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Today's Date In Gamecock History
July 12th
Happy Birthday to the Brinkley twins, Jasper and Casper. The Gamecocks beat out Georgia for Jasper's signature and picked up the two linebackers after two seasons at Georgia Military College. Casper was named honorable mention All-State in 2002 and earned All-State honors from the Georgia Association of Coaches in 2003. He played the 2004 and 2005 seasons at Georgia Military then transferred to USC with his twin brother Jasper, picking the Gamecocks over offers from Arizona State, Baylor and Kansas State. Brinkley started all thirteen games in 2006, leading the team in sacks and forced fumbles. He was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week after recording four tackles for loss and two sacks in a 31-13 win over Vanderbilt. He made one of the big plays of USC's bowl win over Houston that year, as the Cougars were driving for the tying score in the fourth quarter and had the ball at the USC 36. Brinkley sacked QB Kevin Kolb for a thirteen-yard loss and the drive stalled. Brinkley began the 2007 season as an outside linebacker but moved to defensive end when injuries struck the USC defensive line. He had four tackles for loss against Vanderbilt and had sacks against Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia. Brinkley made the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2008.
Jasper Brinkley was named All-State as a senior, then played two seasons at Georgia Military College where he was a second-team All-American in 2005. He transferred to USC with this twin brother Casper, as the two picked Carolina over Arizona State, Baylor and Kansas State. After winning the Spring Everyday Effort for the defense Brinkley started eleven games at linebacker in 2006, leading the team in tackles and tackles for loss. He was named All-SEC by both the Associated Press and the league's coaches and teamed with Syvelle Newton to sack Clemson QB Will Proctor for a ten yard loss on the game's next to last play, enough to lead to a missed field goal that gave Carolina a 31-28 win. He was fourth in the SEC in tackles and had a game high of 13 against Florida. Brinkley got off to a fast start in 2007, with 21 tackles in a little more than three games. He intercepted a Matthew Stafford pass with less than a minute left in the game to preserve a 16-12 Gamecock win over Georgia. Brinkley hurt his knee in the fourth game of the year (against LSU) and missed the rest of the year. He received a medical redshirt and was able to start all 13 games in 2008, earning second team All-SEC honors. He had nine tackles, two for losses and a sack on which he forced a fumble by Clemson QB Cullen Harper in the finale against the Tigers. Brinkley was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings and played for them from 2009 through 2012, also playing with the Cardinals, Cowboys and Giants.

Birthdays
SportAthletePositionHometownBeginEndNote
FB Reid Bethea Kicker Dublin, GA 1999 2000 Made 9 of 14 FG, 18 of 19 XP as kicker in 2000
FB Casper Brinkley LB-DE Thomson, GA 2006 2007 Played out of position at DE but still made 103 tackles, 26.5 for losses and 10 sacks
FB Jasper Brinkley Linebacker Thomson, GA 2006 2008 2-time All-SEC (2006, 2nd team 2008) had 193 career tackles
FB Norm Greene Safety Grand Haven, MI 1991 1993 Rail thin talented safety made 184 tackles before concussions ended career
BB Stacy Stokes Second Base Camden, SC 1991 1994 Diminuitive 2-year starter hit .301 as a junior, drove in 78 runs for career
FB Phillip Vickery Linebacker Spartanburg, SC 1978 1980 #1 SC prospect in 1978 was hounded by injuries, finished career with 4 tackles

Games Played on July 12th
Football
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Men's Basketball
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Baseball
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Men's Soccer
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Volleyball
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Women's Soccer
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Women's Basketball
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Softball
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