Carolina-Clemson rivalry
Encyclopedia
The South Carolina–Clemson Rivalry is an American college rivalry
between the South Carolina Gamecocks
sports teams of the University of South Carolina
and the Clemson Tigers
sports teams of Clemson University
. Both institution are public universities supported by the state of South Carolina
, and their campuses are separated by only 132 miles. South Carolina and Clemson have been bitter rivals since the 1880s, and a heated rivalry continues to this day for a variety of reasons, including the historic tensions regarding their respective charters and the passions surrounding their athletic programs.
Both universities are members of premier collegiate athletic conferences: South Carolina is in the Southeastern Conference
(SEC); Clemson is in the Atlantic Coast Conference
(ACC).
Unlike most major college rivalries, the Carolina–Clemson rivalry did not start innocently. In fact, the seeds of bitterness were planted even before Clemson became a college. The two institutions were founded 88 years apart: South Carolina College in 1801 and Clemson Agricultural College in 1889.
South Carolina College was founded in 1801 to unite and promote harmony between the Lowcountry
and the Backcountry. It closed during the Civil War
when its students
aided the Southern cause
, but the closure gave the politicians an opportunity to reorganize it to their liking. The Radical Republicans in charge of state government during Reconstruction opened the school to blacks and women while appropriating generous funds to the University. These actions caused the white citizens of the state to withdraw their support for the University and view it as a symbol of the worst aspects of Reconstruction.
The Democrats
returned to power in 1877 following their decisive electoral victory
over the Radical Republicans and promptly proceeded to close the University. Sentiment in the state favored opening an agriculture college so the University was reorganized as the South Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. In 1882, the college was renamed to its antebellum name, South Carolina College, which infuriated the farmers because they felt that the politicians had frustrated the will of the people by deemphasizing agriculture education, even though the school still retained the department of agriculture.
emerged in the 1880s as a leader of the agrarian movement in South Carolina and demanded that the South Carolina College take agricultural education more seriously by expanding the agriculture department. In 1885, Tillman was convinced of the superiority of a separate agricultural college by Stephen D. Lee
, then the President of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi
, and subsequently Tillman would accept nothing less than a separate agriculture college in South Carolina. He offered the following reasons why he felt that it was necessary to have a separate agriculture college outside the confines of Columbia
:
The Conservatives
, who held the rein
s of power in South Carolina from 1877 to 1890, replied to each point made by Tillman:
agreed to will his Fort Hill estate
for the establishment of an agriculture college. Yet, Tillman did not want to wait until Clemson died to start a separate agriculture college so he pushed the General Assembly
to use the Morrill funds
and Hatch funds
for that purpose. Instead, the legislature gave those funds to the South Carolina College in 1887 which would use them along with a greater state appropriation to reorganize itself as the second University of South Carolina and to also greatly expand the agriculture department. After this victory for South Carolina, in January 1888 Tillman wrote a letter to the News and Courier
that he was retiring from public life.
It was less than ninety days when Tillman reemerged on the scene upon the death of Thomas Green Clemson in April 1888. Tillman advocated that the state accept the gift by Clemson, but the Conservatives
in power opposed the move and an all out war for power in the state commenced. The opening salvo was fired by Gideon Lee, the father of Clemson's granddaughter and John C. Calhoun
's great granddaughter Floride Isabella Lee, who wrote a letter on her behalf to the News and Courier in May that she was being denied as Calhoun's rightful heir. Furthermore, he stated that Clemson was egotistical and "only wanted to erect a monument to his own name." In November, Lee filed a lawsuit in Federal Court to contest the will which ultimately ruled against him in May 1889.
The election of 1888
afforded Tillman an opportunity to convince the politicians to accept the Clemson bequest or face the possibility of being voted out of office. He demanded that the Democratic party
nominate its candidates by the primary system
, which was denied, but they did accept his request that the candidates for statewide office canvass
the state. Tillman proved excellent on the stump, by far superior to his Conservative opponents, and as the Democratic convention neared there was a clear groundswell of support for the acceptance of Clemson's estate. He was so effective because of his "ability to awaken popular passion and prejudice" when the populace by and large mistook "prejudice for truth, passion for reason, and invective for documentation." Tillman pitted "the poor against the rich, tenant against landowner, hireling against employer, country against town, all of South Carolina against Charleston and Columbia, upcountry against lowcountry, white against black, do-somethings against do-nothings, and outs against those in power" so that "he could rile them up and then appear as their champion." In addition, the Conservative leadership was aging and its appeal to the past glories of South Carolina during the antebellum period meant little to the emerging younger generation.
from Lieutenant Governor William L. Mauldin. Thus was reborn the antagonistic feelings of regional bitterness and class division that would plague the state for decades.
Having achieved his agriculture college, Tillman was not content to sit idly by because what he really desired was power and political office. After winning the 1890 election
and becoming Governor
, Tillman renewed the attacks on the Conservatives and those who had thwarted his agriculture college. He saved the coup de grâce for Senator
Wade Hampton III
, a South Carolina College graduate and Confederate
General during the Civil War, who "invoked Confederate service and honor as a barrier to Tillmanism." Tillman directed the legislature to defeat Hampton's renomination for another term in December 1890, thereby finishing what Sherman
had left undone in 1865.
While campaigning for Governor in 1890, Tillman leveled his harshest criticism towards the University of South Carolina and threatened to close it along with The Citadel
, which he called a "dude factory." Despite the rhetoric, Tillman only succeeded in reorganizing the University of South Carolina into a liberal arts college while in office. It would eventually be rechartered for the last time in 1906 as the University of South Carolina. However, Clemson Agricultural College held sway over the state legislature for decades and was generally the more popular college during the first half of the 20th century in South Carolina.
, the long held perceptions of the two schools switched. Whereas South Carolina was viewed as an elitist institution for much of its existence, it opened its doors to every qualified veteran and later encouraged minority enrollment. Clemson on the other hand, claimed to have been founded for the common man, sought to restrict entrance to veterans returning from the war and has a substantially lower percentage of minorities in its student body (Clemson enrolled its first African-American student
in 1963). Thus the University of South Carolina was able to achieve exponential growth as a result and reclaim the status as the most popular institution of higher education in South Carolina.
