Coastal Carolina is not the same football team that it was during its astronomical rise to relevance over the last three seasons, but its hair is just as glorious. Former N.C. State offensive coordinator Tim Beck took over the Chanticleers program during the offseason after Jamey Chadwell left for Liberty and the hope was that they would not skip a beat with the return of quarterback Grayson McCall.
Unfortunately for the fine folks of Myrtle Beach, that has not been the case.
Coastal is 2-2 through the first four weeks of the year after suffering a 13-point loss to Georgia State at home on Thursday. It still has difficult matchups against Georgia Southern, App State, Texas State, and James Madison on the schedule, which could make bowl eligibility dicey.
Although the team itself is undergoing a transitional phase, some of the traditions from the previous regime have kept a similar culture. Specifically in regard to hair.
The Chanticleers were known for being a bunch of savages with mullets. Former linebacker Silas Kelly, who dominated the XFL last season, left Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods very jealous of his luscious locks upon arrival in Cleveland for rookie camp. Kelly’s counterpart was also known for his incredible bleached mullet, which Marty Smith named ‘the Chanticleer Chandelier.’
With McCall’s return to Coastal for 2023, as did the mullets in Myrtle.
Coastal Carolina still holds the title of ‘college football’s best mullet.’
Its fanbase embraced the tradition and a kid in the stands on Thursday night was rocking his team’s signature hairstyle.
As was McCall, who was one of the originators.
And then there is freshman offensive lineman Mike Swager. He really kicked things up a notch.
Not only does Swager rock a mullet, he rocks a mullet that is dyed teal like his school’s primary color. It was raging on the sideline.
Swager’s team picture does his teal mullet even more justice. Beautiful is an understatement. The best hair in college football still resides in Myrtle Beach
Coastal Carolina has two losses in its first year without Chadwell. Perhaps if more players adopted the mullet, it would bring back the success from 2020, 2021 and 2022.