South Carolina played Texas A&M in November last year and won comfortably, 44-20, in a season in which they finished with 9 wins. But that’s not important here. Sitting in the stands was one die-hard Gamecock fan, Reed Dyche’s family, cheering for the Gamecocks, with Reed’s wife, Tonya, sporting the same jersey that Reed had gifted her. The strange part? This was all on the same day that Reed’s memorial was planned after he had died due to a prolonged battle with liver disease. So, when the social norms expected the family to mourn, they were giving Reed the best tribute they could have. The best part? Reed Dyche, a die-hard Gamecocks fan, was ingrained in the team’s history that day.

Before South Carolina went against LSU and lost in a 33-36 thriller last year, Reed was having a battle for life and death in the hospital. His liver disease, which was diagnosed in 2010, has constantly forced him to make multiple visits since then. While Reed’s health was largely fine, one odd day, a German Shepherd bit him. The bite didn’t have any effect on his health, and he would have been discharged easily, but when he was admitted to the urgent care, the NSAIDs given to him complicated things, since it’s not recommended to give the drugs to anyone with liver disease. Admitted to the hospital, Reed, though, had just one thought.

It was Friday that day, and Reed knew that if he could take some prescriptions and get discharged, he would have easily attended Saturday’s football game. “You’re not getting out of here that early,” said the doctors to Reed. But Reed was adamant and responded that it “was an emergency” and implored to “understand.” “(ESPN College) GameDay is going to be in Columbia. We’re playing LSU at noon. I have to be at that game. I have not missed a game in 15 years.” But the doctors didn’t let Reed go, considering the seriousness of his condition (as reported by Jordan Kaye of The State).

Reed was given some pain meds and was knocked out for the game, and just saw the last-minute field goal that gave LSU their win against the Gamecocks. In that game, Reed might not have been in the stands of the William Bryce Stadium, but Reed always has the desire to support his team despite the odds. Sadly, that game was the last that Reed saw, since after a series of tests, he was put on holdover for a liver transplant.

Dyches sadly died on September 20th, 2024, at just 46 years of age after battling liver cirrhosis. “Tonya called us and told us what was going on. I was just in shock. Like, there’s no way. He was fine? Did he have a heart attack? What happened?” said Brad Polin, Reed’s friend, with whom Reed used to stay during his medical visits. “His liver just gave out,” Tonya said. “I just think it was too much for his liver.” But Reed’s fandom didn’t end with his death. Before his death, Reed had sent a special present to his wife and his daughter, which ultimately enabled a fitting tribute for Reed.

Reed’s family finds hope amid tough times

Reed’s daughter, Elise, had attended almost every Gamecocks game with her father. That was how they spent their time together. It became their thing. Now, after Reed’s death, Elise, probably oblivious to the usual social norms, asked her mom, “Does this mean we can’t go to the football game tomorrow?” That was a heavy question, and the answer to Tonya would have been a sad “no,” but then a little package came on their front porch.

The package had the Gamecock football jersey wrapped in plastic, along with other gear to wear for the game. It was booked by Reed before his death, as if he wanted his family to honor him by attending the game. The family then did the same since that’s what Reed wanted and cheered for the Gamecocks. Later, Tonya also got to know how Reed had consciously pre-booked it expeditiously to be delivered on Friday, for Tonya to wear it on Saturday when USC played.

“I think he might have known. I think he knew if he told me how progressed it was — I just don’t think he wanted to worry me,” said Tonya. Polin, too, knowing his friend, understood what the jersey meant. “It was just a jersey for her, basically saying, ‘Go to the game.’ I’m gone, but go to the game.” The family finally went to the game against the Aggies in November. South Carolina won that game against the Aggies as if God himself wanted to honor Reed. For Reed, he became an eternal part of USC’s history since his family then buried the ashes in the stadium’s earth, sealing Reed’s fandom in Gamecocks’ footballing lore.