In the 1950s, the University of South Carolina expanded its reach across the state by establishing branch campuses under the auspices of the University of South Carolina System
. Clemson, having obtained university status in 1964, tried to compete with this network in the 1960s by establishing branch campuses in Greenville
and Sumter
. House
Speaker
Sol Blatt
was alarmed by the spread of Clemson and declared that USC "should build as many two year colleges over the state as rapidly as possible to prevent the expansion of Clemson schools for the Clemson people." Accordingly, the University of South Carolina began a new wave of expansion across the state and was aided by the fact that the Clemson extensions never proved popular. In 1973, USC acquired the Clemson campus at Sumter due to disappointing enrollment numbers and Clemson's Greenville campus would return to its independent status as Greenville Tech
.
The annual Carolina-Clemson football game (sometimes dubbed "The Battle of the Palmetto State
" or the "Palmetto Bowl" from the state's nickname) is the longest uninterrupted series in the South
and the second longest uninterrupted series overall, having been played every year since 1909. The universities maintain college football stadiums in excess of 80,000 seats each, placing both in the top 18 in the United States. Clemson holds a 65-40-4 lead in the series, which dates back to 1896. From 1896-1959, the Carolina-Clemson game was played in Columbia and referred to as "Big Thursday." Since 1960, the game has alternated between both teams' home stadiums as the regular season finale. Though Clemson leads the football series, approximately forty games have been decided by a touchdown or less. Clemson has more wins against South Carolina than any other program has, and South Carolina is third behind Georgia Tech and Georgia in most wins against Clemson.
Every year, each school engages in a ritual involving the other team's mascot. South Carolina holds the "Tiger Burn", and Clemson holds a mock funeral for Cocky
. After 7 students (6 from USC, 1 from Clemson) died in the Ocean Isle Beach house fire
in 2007, the Cocky funeral was cancelled and the Tiger Burn was changed to the "Tiger Tear Down" for that year.
The Gamecock mascot made its first appearance in 1902. In that first season as the Gamecocks, Carolina defeated a highly favored Clemson team coached by the legendary John Heisman
12–6. But it was the full-scale riot that broke out in the wake of the game that is remembered most.
"The Carolina fans that week were carrying around a poster with the image of a tiger with a gamecock standing on top of it, holding the tiger’s tail as if he was steering the tiger by the tail," says Jay McCormick. "Naturally, the Clemson guys didn’t take too kindly to that, and on Wednesday and again on Thursday, there were sporadic fistfights involving brass knuckles and other objects and so forth, some of which resulted, according to the newspapers, in blood being spilled and persons having to seek medical assistance. After the game on Thursday, the Clemson guys frankly told the Carolina students that if you bring this poster, which is insulting to us, to the big parade on Friday, you’re going to be in trouble. And naturally, of course, the Carolina students brought the poster to the parade. If you give someone an ultimatum and they’re your rival, they’re going to do exactly what you told them not to do."
As expected, another brawl broke out before both sides agreed to mutually burn the poster in an effort to defuse tensions. The immediate aftermath resulted in the stoppage of the rivalry until 1909. The Carolina–Clemson game has been played every year since.
produced one of the most bizarre situations in the history of the rivalry. Cary Cox, a football player of the victorious Clemson squad in 1942, signed up for the V-12 program
in 1943 and was placed at USC. The naval instructors at Carolina ordered him to play on the football team and he was named the captain for the Big Thursday game against Clemson. Cox was reluctant to play against his former teammates and he voiced his concerns to coach Lt. James P. Moran who responded "Cox, I can't promise you'll get a Navy commission if you play Thursday, but I can damn well promise that you won't get one if you don't play!" Cox then went out and led the Carolina team to a 33-6 win against Clemson. He returned to Clemson after the war and captained the 1947 team in a losing effort to Carolina, but Cox earned his place in history as the only player to captain both schools' football teams.
The 1946 game could be the most chaotic in the football series. Counterfeit tickets were sold, and fans with legitimate and fake tickets were not allowed inside once the stadium filled, so many fans stormed the gates and were eventually allowed to stand along the sidelines of the field. To add to the wild scene, a Clemson fan strangled a live chicken at midfield during halftime. It took U.S. Secretary of State James F. Byrnes
, who attended the game along with Strom Thurmond
, to settle down the hostile crowd. Carolina won the game 26-14.
In 1961, the USC fraternity Sigma Nu
pulled what some have called the greatest prank in the rivalry's history. A few minutes before Clemson football players entered the field for pre-game warm ups, a group of Sigma Nu fraternity members ran onto the field, jumping up and down and cheering in football uniforms that resembled the ones worn by the Tigers. This caused the Clemson band to start playing "Tiger Rag," which was followed by the pranksters falling down as they attempted to do calisthenics. They would also do football drills where guys would drop passes and miss the ball when trying to kick it. Clemson fans quickly realized that they had been tricked, and some of them angrily ran onto the field. However, security restored order before any blows could be exchanged. Carolina won the game 21-14.
1975: Most Points Scored by Carolina
On November 22, 1975, Carolina defeated Clemson 56-20 to set a Gamecock record for most points scored in a football game against the Tigers.
1977: "The Catch"
On November 19, 1977, Clemson WR Jerry Butler
made a diving, backwards, 20-yard touchdown reception on a pass from QB Steve Fuller with 49 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give Clemson the 31-27 victory in Columbia. This play is known as "The Catch" and is one of the most memorable plays in the rivalry.
1980: Orange Pants
In the last regular season game for the 1980 season, a heavily favored Carolina team traveled to Death Valley to take on the Tigers. In a surprise to both the players and the fans, Coach Danny Ford unveiled new orange uniform pants for the Tigers to wear. This was the first time in Clemson's history that they wore orange pants in any combination for a football game. Inspired by the pants, the underdog Tigers defeated the Gamecocks, 27-6.
