There was a time not so long ago when autumn adventurers had to choose between a weekend getaway to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, or a trip to see a big-time college football game. Those days are in the end zone.
Not only does the Grand Strand boast more than 60 miles of white-sand beaches loaded with attractions, dining, shopping and golf, but it is also now the proud owner of a top-level college football team – the Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers. Playing at the newly renovated Brooks Stadium on the campus in nearby Conway, only 15 miles from Compass Cove Oceanfront Resort, the Chants put on an entertaining show.
Although CCU has been playing NCAA Division I sports for years (you may have heard of the Chants from their 2016 College World Series national championship, or their men’s basketball program’s many appearances in the Big Dance), the football program is a recent addition to the top tier of college football, the FBS. And the Chants have wasted little time in making a name for themselves among the elite of college football.
Following a near-miss with their first chance with a bowl bid in 2018 and an offseason coaching change, Coastal Carolina has come out firing on all cylinders this season with a few milestones to its credit. After a tough loss in their season opener to Eastern Michigan, the Chants captured their first victory over a Power 5 conference opponent on Sept. 7 with a thrilling 12-7 road win over the Big 12’s Kansas Jayhawks.
In the wake of the stellar defensive performance at Kansas, the CCU offense stole the spotlight in their next two victories by tallying a total of more than 100 points. A Sept. 21 blowout on the road over the Massachusetts Minutemen, 62-28. The record-setting performance gave Chants their first three-game winning streak since joining the FBS ranks under first-year head coach and offensive mastermind Jamey Chadwell.
The Chants offer loads of college football excitement in an exciting atmosphere at Brooks Stadium, with pregame tailgate parties in the parking lots and a cross-campus trek to the 30,000-seat facility by the marching band. Guests at Compass Cove Oceanfront Resort can make the short drive to CCU to take in all the action and still have plenty of time to relax on the beach or hit the town for family entertainment.
Coastal Carolina still has four home games remaining – Oct. 12 against Georgia State in their Sun Belt Conference home opener (Family and Hall of Fame Weekend), a Nov. 2 homecoming showdown with Troy (pre-game parade and halftime homecoming festivities), a Nov. 7 nationally televised Thursday night game against Louisiana (Military and First Responders Appreciation Day), and the Nov. 30 regular-season finale with Texas State (Senior Day).
Fans can enjoy a unique game-day experience with the Chants, one of the most creative mascots in sports. A reference from Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales,” Chauncey the Chanticleer (pronounced Shon-ti-clear) is the loudest, proudest rooster in the barnyard and backs it up with his antics on the sidelines. Coastal’s colors are teal and gold, playing on a one-of-a-kind teal turf playing surface and belting out a mighty cock-a-doodle-doo with each on-field success.
For ticket information, visit www.goccusports.com or go to the stadium ticket window before each game. Kickoff times are announced one week prior to the game, but you can go ahead and start making your Myrtle Beach vacation plans now and fill in the blanks later. The fall is the perfect time to escape to the South Carolina seashore for a break from reality, and the Grand Strand is the perfect place to do it. Plus you can even catch a football game while you are in town. Go Chants!
