If you had to guess what a USC student who is double-majoring in international business and marketing, not to mention working on a Spanish minor, did over Thanksgiving break, you would probably say studying or relaxing from a demanding semester.

Not so for senior Brionna Dickerson. As a crucial member of the Carolina women's basketball team, Dickerson travelled with her team to Cancun, Mexico, to play in the Cancun Thanksgiving Classic. The Gamecocks ended up winning the tournament, while Dickerson was named tournament MVP.

Just spoke with Outback Bowl president Jim McVay, who called me back after taking a call from the SEC office.
Despite their two-game slide, McVay has not cooled on the Gamecocks.
“It was a tough game on Saturday. … That’s football,” McVay said. “Does that impact our thoughts about South Carolina? Not at all.”
McVay would not confirm that the Gamecocks are Tampa-bound, saying LSU is also in the mix. But given the Outback’s history of taking SEC East teams, I’m betting the Gamecocks will be gearing up to stop Iowa tailback Shonn Greene on New Year’s Day morning in Tampa.
But McVay was curious whether USC fans had cooled on the Gamecocks following the 50-point dismantling by Florida and 17-loss to Clemson.
So I’ll put the question on the floor: How willing would you be to load up the minivan [nonparents can insert cooler mode of transportation here] and head to Tampa to watch the Gamecocks try to win their Outback Bowl trophy?
And if you would go, how long would you stay?

Just spoke with Outback Bowl president Jim McVay, who called me back after taking a call from the SEC office.
Despite their two-game slide, McVay has not cooled on the Gamecocks.
“It was a tough game on Saturday. … That’s football,” McVay said. “Does that impact our thoughts about South Carolina? Not at all.”
McVay would not confirm that the Gamecocks are Tampa-bound, saying LSU is also in the mix. But given the Outback’s history of taking SEC East teams, I’m betting the Gamecocks will be gearing up to stop Iowa tailback Shonn Greene on New Year’s Day morning in Tampa.
But McVay was curious whether USC fans had cooled on the Gamecocks following the 50-point dismantling by Florida and 17-loss to Clemson.
So I’ll put the question on the floor: How willing would you be to load up the minivan [nonparents can insert cooler mode of transportation here] and head to Tampa to watch the Gamecocks try to win their Outback Bowl trophy?
And if you would go, how long would you stay?

South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier questioned whether new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin broke an NCAA rule when he called a recruit a day before he was introduced as the Volunteers’ new coach.
According to a story published on VolQuest.com, part of the Rivals’ network, Kiffin and former Gamecocks recruiting coordinator David Reaves called Tampa running back Jarvis Giles on Sunday and left him voice messages.
The NCAA requires coaches to pass a certification test before they can contact recruits.
“You’re supposed to have passed the NCAA test and be on board, I think. But maybe he was just calling him as an interested observer,” Spurrier said today, laughing. “I don’t know. But technically to be able to recruit you’re supposed to pass the NCAA test.
“I know when I was hired, after the press conference I took the test to qualify you to be a recruiter. I hadn’t taken it in three or four years. At that time I could start making calls. I don’t know if he was permitted to make that call or not. You’ll have to ask somebody else.”
Tennessee spokesman Bud Ford said Kiffin, the former Oakland Raiders coach, signed his contract with Tennessee on Saturday. Ford was uncertain whether Kiffin had taken the NCAA test.
Tennessee is introducing the 33-year-old Kiffin at an afternoon news conference.
Reaves, who is Kiffin’s brother-in-law, resigned from USC on Sunday to become Tennessee’s quarterbacks coach. Reaves had recruited Giles for the Gamecocks.
Giles committed to the Volunteers before Phillip Fulmer’s resignation, and was thought to be down to USC and Nebraska as his final choices.