1981: Clemson wins a National Championship
In 1981, Clemson
defeated Carolina 29-13 en route to the National Championship. Clemson would be placed on probation on November 21, 1982, for a 2-year period. This sanction was enforced on the program by the NCAA Committee on Infractions due to a lengthy history of recruiting violations to gain an athletic advantage that had taken place from 1977 through the Tigers' 1981 National Championship season and into 1982, under the administration of two head coaches, Charlie Pell and Danny Ford. Over 150 documented violations were found to have been committed under NCAA bylaws in the categories of improper recruiting inducements, extra benefits to student-athletes, unethical conduct, improper financial aid, improper campus visits, improper transportation and entertainment, improper use of funds, improper employment, improper recruiting contact, and distribution of cash to players by members of the coaching staff.
1987: Highest Ranked Match-Up
On November 21, 1987, with the highest combined rankings of the two football programs entering the game (the Gamecocks were #12 and the Tigers were #8), Carolina beat Clemson 20-7 on national television (ESPN).
2000: "The Push-Off"/"The Catch II"
In 2000, Trailing late in the game 14-13, Clemson quarterback Woody Dantzler connected with wide-receiver Rod Gardner
for a 50-yard reception to South Carolina's 8-yard line with 10 seconds remaining. Carolina fans point to a replay that seems to show Gardner pushing off the Gamecock defender, but Clemson fans contend that the contact was mutual and incidental. No penalty flag was thrown on the play, leaving Clemson kicker Aaron Hunt to kick a 25-yard field goal that gave Clemson a 16-14 win. Clemson fans remember this game as "The Catch II" while Carolina fans call it "The Push-Off Game".
2003: Most Points Scored by Clemson
In 2003, Clemson defeated Carolina 63-17, to set the record for the most points scored by either team in the series.
2004: The Brawl
The South Carolina-Clemson brawl during the 2004 football game is the most recent eruption of hostilities in this rivalry. It is also the last time Lou Holtz
coached, having retired shortly thereafter. Clemson won the game 29-7. Each team had won a total of six games that year and were technically bowl eligible. However, both schools elected to forfeit their postseason because of the unsportsmanlike nature of the fight.
2005: A Quarterback Wins 4
In 2005, the two teams showed an unusual gesture of sportsmanship by meeting at midfield before the game to shake hands, putting the melee of 2004 behind them. Clemson won this game 13-9, leaving the Tiger's quarterback, Charlie Whitehurst, undefeated against USC in his 4 years at Clemson. The only Carolina quarterback to do so against the Tigers was Tommy Suggs, who led the Gamecocks to three victories in a row from 1968-1970.
2006: Kickers Make The Difference
Clemson was leading 28-14 in the third quarter, with Carolina quarterback Blake Mitchell throwing three interceptions. The Gamecocks then scored 17 unanswered points, including two Mike Davis touchdown runs and a 35-yard field goal from Ryan Succop - the only points in the fourth quarter - to give the Gamecocks a 31-28 lead. Clemson kicker Jad Dean missed a field goal attempt wide left as time expired, to give Carolina the win.
2007: Last-Second Victory
On November 24, 2007, Clemson kicker Mark Buchholz hit a 35-yard field goal as time expired to give #21 Clemson a memorable 23-21 victory over South Carolina. The win lifted Clemson coach Tommy Bowden
to 7-2 all-time against the Gamecocks and 2-1 against USC coach Steve Spurrier
. The 2007 game is notable as the first in the series with the winning points scored on the game's final play.
2009: Turning The Season Around
On November 28, 2009, South Carolina upset #15 Clemson 34-17 in dominating fashion. The game was marked by the Gamecock defense forcing three Tiger turnovers and limiting the ACC Atlantic Division champion's offense including holding Heisman Trophy
hopeful C.J. Spiller to 18 rushing yards.
. Both schools are perennially considered to be among the top programs in the country, giving the rivalry a prominent spot in college baseball beyond the state of South Carolina.
round in both situations.
2002
Leading up to the 2002 semifinals
, Clemson had already won three out of four regular season games against Carolina. The Gamecocks beat their rivals soundly, 12-4, and then beat the Tigers again, 10-2, the following day to advance to the national championship game. The Gamecocks fell to Texas 12-6 in the championship game, the last under the format where a one-game final was played.
2010
Eight years later, in what has been called The Last Bat at Rosenblatt
, an identical situation leading to the series began. Clemson had taken both on-campus games from South Carolina in the regular season, including a lopsided 19-6 victory in the rubber match, played before over 8,000 fans at Carolina Stadium in Columbia, but had lost in the "neutral site" game. The Gamecocks had just come off a 12-inning win against the Oklahoma Sooners
less than 24 hours before, while the Tigers had two days of rest. However, fatigue was not a factor as the Gamecocks won the first game, 5-1, on a dominating complete game pitching performance by reliever Michael Roth, who had not started a game in more than a year. Carolina won the second game the following day, 4-3, to advance to the championship series against UCLA
, who they defeated, 7-1 (Game 1) and 2-1 (Game 2) to win the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
.
The rivalry extends beyond sports to the annual blood drive
between the two schools. Students, faculty and fans from the schools band together in an effort to collect blood before the holiday season when many are too busy to give blood. The blood drive is held from Monday through Friday the week before the football matchup. 2011 marked the 27th occurrence of the blood drive, with South Carolina winning for the fourth consecutive year with 4,079 pints versus Clemson's 3,041 pints of blood. With 8,022 units of blood combined, 2009's total donations broke the former record of 7,390 units, set the previous year. The blood drive is sponsored by the American Red Cross
at the University of South Carolina and the Gamma Lambda chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega
national service fraternity at Clemson. Everyone who gives blood receives a free shirt, with the graphic on the back usually featuring a Tiger and Gamecock together and a statement explaining that even though the competition is part of the rivalry, both schools share the common ground of giving blood.
College rivalry
Pairs of schools, colleges and universities, especially when they are close to each other either geographically or in their areas of specialization, often establish a college rivalry with each other over the years. This rivalry can extend to both academics and athletics, the latter being typically...
between the South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina Gamecocks
The University of South Carolina's 19 varsity sports teams are known as the "Gamecocks". The unique moniker is held in honor of Thomas Sumter, a South Carolina war hero who was given the name "The Carolina Gamecock" during the American Revolution for his fierce fighting tactics, regardless of his...
sports teams of the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
and the Clemson Tigers
Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers are any team that represents Clemson University as a member of the NCAA's Division I or in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference....
sports teams of Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
. Both institution are public universities supported by the state of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, and their campuses are separated by only 132 miles. South Carolina and Clemson have been bitter rivals since the 1880s, and a heated rivalry continues to this day for a variety of reasons, including the historic tensions regarding their respective charters and the passions surrounding their athletic programs.
