South Carolina plans to honor fire victims

Columbia, S.C. | The University of South Carolina football team will honor students killed in the Ocean Isle Beach house fire by placing stickers on their helmets Saturday with the phrase "Forever to thee," a line from the school's alma mater.

The song is typically sung by fans and players after each home game as the Gamecock faithful stand.

Many of the students who died in the Ocean Isle Beach fire have been described as devout college football fans who were partying and watching the games on television Saturday. A seventh victim attended Clemson.

No. 23 South Carolina (5-3, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) could do a lot to lift its campus' spirit with a victory at Arkansas (5-3, 3-1).

"We'll do whatever we can. It's certainly not going to bring anybody back, but life goes on," South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said Tuesday. "Most students here love football, love all the sports. Football seems to be the sport that you take personally, passionately, so forth. It's a terrible tragedy that's happened."

Spurrier, a father of four who has a son on his Gamecocks team and another who is an assistant coach, can identify with parents of college students.

"You've got to trust they'll be safe, make good decisions," said Spurrier, 62, who has coached at the college level for more than 16 years. "We'll remember these students and hopefully can recover. For the families, it'll be something forever, unfortunately."

The students at the beach house were tuned into the Gamecocks' 27-24 overtime loss to Tennessee, and South Carolina players said they'd like to help any of those affected when they take the field Saturday night.

"We can play an important role," linebacker Marvin Sapp said. "We're going to try to give these families some kind of

diversion or some kind of

support in the way that we play. It really adds another aspect to this game."

Sophomore safety Emmanuel Cook said some of his teammates knew students killed in fire.

"I think we can probably bring some happiness to the town, to the school, cheer everybody up. Have a good game," Cook said. "Do this for the people that we lost."