coach to give you insight...

He became a Gamecock legend in 2010, and now ranks among the top first basemen in the game of baseball 15 years later. Christian Walker, fresh off a new contract with the Houston Astros, has just about seen it all in his baseball career. As MLB Opening Day nears, Stephen and Pat take Christian back down memory lane, talk hitting mechanics, and share stories from college and the Bigs you won't want...

It's the second edition of a two part episode with Gamecock baseball legend, Michael Roth! Part two picks up with Roth's senior year as the guys talk about nearly completing a three-peat in 2012 before Michael starts his professional career with the Angels. From crazy minor league stories and a wild MLB debut, to playing all over the world and starting a family, you'll get a bit of everything in t...

What a ride for former coach and athletics director, Ray Tanner! Nearly three decades in athletics at South Carolina with tremendous success lends itself to some great moments and plenty of stories. Tanner sits down with Pat and Stephen, a couple guys he knows well from his time as a coach, to look back on it all.

Get ready for a series of star-studded Gamecock baseball guests joining the tailgate! Stephen Garcia and Patrick DiMarco may have made their names on the gridiron, but they just happen to be classmates with some of the biggest names in South Carolina baseball history. Up first is a guy that toed the rubber under the brightest lights time and again: Michael Roth. Hear some incredible stories includ...

A South Carolinian through and through, Brandon Wallace was a jack of all trades stat-stuffer during his time in the Garnet & Black, and now he's back in Columbia doing what he loves. Pat and Stephen talk with Dave Odom's Swiss Army Knife about his time at Carolina, the life of a pro player overseas, and his current role as a high school coach.

From the field to the ring! Matrick Belton, known to many as "Trick Williams," is a rising star in the world of professional wrestling, but before he was a WWE champion, he was playing under the lights at Willy-B. The former Gamecock receiver talks about his time in Columbia and his rise up the wrestling ranks.

Don't tell him kickers aren't real football players! Perhaps one of the most versatile special teamers to ever come through Columbia, Ryan Succop did it all during his time as a Gamecock. The 14-year NFL veteran joins his old teammates with some wild NFL stories you'll have to hear to believe.

Pat and Stephen went bowling with Gamecock football to kick off 2025 with an epic tailgate in Orlando. They caught up with former teammates, took fan questions, and shared stories of their less-than-perfect bowl experiences. They may not have brought the team much luck, but hey, bowl games have never really been their thing.

That's a wrap on our first season! Tailgate Talks kicked off in August, and what a great whirlwind it's been. As 2025 begins, Patrick DiMarco and Stephen Garcia look back at the show's inception, the incredible guests they've had so far, and look ahead to what the new year holds.

Often called one of the most underrated players to ever come through Carolina, he owns the single-season passing record and carried the torch in the post-Garcia and Shaw days. Dylan Thompson will go down as one of the best signal-callers in Gamecock history. Now working with the Commanders in the NFL, he takes a break for a tailgate session with the boys.