When the South Carolina Gamecocks take the field, there’s one sound that electrifies Williams-Brice Stadium — “Sandstorm” by Darude.
The iconic beat, first blasted through the stadium speakers during a 2009 matchup against Ole Miss, instantly became a Gamecock legend. Fans went wild, waving their white towels in the air, creating a storm of energy that’s now synonymous with South Carolina football.
According to Gamecocksonline, “A sequence of up and down motions are executed in unison as the music starts and these ultimately culminate in a flurry of waving white towels as the song progresses. Chants of ‘USC’ are also repeated in rhythm with the music. What began as a celebration tune toward the end of a big game has become one of the most loved traditions at University of South Carolina athletics events.”
The tradition has only grown stronger. Before every home game, fans receive white towels — a symbol of the storm that’s about to sweep through the stadium. As soon as “Sandstorm” hits, 80,000 strong erupt into motion, fueling the players with every beat and chant.
Originally released in the late 1990s by Finnish DJ Darude, the instrumental hit has found a permanent home in Columbia, South Carolina. What began as a spontaneous hype track has transformed into a pregame ritual that connects generations of Gamecock fans and players alike.
The University of South Carolina proudly joins USA TODAY’s 10BEST Iconic College Football Songs, alongside other legendary traditions such as:
- Virginia Tech — “Enter Sandman” by Metallica
- Tennessee — “Rocky Top” by the Osborne Brothers
- Alabama — “Dixieland Delight” by Alabama
- Wisconsin — “Jump Around” by House of Pain
- Michigan — “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers
- Oregon — “Shout” by The Isley Brothers
- West Virginia — “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver
- Penn State — “Kernkraft 400” by Zombie Nation
- Notre Dame — “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by Dropkick Murphys
And right among them — South Carolina: “Sandstorm” by Darude.
The next time the Gamecocks take the field — against LSU on October 11 — fans can count on one thing: when the opening beat of “Sandstorm” drops, the stadium will shake, towels will swirl, and South Carolina’s storm will rise once again.