Both universities are members of premier collegiate athletic conferences: South Carolina is in the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC); Clemson is in the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
(ACC).
Background
| Category | Clemson University | University of South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Clemson | Columbia |
| Students | 17,309 | 29,957 |
| School Colors | Clemson Orange and Purple | Garnet and Black |
| Nickname | Tiger Tiger The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts... s |
Gamecock Gamecock A gamecock or game fowl is a type of rooster with physical and behavioral traits suitable for cockfighting. Game fowl are more closely related to their wild cousins "jungle fowl"; a shy wild chicken from forests in South Central and Southeastern Asia... s |
| Mascot | The Tiger and The Tiger Cub | Cocky Cocky (mascot) Cocky is the costumed mascot of the University of South Carolina athletics teams. He represents a cartoon version of a gamecock .... |
| National Championships | 4 | 8 |
Unlike most major college rivalries, the Carolina–Clemson rivalry did not start innocently. In fact, the seeds of bitterness were planted even before Clemson became a college. The two institutions were founded 88 years apart: South Carolina College in 1801 and Clemson Agricultural College in 1889.
South Carolina College was founded in 1801 to unite and promote harmony between the Lowcountry
South Carolina Low Country
The Lowcountry is a geographic and cultural region located along South Carolina's coast. The region includes the South Carolina Sea Islands...
and the Backcountry. It closed during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
when its students
South Carolina College Cadets
The South Carolina College Cadets were students at South Carolina College who formed a militia company during antebellum South Carolina and during the Civil War to fight for the Southern cause...
aided the Southern cause
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
, but the closure gave the politicians an opportunity to reorganize it to their liking. The Radical Republicans in charge of state government during Reconstruction opened the school to blacks and women while appropriating generous funds to the University. These actions caused the white citizens of the state to withdraw their support for the University and view it as a symbol of the worst aspects of Reconstruction.
The Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
returned to power in 1877 following their decisive electoral victory
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1876
The 1876 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1876 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. The election campaign was a referendum on the Radical Republican-led state government and their Reconstruction policies...
over the Radical Republicans and promptly proceeded to close the University. Sentiment in the state favored opening an agriculture college so the University was reorganized as the South Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. In 1882, the college was renamed to its antebellum name, South Carolina College, which infuriated the farmers because they felt that the politicians had frustrated the will of the people by deemphasizing agriculture education, even though the school still retained the department of agriculture.
Agitation from the farmers
Benjamin TillmanBenjamin Tillman
Benjamin Ryan Tillman was an American politician who served as the 84th Governor of South Carolina, from 1890 to 1894, and as a United States Senator, from 1895 until his death in office. Tillman's views were a matter of national controversy.Tillman was a member of the Democratic Party...
emerged in the 1880s as a leader of the agrarian movement in South Carolina and demanded that the South Carolina College take agricultural education more seriously by expanding the agriculture department. In 1885, Tillman was convinced of the superiority of a separate agricultural college by Stephen D. Lee
Stephen D. Lee
Stephen Dill Lee was an American soldier, planter, legislator, and author. He was the youngest Confederate lieutenant general during the American Civil War, and later served as the first president of Mississippi A&M College...
, then the President of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
, and subsequently Tillman would accept nothing less than a separate agriculture college in South Carolina. He offered the following reasons why he felt that it was necessary to have a separate agriculture college outside the confines of Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
:
- Mississippi A&M featured practical training without unnecessary studying of the liberal arts.
- Mississippi A&M provided poor students work-scholarships so that they could attend the college.
- There were too few students who studied agriculture at the College to justify an agriculture college there.
- The College was a place "for the sons of lawyers and of the well-to-do" who sneered at the agriculture students as if they were hayseeds.
- The students at the College lived a life of luxury as compared with the sweat and toil endured by students at Mississippi A&M.
- There was not enough farm land near the College to allow for proper agriculture study.
The Conservatives
Bourbon Democrat
Bourbon Democrat was a term used in the United States from 1876 to 1904 to refer to a member of the Democratic Party, conservative or classical liberal, especially one who supported President Grover Cleveland in 1884–1888/1892–1896 and Alton B. Parker in 1904. After 1904, the Bourbons faded away...
, who held the rein
Rein
Reins are items of horse tack, used to direct a horse or other animal used for riding or driving. Reins can be made of leather, nylon, metal, or other materials, and attach to a bridle via either its bit or its noseband.-Use for riding:...
s of power in South Carolina from 1877 to 1890, replied to each point made by Tillman:
- The most advanced agriculture educational research was being conducted at the University of CaliforniaUniversity of CaliforniaThe University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
and at Cornell UniversityCornell UniversityCornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, both of which combined agriculture colleges with liberal arts colleges. Additionally, a separate agriculture college would be more expensive and result in an inferior product. - The work scholarships attracted the lowest quality of students who only cared about obtaining a college degree, not about an education in agriculture or mechanical studies. Furthermore, there was little advantage of attending a college only to pitch manure and grub stumps.
- The constant attacks by Tillman on the College caused many to doubt whether state support for the institution would continue. As a result, the enrollment numbers were not impressive, although the numbers of students taking agriculture and mechanical classes increased from 34 in 1887 to 83 in 1889.
- Over half of the students at the College were the sons of farmers, though most did not study agriculture as Tillman wished. John McLaren McBrydeJohn McLaren McBrydeJohn McLaren McBryde was the 5th President of Virginia Tech serving from July 1, 1891-September 1, 1907. Born January 1, 1841 in Abbeville, South Carolina. McBryde entered South Carolina College in 1858 at age 17 before going on to the University of Virginia. In 1861, he returned to Abbeville...
, President of the College, correctly predicted that most students of an agriculture college would not go back to work the farm after graduation. - While some students at the College were the sons of the well-to-do, the majority were poor.
- The College farm added 100 acre (0.404686 km²) in 1887, just one mile from campus.