South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier questioned whether new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin broke an NCAA rule when he called a recruit a day before he was introduced as the Volunteers’ new coach.
According to a story published on VolQuest.com, part of the Rivals’ network, Kiffin and former Gamecocks recruiting coordinator David Reaves called Tampa running back Jarvis Giles on Sunday and left him voice messages.
The NCAA requires coaches to pass a certification test before they can contact recruits.
“You’re supposed to have passed the NCAA test and be on board, I think. But maybe he was just calling him as an interested observer,” Spurrier said today, laughing. “I don’t know. But technically to be able to recruit you’re supposed to pass the NCAA test.
“I know when I was hired, after the press conference I took the test to qualify you to be a recruiter. I hadn’t taken it in three or four years. At that time I could start making calls. I don’t know if he was permitted to make that call or not. You’ll have to ask somebody else.”
Tennessee spokesman Bud Ford said Kiffin, the former Oakland Raiders coach, signed his contract with Tennessee on Saturday. Ford was uncertain whether Kiffin had taken the NCAA test.
Tennessee is introducing the 33-year-old Kiffin at an afternoon news conference.
Reaves, who is Kiffin’s brother-in-law, resigned from USC on Sunday to become Tennessee’s quarterbacks coach. Reaves had recruited Giles for the Gamecocks.
Giles committed to the Volunteers before Phillip Fulmer’s resignation, and was thought to be down to USC and Nebraska as his final choices.

South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier questioned whether new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin broke an NCAA rule when he called a recruit a day before he was introduced as the Volunteers’ new coach.
According to a story published on VolQuest.com, part of the Rivals’ network, Kiffin and former Gamecocks recruiting coordinator David Reaves called Tampa running back Jarvis Giles on Sunday and left him voice messages.
The NCAA requires coaches to pass a certification test before they can contact recruits.
“You’re supposed to have passed the NCAA test and be on board, I think. But maybe he was just calling him as an interested observer,” Spurrier said today, laughing. “I don’t know. But technically to be able to recruit you’re supposed to pass the NCAA test.
“I know when I was hired, after the press conference I took the test to qualify you to be a recruiter. I hadn’t taken it in three or four years. At that time I could start making calls. I don’t know if he was permitted to make that call or not. You’ll have to ask somebody else.”
Tennessee spokesman Bud Ford said Kiffin, the former Oakland Raiders coach, signed his contract with Tennessee on Saturday. Ford was uncertain whether Kiffin had taken the NCAA test.
Tennessee is introducing the 33-year-old Kiffin at an afternoon news conference.
Reaves, who is Kiffin’s brother-in-law, resigned from USC on Sunday to become Tennessee’s quarterbacks coach. Reaves had recruited Giles for the Gamecocks.
Giles committed to the Volunteers before Phillip Fulmer’s resignation, and was thought to be down to USC and Nebraska as his final choices.

UPDATE: Kiffin said during his introductory press conference Monday that he took the NCAA test last week.
South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier questioned whether new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin broke an NCAA rule when he called a recruit a day before he was introduced as the Volunteers’ new coach.
According to a story published on VolQuest.com, part of the Rivals’ network, Kiffin and former Gamecocks recruiting coordinator David Reaves called Tampa running back Jarvis Giles on Sunday and left him voice messages.
The NCAA requires coaches to pass a certification test before they can contact recruits.
“You’re supposed to have passed the NCAA test and be on board, I think. But maybe he was just calling him as an interested observer,” Spurrier said today, laughing. “I don’t know. But technically to be able to recruit you’re supposed to pass the NCAA test.
“I know when I was hired, after the press conference I took the test to qualify you to be a recruiter. I hadn’t taken it in three or four years. At that time I could start making calls. I don’t know if he was permitted to make that call or not. You’ll have to ask somebody else.”
Tennessee spokesman Bud Ford said Kiffin, the former Oakland Raiders coach, signed his contract with Tennessee on Saturday. Ford was uncertain whether Kiffin had taken the NCAA test.
Tennessee is introducing the 33-year-old Kiffin at an afternoon news conference.
Reaves, who is Kiffin’s brother-in-law, resigned from USC on Sunday to become Tennessee’s quarterbacks coach. Reaves had recruited Giles for the Gamecocks.
Giles committed to the Volunteers before Phillip Fulmer’s resignation, and was thought to be down to USC and Nebraska as his final choices.