City Editor Sam here. 👋 When I was younger, my parents were on the sidelines at every University of South Carolina home football game — not as fans (even though they were big fans), but as radiology technologists ready to take X-rays of Gamecock football players when they were injured.

Now as a UofSC alum, I was excited to have the opportunity to go on a behind-the-scenes tour with the doctors of Prisma Health, the official health system for the Gamecocks.Here’s what I learned about how UofSC athletes are cared for on and off the field.

What we tried:

Dr. Matthew Pollack is a Prisma Health orthopedic physician and is one of the team physicians for the UofSC football team (as well as all UofSC student-athletes). He pulled back the curtains for the COLAtoday team by showing what it looks like to be the team physician. I spoke to Dr. Pollack about the care players receive while touring the Gamecock facilities, including the weight room, the athletic training room, the indoor practice facilities, and more.

The indoor practice field is where athletes train for a winning season.
| Photo by COLAtoday team

What not to miss:

Prisma Health physicians who work with UofSC student athletes have a large network of doctors, sports medicine professionals, and more that extends + covers athletes across the Midlands — including roughly seven universities and several high schools. The web of care ensures there is a professional at all practices, pre- and post- home and away games, and scrimmages, as well the availability of clinics over the weekend.

Prisma Health physicians provide care to Gamecock players on and off the field — including in the weight room. | Photo by COLAtoday team

What we’re still talking about:

From mental health care to ACL tears to common cold symptoms + nutrition, every athlete receives head to toe careby Prisma Health. On the tour, I was able to see what students would experience as a UofSC athlete. The facilities alone could have made me want to join the team, but the amount of care at your fingertips is a cherry on top. We’re talking sensory deprivation tanks, full-sized practice fields, state-of-the-art athletic training rooms, and more.

How you can experience this:

Did you know the general population has access to these same providers? Read: you can receive the same care as elite level athletes. Receiving care is as easy as finding a Prisma Health doctor who will game-plan with you about your health.

The Prisma Health team of physicians help keep our athletes (and you) in tip top shape. | Photo provided by Prisma Health

Things to know if you go:

Experience: Try This: How to receive the same care as Gamecock athletes
Website: prismahealth.org/gamecocks
Address: Various locations throughout the Midlands
Hours: Vary
Social: Facebook| Twitter | Instagram | YouTube *