Clemson's will
Tillman was bolstered in 1886 when Thomas Green ClemsonThomas Green Clemson
Thomas Green Clemson, was an American politician and statesman, serving as an ambassador and the United States Superintendent of Agriculture. He served in the Confederate States Army...
agreed to will his Fort Hill estate
Fort Hill (Clemson)
Fort Hill, also known as the John C. Calhoun Mansion and Library, is a National Historic Landmark in South Carolina which was once the home of John C. Calhoun. It is now part of Clemson University.-History:...
for the establishment of an agriculture college. Yet, Tillman did not want to wait until Clemson died to start a separate agriculture college so he pushed the General Assembly
South Carolina General Assembly
The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. Altogether, the General...
to use the Morrill funds
Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act
The Morrill Land-Grant Acts are United States statutes that allowed for the creation of land-grant colleges, including the Morrill Act of 1862 and the Morrill Act of 1890 -Passage of original bill:...
and Hatch funds
Hatch Act of 1887
The Hatch Act of 1887 gave federal funds, initially of $15,000 each, to state land-grant colleges in order to create a series of agricultural experiment stations, as well as pass along new information, especially in the areas of soil minerals and plant growth...
for that purpose. Instead, the legislature gave those funds to the South Carolina College in 1887 which would use them along with a greater state appropriation to reorganize itself as the second University of South Carolina and to also greatly expand the agriculture department. After this victory for South Carolina, in January 1888 Tillman wrote a letter to the News and Courier
The Post and Courier
Charleston's The Post and Courier is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the South and the eighth oldest newspaper still in publication in the United States. It is published in Charleston, South Carolina. It traces its ancestry to three newspapers, the Charleston Courier, founded in 1803, the...
that he was retiring from public life.
| Tillmanites | Conservatives | |
| Favored college | Clemson Clemson University Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States.... |
South Carolina University of South Carolina The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House... |
| Figurehead leader | Benjamin Tillman Benjamin Tillman Benjamin Ryan Tillman was an American politician who served as the 84th Governor of South Carolina, from 1890 to 1894, and as a United States Senator, from 1895 until his death in office. Tillman's views were a matter of national controversy.Tillman was a member of the Democratic Party... |
Wade Hampton III Wade Hampton III Wade Hampton III was a Confederate cavalry leader during the American Civil War and afterward a politician from South Carolina, serving as its 77th Governor and as a U.S... |
| Political ideology | Agrarian populism Populism Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social... |
Conservatism Conservatism Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism... |
| Base of support | The Upstate The Upstate The Upstate is the region in northwestern South Carolina, United States, also known as The Upcountry, which is the historical term. Although loosely defined among locals, the general definition includes the 10 counties of the commerce-rich I-85 corridor in the northwest corner of South Carolina. ... ; rural Rural Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture... |
Statewide South Carolina South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence... ; urban Urban area An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further... |
| Confederate service | 50.0% | 79.1% |
It was less than ninety days when Tillman reemerged on the scene upon the death of Thomas Green Clemson in April 1888. Tillman advocated that the state accept the gift by Clemson, but the Conservatives
Bourbon Democrat
Bourbon Democrat was a term used in the United States from 1876 to 1904 to refer to a member of the Democratic Party, conservative or classical liberal, especially one who supported President Grover Cleveland in 1884–1888/1892–1896 and Alton B. Parker in 1904. After 1904, the Bourbons faded away...
in power opposed the move and an all out war for power in the state commenced. The opening salvo was fired by Gideon Lee, the father of Clemson's granddaughter and John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun
John Caldwell Calhoun was a leading politician and political theorist from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. Calhoun eloquently spoke out on every issue of his day, but often changed positions. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent...
's great granddaughter Floride Isabella Lee, who wrote a letter on her behalf to the News and Courier in May that she was being denied as Calhoun's rightful heir. Furthermore, he stated that Clemson was egotistical and "only wanted to erect a monument to his own name." In November, Lee filed a lawsuit in Federal Court to contest the will which ultimately ruled against him in May 1889.
The election of 1888
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1888
The 1888 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1888 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. John Peter Richardson III was renominated by the Democrats and was reelected for a second two-year term.-Democratic Convention:...
afforded Tillman an opportunity to convince the politicians to accept the Clemson bequest or face the possibility of being voted out of office. He demanded that the Democratic party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominate its candidates by the primary system
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
, which was denied, but they did accept his request that the candidates for statewide office canvass
Canvassing
Canvassing is the systematic initiation of direct contact with a target group of individuals commonly used during political campaigns. A campaign team will knock on doors of private residences within a particular geographic area, engaging in face-to-face personal interaction with voters...
the state. Tillman proved excellent on the stump, by far superior to his Conservative opponents, and as the Democratic convention neared there was a clear groundswell of support for the acceptance of Clemson's estate. He was so effective because of his "ability to awaken popular passion and prejudice" when the populace by and large mistook "prejudice for truth, passion for reason, and invective for documentation." Tillman pitted "the poor against the rich, tenant against landowner, hireling against employer, country against town, all of South Carolina against Charleston and Columbia, upcountry against lowcountry, white against black, do-somethings against do-nothings, and outs against those in power" so that "he could rile them up and then appear as their champion." In addition, the Conservative leadership was aging and its appeal to the past glories of South Carolina during the antebellum period meant little to the emerging younger generation.
Bequest barely wins support
Tillman explained his justification for an independently controlled agriculture college by pointing to the mismanagement and political interference of the University of South Carolina as had occurred during Reconstruction. The agriculture college, as specified in Clemson's will, was to be privately controlled and thus would be able to prevent any "possible invasion by the negroes". With declining cotton prices, Tillman played upon the farmer's desperation by stating that the salaries of the college professors were exorbitant and it must be a sign of corruption. Consequently, the legislature was compelled to pass the bill to accept Clemson's bequest in December 1888, albeit with the tie-breaking vote in the state SenateSouth Carolina Senate
The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives...
from Lieutenant Governor William L. Mauldin. Thus was reborn the antagonistic feelings of regional bitterness and class division that would plague the state for decades.
