COLUMBIA, S.C. — An annual July tradition in Columbia is the arrival of the "Pigskin Poets".
On Friday, that group which consists of Gamecock football freshman and newcomers were at the Drew Wellness Center where they were greeted by an excited group of area youngsters.
The Pigskin Poets program is a 30-year partnership between Gamecock football and the Richland Library which encourages kids to read.
Several USC players were on the stage reading passages from various books before spending time signing autographs for the kids.
Quarterback Dante Reno and wide receiver Mazeo Bennett spoke with the media about the upcoming season as the Gamecocks eye a return to a bowl game.
"The mindset of the whole program is, prove them wrong," Bennett said.
"Prove us right. Everything, we have to want it. Coach Jamil (Walker), one of our strength and conditioning coaches, he gave us the best speech of the day. 'If they aren't with us, they are against us'.
"That is how we feel, and we stand on that. I feel like this season, we have to go out there and show everybody that."