By Jennifer Eisenbart
Sports Editor
If you ask most kids of the 1990s who Reptar is, they will cite “Rugrats” and the Godzilla-type green T-Rex.
Right now, though, if you ask the state of South Carolina – or at least the University of South Carolina baseball fans – Reptar is a fish.
As in, “Fear the Fish.”
It’s the fish sensation that’s sweeping the … well, Gamecock nation at the very least. It technically all started when junior college transfer and South Carolina third baseman LB Dantzler bought a betta fish – not a red betta fish, mind you, but a garnet betta fish. When the Gamecocks went to Auburn two weeks ago for a weekend tripleheader, Dantzler’s normal betta babysitter told him it’d be the last week she could sit the fish.
So … Dantzler brought the fish with him.
And South Carolina swept the series.
And quicker than you can say, “slogan,” the Gamecocks had a new rallying cry. Reptar now has his own t-shirt, his own Facebook page – and even his own Twitter feed (#fearthefish20).
Some of the priceless comments that cropped up this weekend when the fish hit Carolina Stadium – home field for the Gamecocks – and South Carolina swept Alabama:
“Chillin in the dugout with the boys. It’s almost game time #fearthefish”
“Just watched Arkansas win their series over Florida..They might be feelin good this weekend but come next weekend they better #FearTheFish!!”
“DAD HIT A HOMERUN!!!!!” (Yes, Dantzler had a home run).
“That’s what I’m talking about!!!!!!! #FEARTHEFISH #FEARTHEFISH #FEARTHEFISH #FEARTHEFISH #FEARTHEFISH #FEARTHEFISH #FEARTHEFISH #FEARTHEFISH”
Clearly, the fish has arrived. As of this weekend, with the Gamecocks rallying for a wild 12-11 win over ‘Bama Friday night, there is a new rally cry: Rally Like Reptar! And, yes, there is a Twitter feed for that, too.
All this because a red betta fish made the trip to Auburn in a Tupperware container because Dad couldn’t find him a sitter. But, it’s baseball. And in a sport where players have specific pregame warm-up rituals down to one final stretch and shoelaces need to be tied a certain way, I guess a mascot fish isn’t too far fetched.
Of course, Reptar is no longer housed in a Tupperware container. He has his own tank, and his own spot safely away from the baseballs. He was in the bullpen for a while, but a few too many home run balls made the fish fear for his safety, especially since South Carolina doesn’t stock fish-sized helmets.
And of course, being a proud papa, Dantzler can’t quite figure out how his betta fish is suddenly bigger than he is. The latest? The team has gotten special permission for Reptar to travel with the team to Arkansas, since they will be flying on a plane.
But hey, why mess with what works? Fear the fish, indeed.
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