Having achieved his agriculture college, Tillman was not content to sit idly by because what he really desired was power and political office. After winning the 1890 election
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1890
The 1890 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1890 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Ben Tillman was nominated by the Democrats and easily won the general election against A.C...
and becoming Governor
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
, Tillman renewed the attacks on the Conservatives and those who had thwarted his agriculture college. He saved the coup de grâce for Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III was a Confederate cavalry leader during the American Civil War and afterward a politician from South Carolina, serving as its 77th Governor and as a U.S...
, a South Carolina College graduate and Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
General during the Civil War, who "invoked Confederate service and honor as a barrier to Tillmanism." Tillman directed the legislature to defeat Hampton's renomination for another term in December 1890, thereby finishing what Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
had left undone in 1865.
While campaigning for Governor in 1890, Tillman leveled his harshest criticism towards the University of South Carolina and threatened to close it along with The Citadel
The Citadel (military college)
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
, which he called a "dude factory." Despite the rhetoric, Tillman only succeeded in reorganizing the University of South Carolina into a liberal arts college while in office. It would eventually be rechartered for the last time in 1906 as the University of South Carolina. However, Clemson Agricultural College held sway over the state legislature for decades and was generally the more popular college during the first half of the 20th century in South Carolina.
Role reversal
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the long held perceptions of the two schools switched. Whereas South Carolina was viewed as an elitist institution for much of its existence, it opened its doors to every qualified veteran and later encouraged minority enrollment. Clemson on the other hand, claimed to have been founded for the common man, sought to restrict entrance to veterans returning from the war and has a substantially lower percentage of minorities in its student body (Clemson enrolled its first African-American student
Harvey Gantt
Harvey Bernard Gantt is an American architect and Democratic politician active in North Carolina. He was Mayor of Charlotte from 1983 to 1987, and ran twice for the United States Senate....
in 1963). Thus the University of South Carolina was able to achieve exponential growth as a result and reclaim the status as the most popular institution of higher education in South Carolina.
University of South Carolina System
The University of South Carolina System is a state university system of eight campuses set up in 1957 to expand the educational opportunities of the citizens of South Carolina as well as extend the reach of the University of South Carolina throughout the state...
. Clemson, having obtained university status in 1964, tried to compete with this network in the 1960s by establishing branch campuses in Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
and Sumter
Sumter, South Carolina
-Demographics:, there were 59,180 people, 34,717 households, and 4,049 families living in the city. The population density was 4,469.5 people per square mile . There were 416,032 housing units at an average density of 603.0 per square mile...
. House
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
Sol Blatt
Solomon Blatt, Sr.
Solomon Blatt was a long time Democratic legislator of South Carolina from Barnwell County during the middle of the 20th century. He was a principal member of the so-called "Barnwell Ring."-Early life and career:...
was alarmed by the spread of Clemson and declared that USC "should build as many two year colleges over the state as rapidly as possible to prevent the expansion of Clemson schools for the Clemson people." Accordingly, the University of South Carolina began a new wave of expansion across the state and was aided by the fact that the Clemson extensions never proved popular. In 1973, USC acquired the Clemson campus at Sumter due to disappointing enrollment numbers and Clemson's Greenville campus would return to its independent status as Greenville Tech
Greenville Technical College
Greenville Technical College is a technical college located in South Carolina. Founded in 1960, it began operation in September 1962.-Campuses:Greenville Tech currently has six locations in Greenville County:...
.
Continued hostilities
Respective achievements are never acknowledged in this family feud. The turf issues are overlapping and complicated. Competitions on the ballfields become cathartic experiences, as many of these rivals carry the virulence of yesteryear. "There’s a history of bad blood between these institutions," says Jay McCormick, a doctoral candidate at USC. "So when athletics came to Carolina and to Clemson, it was natural that they should be a rivalry. The rivalry extends back to political and social origins. It’s not just an athletic rivalry. It’s a manifestation of these things."Football
| Football | |
|---|---|
| History | |
| First Meeting | Carolina, 12-6 (1896) |
| Last Meeting | Carolina, 34-13 (2011) |
| Next Meeting | Clemson, November 24, 2012 |
| Number of Meetings | 109 |
| All-Time Series | Clemson leads, 65-40-4 |
| Largest victory | Clemson, 51-0 (1900) |
| Current Streak | Carolina, 3 |
| Longest Clem Win Streak | 7 (1934–1940) |
| Longest USC Win Streak | 4 (1951–1954) |
| Trophy: | Hardee's Trophy |
The annual Carolina-Clemson football game (sometimes dubbed "The Battle of the Palmetto State
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
" or the "Palmetto Bowl" from the state's nickname) is the longest uninterrupted series in the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
and the second longest uninterrupted series overall, having been played every year since 1909. The universities maintain college football stadiums in excess of 80,000 seats each, placing both in the top 18 in the United States. Clemson holds a 65-40-4 lead in the series, which dates back to 1896. From 1896-1959, the Carolina-Clemson game was played in Columbia and referred to as "Big Thursday." Since 1960, the game has alternated between both teams' home stadiums as the regular season finale. Though Clemson leads the football series, approximately forty games have been decided by a touchdown or less. Clemson has more wins against South Carolina than any other program has, and South Carolina is third behind Georgia Tech and Georgia in most wins against Clemson.
Every year, each school engages in a ritual involving the other team's mascot. South Carolina holds the "Tiger Burn", and Clemson holds a mock funeral for Cocky
Cocky (mascot)
Cocky is the costumed mascot of the University of South Carolina athletics teams. He represents a cartoon version of a gamecock ....
. After 7 students (6 from USC, 1 from Clemson) died in the Ocean Isle Beach house fire
Ocean Isle Beach house fire
The Ocean Isle Beach house fire occurred on October 28, 2007. Shortly before 7:00 AM, EDT, a four alarm fire severely damaged a three-story beach house on a waterfront lot on Scotland Street in Ocean Isle Beach, a town located in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. The house was...
in 2007, the Cocky funeral was cancelled and the Tiger Burn was changed to the "Tiger Tear Down" for that year.
