BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — It’s become almost a norm around this time in the calendar for Dawn Staley and top-seeded South Carolina to gather at midcourt and accept trophies for their accomplishments. Staley has made a habit out of celebrating Final Four berths and national championship victories with the South Carolina band, posing for photos after they’ve livened up the winning environments. A South Carolina team staffer has the Gamecocks’ net-cutting routine (and order) perfected to a science. Players sing as Queen’s “We Are the Champions” plays and dance when Mary J. Blige’s “Just Fine” is belted over the loudspeakers.
On Sunday in Birmingham, the Gamecocks celebrated another Final Four berth, their fifth in five years. Most everything felt like past celebrations … with two glaring exceptions. The first is this: Thirty minutes after the final buzzer sounded on South Carolina’s 54-50 win over second-seeded Duke, Staley signed a baby’s bottom, scribbling her name on a pair of white sweatpants that immediately became a one-of-a-kind collector’s item.
“That was a first,” Staley said. “My hand was shaking.”
Here’s Dawn Staley signing a baby’s bottom during South Carolina’s celebration after making the Final Four pic.twitter.com/mg3Z54sjyu
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