Legendary fan Jack Haynes and his van are one of a kind By Brian Hand | Contributing writer • Photo by Allen Sharpe
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t’s not not for for sale. sale.”” t’s That simple simple phrase phrase is is That something Gamecock Gamecock fan fan something Jack Haynes Haynes has has grown grown accusaccusJack tomed to saying saying over over the the years. years. tomed to Haynes’ 1964 1964 Ford Ford Econoline Econoline Haynes’ van is is something something he he never never wants wants van to sell, sell, and and with with good good reason: reason: It’s It’s to one of of aa kind. kind. one The special special van van is is outfitted outfitted The and wrapped wrapped to to represent represent South South and Carolina in in aa very very unique unique way way Carolina and everywhere everywhere it it goes goes it it draws draws and
Photo courtesy courtesy of of Jack Jack Haynes Haynes Photo
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attention, particularly particularly on on game game day day attention, with Haynes Haynes blasting blasting “Sandstorm” “Sandstorm” with as he he gets gets closer closer to to Williams-Brice Williams-Brice as Stadium. Stadium. For the the passion passion that that is is evident evident For when he he is is driving driving the the van van and and his his when more than than 50 50 years years of of devotion devotion to to more the Gamecock Gamecock Club, Club, Haynes Haynes was was the honored as as the the Legendary Legendary Fan Fan of of the the honored Game prior prior to to the the South South CaorlinaCaorlinaGame Clemson game. game. Clemson The whole whole experience experience was was “su“suThe per,”” Haynes Haynes said. said. per,
Haynes first first started started attending attending Haynes South Carolina Carolina football football games games when when South he was was just just eight eight years years old. old. he “I attended attended my my first first Gamecock Gamecock “I football game game in in 1953, 1953,”” he he said. said. football “My dad dad had had aa Highway Highway patrolman patrolman “My friend who who would would give give him him two two friend passes for for each each home home game. game.”” passes A few few years years later, later, at 14, at 14, Haynes Haynes A even helped helped as as an an usher usher at at the the stastaeven dium as as aa Boy Boy Scout. Scout. dium “We would would go go two two hours hours before before “We the game game and and they they would would also also have have the aa box box lunch lunch for for us, us,”” Haynes Haynes said. said. “I “I still have have my my shoulder shoulder patch patch they they still gave me me to to wear. wear.”” gave It was was in in the the late late 1970s 1970s when when It Haynes came came into into possession possession of of the the Haynes special van van that that would would ultimately ultimately alalspecial low him him to to show show his his lifelong lifelong passion passion low for the the Gamecocks. Gamecocks. for The old old television television repair repair vehicle vehicle The was sold sold to to Haynes’ Haynes’ father, father, who who then then was sold it it aa year year or or so so later later to to his his son son for for sold just $1. $1. The The very very next next day, day, Haynes Haynes just had it it customized. customized. had The Gamecock Gamecock van van has has been been The driven by by Haynes Haynes to to many many bowl bowl driven games and and other other events events over over the the games
years. It It has has even even been been featured featured in in years. three Gamecock Gamecock national national champichampithree onship parades. parades. onship Wherever the the van van goes, goes, GameGameWherever cock fans want to see it. Even South cock fans want to see it. Even South Carolina coaches coaches want want their their picture picture Carolina taken with with it. it. taken Haynes notes notes that that his his favorite favorite Haynes Gamecock of of all-time all-time is is George George Gamecock Rogers. Rogers. “My wife wife and and II watched watched him him at at “My all of of his his home home games games and and followed followed all him to to most most of of the the out-of-town out-of-town him games during during his his career career because because he he games was so so much much fun fun to to watch, watch,”” Haynes Haynes was said. said. Just like like the the van van and and Rogers, Rogers, Just Haynes is is aa one one of of aa kind. kind. Haynes
LEGENDARY FAN FAN •• GAMECOCK GAMECOCK CLUB CLUB LEGENDARY
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