Early years: 1896–1902
When Clemson began its football program in 1896, coached by Walter Riggs, they scheduled the rival South Carolina College for a Thursday morning game in conjunction with the State Fair. Carolina won that game 12–6 and a new tradition was born – Big Thursday.The Gamecock mascot made its first appearance in 1902. In that first season as the Gamecocks, Carolina defeated a highly favored Clemson team coached by the legendary John Heisman
John Heisman
John William Heisman was an American player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He served as the head football coach at Oberlin College , Buchtel College, now known as the University of Akron , Auburn University , Clemson University , Georgia Tech , the...
12–6. But it was the full-scale riot that broke out in the wake of the game that is remembered most.
"The Carolina fans that week were carrying around a poster with the image of a tiger with a gamecock standing on top of it, holding the tiger’s tail as if he was steering the tiger by the tail," says Jay McCormick. "Naturally, the Clemson guys didn’t take too kindly to that, and on Wednesday and again on Thursday, there were sporadic fistfights involving brass knuckles and other objects and so forth, some of which resulted, according to the newspapers, in blood being spilled and persons having to seek medical assistance. After the game on Thursday, the Clemson guys frankly told the Carolina students that if you bring this poster, which is insulting to us, to the big parade on Friday, you’re going to be in trouble. And naturally, of course, the Carolina students brought the poster to the parade. If you give someone an ultimatum and they’re your rival, they’re going to do exactly what you told them not to do."
As expected, another brawl broke out before both sides agreed to mutually burn the poster in an effort to defuse tensions. The immediate aftermath resulted in the stoppage of the rivalry until 1909. The Carolina–Clemson game has been played every year since.
World War II era
World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
produced one of the most bizarre situations in the history of the rivalry. Cary Cox, a football player of the victorious Clemson squad in 1942, signed up for the V-12 program
V-12 Navy College Training Program
The V-12 Navy College Training Program was designed to supplement the force of commissioned officers in the United States Navy during World War II...
in 1943 and was placed at USC. The naval instructors at Carolina ordered him to play on the football team and he was named the captain for the Big Thursday game against Clemson. Cox was reluctant to play against his former teammates and he voiced his concerns to coach Lt. James P. Moran who responded "Cox, I can't promise you'll get a Navy commission if you play Thursday, but I can damn well promise that you won't get one if you don't play!" Cox then went out and led the Carolina team to a 33-6 win against Clemson. He returned to Clemson after the war and captained the 1947 team in a losing effort to Carolina, but Cox earned his place in history as the only player to captain both schools' football teams.
The 1946 game could be the most chaotic in the football series. Counterfeit tickets were sold, and fans with legitimate and fake tickets were not allowed inside once the stadium filled, so many fans stormed the gates and were eventually allowed to stand along the sidelines of the field. To add to the wild scene, a Clemson fan strangled a live chicken at midfield during halftime. It took U.S. Secretary of State James F. Byrnes
James F. Byrnes
James Francis Byrnes was an American statesman from the state of South Carolina. During his career, Byrnes served as a member of the House of Representatives , as a Senator , as Justice of the Supreme Court , as Secretary of State , and as the 104th Governor of South Carolina...
, who attended the game along with Strom Thurmond
Strom Thurmond
James Strom Thurmond was an American politician who served as a United States Senator. He also ran for the Presidency of the United States in 1948 as the segregationist States Rights Democratic Party candidate, receiving 2.4% of the popular vote and 39 electoral votes...
, to settle down the hostile crowd. Carolina won the game 26-14.
Modern era - Post WWII
1961: The PrankIn 1961, the USC fraternity Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
pulled what some have called the greatest prank in the rivalry's history. A few minutes before Clemson football players entered the field for pre-game warm ups, a group of Sigma Nu fraternity members ran onto the field, jumping up and down and cheering in football uniforms that resembled the ones worn by the Tigers. This caused the Clemson band to start playing "Tiger Rag," which was followed by the pranksters falling down as they attempted to do calisthenics. They would also do football drills where guys would drop passes and miss the ball when trying to kick it. Clemson fans quickly realized that they had been tricked, and some of them angrily ran onto the field. However, security restored order before any blows could be exchanged. Carolina won the game 21-14.
1975: Most Points Scored by Carolina
On November 22, 1975, Carolina defeated Clemson 56-20 to set a Gamecock record for most points scored in a football game against the Tigers.
1977: "The Catch"
On November 19, 1977, Clemson WR Jerry Butler
Jerry Butler (American football)
Jerry O'Dell Butler is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played his entire career with the Buffalo Bills . Butler was a Pro Bowl selection in 1980. In his career, he caught 278 receptions for 4,301 yards and 29 touchdowns...
made a diving, backwards, 20-yard touchdown reception on a pass from QB Steve Fuller with 49 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give Clemson the 31-27 victory in Columbia. This play is known as "The Catch" and is one of the most memorable plays in the rivalry.
1980: Orange Pants
In the last regular season game for the 1980 season, a heavily favored Carolina team traveled to Death Valley to take on the Tigers. In a surprise to both the players and the fans, Coach Danny Ford unveiled new orange uniform pants for the Tigers to wear. This was the first time in Clemson's history that they wore orange pants in any combination for a football game. Inspired by the pants, the underdog Tigers defeated the Gamecocks, 27-6.
1981: Clemson wins a National Championship
In 1981, Clemson
1981 Clemson Tigers football team
The 1981 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers were led by head coach Danny Ford and played their home games in Memorial Stadium...
defeated Carolina 29-13 en route to the National Championship. Clemson would be placed on probation on November 21, 1982, for a 2-year period. This sanction was enforced on the program by the NCAA Committee on Infractions due to a lengthy history of recruiting violations to gain an athletic advantage that had taken place from 1977 through the Tigers' 1981 National Championship season and into 1982, under the administration of two head coaches, Charlie Pell and Danny Ford. Over 150 documented violations were found to have been committed under NCAA bylaws in the categories of improper recruiting inducements, extra benefits to student-athletes, unethical conduct, improper financial aid, improper campus visits, improper transportation and entertainment, improper use of funds, improper employment, improper recruiting contact, and distribution of cash to players by members of the coaching staff.
1987: Highest Ranked Match-Up
On November 21, 1987, with the highest combined rankings of the two football programs entering the game (the Gamecocks were #12 and the Tigers were #8), Carolina beat Clemson 20-7 on national television (ESPN).
