Nancy Mace Shows Up in Black Lace for Gamecocks Opener and Sets Off a Social Media Frenzy

Nancy Mace, a congresswoman from South Carolina and an alumna of The Citadel, shared a picture from a packed football stadium, exclaiming “Go COCKS” for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.

She shared the photo, taken at Williams-Brice Stadium, when South Carolina played its first Southeastern Conference game of the season against Mississippi State on Saturday. She wore black lace and gave a thumbs-up amid a crowd.

In a follow-up post, she tagged “IYKYK“, which is a funny shout-out to the name of the university that also references her previous post advising people to stop sending explicit photos and start listening to her podcast.

The phrase resembled a long-time rally cry of the university, associated with the university mascot, a fighting rooster. She received memes, comments, and jokes about her outfit, including one user posting, “Are you f***ing 12?” Mace responded, “You aren’t from here.”

She responded with humor, explaining that it was just a school rally cry and that cheering for your university team does not turn a woman into a w***e.

However, Mace’s afternoon did not end well. Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor threw for 251 yards and four touchdowns as the Bulldogs came from behind to beat South Carolina 41–34. Kickoff was postponed for an hour and 20 minutes because lightning kept returning to the stadium area. After the loss, South Carolina’s record became 2–1 overall and 0–1 in the SEC.

Mace is a Republican politician known for her feisty attitude. She is the first woman to graduate from The Citadel, South Carolina’s military school, and became the first Republican woman elected to Congress in 2020.

After she lost the state’s Republican gubernatorial primary in June, finishing a distant fifth, her political future became questionable.