Unlike bloggers who have sucked off of the University of South Carolina’s taxpayer-funded teat, we don’t think it’s especially newsworthy that one of the state’s most hare-brained higher ed boondogglers has decided to open a Twitter account.
Of course we’re not Brad Warthen – who devoted several hundred words earlier this month to University of South Carolina president Harris Pastides’ decision to start tweeting.
Anyway, now that this monumental scoop has been unearthed … how is Pastides’ Twitter career progressing?
Let’s take a look …
“In L.A. for meetings … driving past ‘USC West.’” Pastides tweeted last week, referring to the University of Southern California. “Thought about what a merger might look like, but don’t think the colors would blend. Bad idea.”
Needless to say our founding editor Will Folks (a.k.a. Sic Willie) was all over that.
“You don’t think cocks and Trojans go well together?” he tweeted back to Pastides.
Penile humor aside, though, we’re much more interested in Pastides’ “USC West” comment – which would seem to imply that the University of Southern California and the University of South Carolina are equals, and that there is some universe in which the former might consider partnering with the latter.
Is that so?
According to the latest U.S. News and World Report national college rankings, “USC West” was ranked No. 23 in the nation. Our “USC?” It’s ranked No. 111.
In football, Southern Cal has won 11 national championships and 38 conference championships. South Carolina? We’ve won a single conference championship (ACC – 1969) and one divisional championship (SEC East – 2010).
In baseball, the Gamecocks have won back-to-back national titles. Impressive, right? Not compared to the dozen national championships USC has won.
Also, while Southern Cal isn’t known for its men’s basketball program, the Trojans have reached the NCAA tournament four times in the last five years. “USC East” hasn’t made the “Big Dance” since 2004 – and hasn’t won a tournament game since 1974. And although USC is a woeful 6-21 this season – they beat Darrin Horn’s Gamecocks 63-60 back in November.
Is there anything the Gamecocks do better than the Trojans?
Well we “raw dog” them in international business … although this award-winning program (and the rest of USC’s core academic departments) play second fiddle to Pastides’ ongoing obsession with speculative “economic development” deals.
The brainchild of Pastides and S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell, the “Innovista” project has already cost taxpayers at least $150 million (including over $40 million in state funds). The project was supposed to usher in the “hydrogen economy of the future” and bring “thousands of high-paying jobs” to downtown Columbia, S.C., but it has failed spectacularly on all counts.
Amazingly, this boondoggle is still being funded by state and local taxpayers to the tune of millions of dollars a year – and that’s just its direct appropriations. The facility also recently received a $154 million bailout from Columbia, S.C. taxpayers.
“Tweet that,” Harris.
***
By BigT February 22, 2012 at 11:17 am
What a cheesy way to get your self-judged-to-be-clever dirty joke out there…
Public humor for public consumption is a bit passe (not to mention low-brow and lacking of wit) if you ask me….
It’s really kinda tired…
By Ron Pual February 22, 2012 at 11:30 am
I thought the joke was pretty clever, not to mention it gave me a chuckle.
p.s.
Vote for me, I am the only hope for our country.
Regards,
Ron Paul
By Kid Charlemagne February 22, 2012 at 11:31 am
Well, we beat their ass in football the last time we played.
By Don February 22, 2012 at 3:22 pm
Yes.
Before you were born. USC was 4-6-1 that year.
USC is 1-1 against USC lifetime.
By ohnonotagain February 22, 2012 at 5:29 pm
USC beat So. Cal in 1983. It was 5-6 that year.
Not a lot better, but still better than Don would suppose.
By hhuuhh?? February 22, 2012 at 11:35 am
I am indifferent to USC, Clemson or my own alma mater. They are all businesses as far as I can see.
I am not indifferent to the fact that the once Grand Old Party has turned itself into the nattering nabobs of negativity.
I don’t think it will get better until the Real Republicans, aka RINOs, rise up and throw the Libertarians( who are too gutless to run as members of their own party) out and take back leadership from Fox/Murdoch/Ailes, Beck and Limbaugh.
By Shanky February 22, 2012 at 12:01 pm
““In L.A. for meetings … driving past ‘USC West.’” Pastides tweeted”
Hey Powder Ass, have you heard of video conferencing? Yes, you have but you and the provosts and now under your leadership the VICE provosts (who we hear actually work) prefer globe trotting at the expense of the state and the parents attempting to afford your overpriced institution of HIGHer learning…
By CNSYD February 22, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Shanky, I bet the NCAA Infractions group would have been real impressed with the USCe prez “showing up” by video conferencing.
By darksied calling February 22, 2012 at 1:26 pm
USC West?? USC East?? LOL what a joke! South Carolina couldn’t carry USC’s jock in a wheelbarrow. As far as academics go..who has the higher rated law school? Who has the larger endowment foundation?? Which university has the higher overall national ranking??? It sure ain’t South Carolina! I saw a bumper stick on the back of Clemson fan’s car that said wait till next year..right beside the bumper sticker that said thank god for Mississippi.
By STFU February 22, 2012 at 2:08 pm
What the fuck is that creature in the background with the long hair.
By Recovering Lobbyist February 22, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Reporter from the student newspaper.
By Petey February 22, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Given that university presidents only last about 7-10 years before they’re booted out of office, it’s about time for the Board of Trustees to warm up their shit kickers and assign someone to hold the door.
By BD01 February 22, 2012 at 4:57 pm
“You don’t think cocks and Trojans go well together?” he tweeted back to Pastides.
OMGosh. I just got it. That’s some funny tweet.
By Cockenstein February 22, 2012 at 5:56 pm
It’s an old joke. “The Trojans can’t cover our Cocks.” I’ll bet Harris didn’t get the Tweet.
By Mooreprof February 22, 2012 at 6:34 pm
Hey that’s an old pic because that’s Ted Moore in the foreground – he left since he couldn’t stomach Pastidis’ and Hildy T’s sick politics.
Insteat of tweeting he should cut half the departments and colleges and run with what’s excellent – like the Moore School, the only unit they probably know at USC West…
But for that he needs to replace this blow hard dean who thinks she walks on water because she holds Darla’s bag…