South Carolina to wear helmet decal honoring Charleston shooting victims

The South Carolina Gamecocks will wear a decal on their helmets this season honoring the nine victims of the deadly shooting at a Charleston church.

The South Carolina Gamecocks will wear a decal on their helmets this season honoring the nine victims of the deadly shooting at a Charleston church in June, the school announced Sunday. 

“Whether it’s Greenville, Columbia, Charleston or any other cities in South Carolina, we feel a tremendous sense of pride in this state,” athletic director Ray Tanner said in a statement. “The tragedy that happened in Charleston doesn’t just affect people in Charleston; it affects the entire state. We feel very much a part of that at the university. Coach Steve Spurrier and University President Harris Pastides felt very strongly that the ‘Emanuel 9’ should be recognized.”

The logo is inspired by the design of South Carolina’s state flag and was created by an artist named Gil Shuler.

#Gamecocks honor ‘Emanuel 9’ with helmet sticker. #HereSChttp://t.co/5PTqaFULTo pic.twitter.com/BnYdRdiuDH

— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) August 30, 2015

Each of the nine doves represent one of the victims killed in the shooting. 

The stickers will make their debut in Thursday’s season opener against North Carolina. 

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