Any name that isn’t Cock Commander is going to be rejected by fans . . . at first [The State]

It’s gonna take time for Gamecock fans to embrace The General.

The name was selected by the University of South Carolina for the live rooster mascot formerly known as Sir Big Spur, a name with aristocratic tone matched with ready-to-fight energy.

For now, the school better get used to the joke that’s coming. Whatever school officials came up with the name asked for it.

“What? Is he going to sell me car insurance or something?”

Right now, a USC official is probably rolling their eyes saying, “See, I told you someone in the media was going to say that.”

That’s what fan are going to say, among other things, about the name The General.

If you don’t know, The General is an auto insurance company that has, in the past, advertised on day time television with a horribly animated rendition of a Patton-esque military general.

Just Google search The General and see what’s the first thing that pops up.

Any name that isn’t Cock Commander is going to be rejected by fans at first. The school turned down the chance to take up the amazing name “KAPOW! The Foul Fowl” as well.

Also, The General is a little too reminiscent of a certain former USC president whose tenure was spotty at best.

Going into detail about problems associated with lazy celebrations of United States military prowess is a bit too much for this column, but that plays a part in the name being mediocre too.

For the University’s part, it said the name was derived from Revolutionary War General Thomas Sumter of South Carolina, whose nickname “The Fighting Gamecock” was the inspiration for the university’s mascot. That’s solid backstory for the name.

But forget all these critiques. Let’s have that Shane Beamer positivity warm us all up like a chicken sitting on an egg.

The General. It’ll be great in time. Fans will begin to come around after SEC Network commentators start saying the name and when it pops up on the scoreboard at Williams-Brice Stadium while that fighting rooster cry echoes through the stands.

The first time Lee Corso holds aloft that garnet and black rooster and proclaims, “I pick The General and the South Carolina Gamecocks for the win,” the name will be etched on fans’ hearts.

The contradiction of a chicken, an animal known for being eaten, being call by a title that elicits images of strength and confidence does give the name a humorous allure.

Here’s the thing: if the Gamecocks get nine wins this football season, and the men’s basketball and baseball teams turn it around, and the women’s basketball team gets another championship or close to it, then fans will have to love The General.

So let’s root for The General being our lucky charm.

Winning cures all as they say in sports. Even a mediocre nickname.

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