Why does South Carolina play Sandstorm at football games?

South Carolina football games are not without “Sandstorm” echoing throughout Williams-Brice Stadium constantly these days.

When one thinks of South Carolina football, there is a good chance Darude’s “Sandstorm” comes to mind.

While the electronic dance music track was created far away from Columbia, South Carolina by a Finnish DJ many years ago, the song has become an ever-present staple at Gamecocks home games at Williams-Brice.

Though the tradition is not that old, to begin with, it is a reminder of what greatness looks like on the gridiron at South Carolina.

It all began with the Ole Miss game in 2009. Had the stadium deejay not gone back to it in succession, “Sandstorm” would have been just another techno song.

South Carolina football: Why is “Sandstorm” played at Gamecocks home games?

The game in question saw the No. 4 Rebels come to Columbia. South Carolina was ascending as a program under head coach Steve Spurrier. Up 16-10 with 1:39 remaining in the game, the stadium deejay played “Sandstorm”, and the Williams-Brice crowd went nuts.

So much so that ESPN’s Chris Fowler said from the booth during the live telecast, “A rave breaks out in Columbia.”

Once Rebels quarterback Jevan Snead was sacked on that crucial third-and-12, Ole Miss got flagged for a substitution penalty amidst all the chaos.

Naturally, Ole Miss failed to convert on the fourth-and-19. The rest as they say is history. “Sandstorm” not only became the anthem of the Spurrier era of South Carolina football, but it became part of something much bigger in Columbia.

With noted Spurrier disciple Shane Beamer now at the helm, the legacy of “Sandstorm” plays on.

For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.