In the interest of full disclosure: I spent several formative years in the state of North Carolina, and as an ACC alumnus, several more consuming the delectable versions of the pork-and-sauce classic in that state, and Alabama would be hard-pressed to convince me they could one up Carolina. But this barbeque didn't put up a fight -- it was dry, grainy, and dished out uncerimoniously onto limp white-bread buns by a line caterer who obviously took little pride in his work. For the first time this week I truly envy our man Eric Sorenson -- surely the ACC types imported a little first-class 'que with them to Jacksonville.

What the barbeque lacked, however, was easily erased by the superior banana pudding. Again, to be clear, I am NOT a fan of pudding. I like my foods solid, or liquid, not some indeterminate in between state. But this was an attractive pale yellow, with the appropriate amoung of body and an attractive sprinkling of crushed Nilla wafers along the sides and top. Who doesn't love Nilla wafers?! With optimistic skepticism (is that possible?) I dove into my banana pudding with the only available utensil, a fork. It was delicious, smooth, creamy, just sweet enough and extremely satisfying. I may go back for seconds.

In the meantime, Vanderbilt has jumped out to an early lead on South Carolina courtesy of a six-run third inning. Two Vanderbilt homers, one two-run and one three-run, have put the Gamecocks on their heels.