USC Upstate is what is known as a "metropolitan university". No, they are not calling Spartanburg, SC a metropolis. It is a tag that means that most of Upstate's students are locals who are commuters. There are in fact no dorms at USCU, just a few apartments right off campus. Also, many Upstate students are nontraditional students, people over the age of 25 with jobs who are taking college classes. To me, these things serve to negatively affect the support of Upstate athletics, and are reasons why you probably don't see a lot of Upstate fans.


Nevertheless, the school has experienced a lot of success in mens' basketball in the past, including an NAIA championship in 1982. For those of you wondering about the name change stuff, as you know the school was once known as the USC Spartanburg Rifles. Rifles was in honor of the Revolutionary War history of the upstate of SC. But the administration one day decided that they did not want a name implying that they served just Spartanburg, they wanted a name that showed that they served the whole Upstate. So in 2004, the school's name was changed to USC-Upstate. The mascot was then changed to "Spartans" to supposedly represent the city of Spartanburg. I for one think the mascot change was stupid. Rifles was cool and unique.

Upstate is finally building a D-1 program in earnest after a few struggling transition years. I'm excited to see just how far Eddie Payne, an excellent basketball man, can take it. A totally new arena would've helped, though, instead of just redoing the dated Hodge Center. That rinky-dink place can't help recruiting.

Thanks for the information and welcome to the forum.

Thanks! I like the old Rifles name too. Upstate's gym does have the euphonious "horn" that I've always wanted Mercer to upgrade to. The sound heard in most NBA games for subs, etc.

(01-10-2012 02:14 PM)Upstate Grad Wrote:  USC Upstate is what is known as a "metropolitan university". No, they are not calling Spartanburg, SC a metropolis. It is a tag that means that most of Upstate's students are locals who are commuters. There are in fact no dorms at USCU, just a few apartments right off campus. Also, many Upstate students are nontraditional students, people over the age of 25 with jobs who are taking college classes. To me, these things serve to negatively affect the support of Upstate athletics, and are reasons why you probably don't see a lot of Upstate fans.


Nevertheless, the school has experienced a lot of success in mens' basketball in the past, including an NAIA championship in 1982. For those of you wondering about the name change stuff, as you know the school was once known as the USC Spartanburg Rifles. Rifles was in honor of the Revolutionary War history of the upstate of SC. But the administration one day decided that they did not want a name implying that they served just Spartanburg, they wanted a name that showed that they served the whole Upstate. So in 2004, the school's name was changed to USC-Upstate. The mascot was then changed to "Spartans" to supposedly represent the city of Spartanburg. I for one think the mascot change was stupid. Rifles was cool and unique.

Upstate is finally building a D-1 program in earnest after a few struggling transition years. I'm excited to see just how far Eddie Payne, an excellent basketball man, can take it. A totally new arena would've helped, though, instead of just redoing the dated Hodge Center. That rinky-dink place can't help recruiting.

How long ago did you graduate? There are dorms on campus ... they are northeast of the student center. I'll grant you they are a recent addition ... but there are dorms. They've been there ... for about a decade I think.