2000: "The Push-Off"/"The Catch II"
In 2000, Trailing late in the game 14-13, Clemson quarterback Woody Dantzler connected with wide-receiver Rod Gardner
Rod Gardner
Roderick F. Gardner is an American football wide receiver in the National Football League, who is currently a free agent.-College career:...
for a 50-yard reception to South Carolina's 8-yard line with 10 seconds remaining. Carolina fans point to a replay that seems to show Gardner pushing off the Gamecock defender, but Clemson fans contend that the contact was mutual and incidental. No penalty flag was thrown on the play, leaving Clemson kicker Aaron Hunt to kick a 25-yard field goal that gave Clemson a 16-14 win. Clemson fans remember this game as "The Catch II" while Carolina fans call it "The Push-Off Game".
2003: Most Points Scored by Clemson
In 2003, Clemson defeated Carolina 63-17, to set the record for the most points scored by either team in the series.
2004: The Brawl
The South Carolina-Clemson brawl during the 2004 football game is the most recent eruption of hostilities in this rivalry. It is also the last time Lou Holtz
Lou Holtz
Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States...
coached, having retired shortly thereafter. Clemson won the game 29-7. Each team had won a total of six games that year and were technically bowl eligible. However, both schools elected to forfeit their postseason because of the unsportsmanlike nature of the fight.
2005: A Quarterback Wins 4
In 2005, the two teams showed an unusual gesture of sportsmanship by meeting at midfield before the game to shake hands, putting the melee of 2004 behind them. Clemson won this game 13-9, leaving the Tiger's quarterback, Charlie Whitehurst, undefeated against USC in his 4 years at Clemson. The only Carolina quarterback to do so against the Tigers was Tommy Suggs, who led the Gamecocks to three victories in a row from 1968-1970.
2006: Kickers Make The Difference
Clemson was leading 28-14 in the third quarter, with Carolina quarterback Blake Mitchell throwing three interceptions. The Gamecocks then scored 17 unanswered points, including two Mike Davis touchdown runs and a 35-yard field goal from Ryan Succop - the only points in the fourth quarter - to give the Gamecocks a 31-28 lead. Clemson kicker Jad Dean missed a field goal attempt wide left as time expired, to give Carolina the win.
2007: Last-Second Victory
On November 24, 2007, Clemson kicker Mark Buchholz hit a 35-yard field goal as time expired to give #21 Clemson a memorable 23-21 victory over South Carolina. The win lifted Clemson coach Tommy Bowden
Tommy Bowden
Tommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008...
to 7-2 all-time against the Gamecocks and 2-1 against USC coach Steve Spurrier
Steve Spurrier
Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...
. The 2007 game is notable as the first in the series with the winning points scored on the game's final play.
2009: Turning The Season Around
On November 28, 2009, South Carolina upset #15 Clemson 34-17 in dominating fashion. The game was marked by the Gamecock defense forcing three Tiger turnovers and limiting the ACC Atlantic Division champion's offense including holding Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
hopeful C.J. Spiller to 18 rushing yards.
Game results
Clemson victories are colored ██ orange. South Carolina victories are colored ██ garnet. Ties are white.| Date | Winner | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 12, 1896 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 11, 1897 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 17, 1898 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 09, 1899 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 1, 1900 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 30, 1902 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 4, 1909 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 3, 1910 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 2, 1911 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 31, 1912 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 30, 1913 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 29, 1914 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 28, 1915 | Tie | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 26, 1916 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 25, 1917 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 2, 1918 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 30, 1919 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 28, 1920 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 27, 1921 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 26, 1922 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 25, 1923 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 23, 1924 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 22, 1925 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 21, 1926 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 20, 1927 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 25, 1928 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 24, 1929 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 23, 1930 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 22, 1931 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 20, 1932 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 19, 1933 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 25, 1934 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 24, 1935 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 22, 1936 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 21, 1937 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 20, 1938 | Clemson | Columbia, SC |
| Date | Winner | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 19, 1939 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 24, 1940 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 23, 1941 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 22, 1942 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 21, 1943 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 19, 1944 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 25, 1945 | Tie | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 24, 1946 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 23, 1947 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 21, 1948 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 20, 1949 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 19, 1950 | Tie | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 25, 1951 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 23, 1952 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 22, 1953 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 21, 1954 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 20, 1955 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 25, 1956 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 24, 1957 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 23, 1958 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Oct. 22, 1959 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 12, 1960 | Clemson | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 11, 1961 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 24, 1962 | Clemson | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 28, 1963 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 21, 1964 | South Carolina | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 20, 1965 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 26, 1966 | Clemson | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 25, 1967 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 23, 1968 | South Carolina | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 22, 1969 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 21, 1970 | South Carolina | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 27, 1971 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 25, 1972 | Clemson | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 24, 1973 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 23, 1974 | Clemson | Clemson, SC |
| Date | Winner | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 22, 1975 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 20, 1976 | Clemson | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 19, 1977 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 25, 1978 | Clemson | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 24, 1979 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 22, 1980 | Clemson | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 21, 1981 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 20, 1982 | Clemson | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 19, 1983 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 24, 1984 | South Carolina | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 23, 1985 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 22, 1986 | Tie | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 21, 1987 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 19, 1988 | Clemson | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 18, 1989 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 17, 1990 | Clemson | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 23, 1991 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 21, 1992 | South Carolina | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 20, 1993 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 19, 1994 | South Carolina | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 18, 1995 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 23, 1996 | South Carolina | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 22, 1997 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 21, 1998 | Clemson | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 20, 1999 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 18, 2000 | Clemson | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 17, 2001 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 23, 2002 | Clemson | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 22, 2003 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 20, 2004 | Clemson | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 19, 2005 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 25, 2006 | South Carolina | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 24, 2007 | Clemson | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 29, 2008 | Clemson | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 28, 2009 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | |
| Nov. 27, 2010 | South Carolina | Clemson, SC | |
| Nov. 26, 2011 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC |
Baseball
In baseball, the teams previously met four times during the regular season in mid-week games. Starting in 2010, the teams will compete against each other over the course of a single weekend, once on each home field, and once at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, SC. This was the first neutral-site game in the rivalry since the 2002 College World Series2002 College World Series
The 2002 College World Series was held June 14 through June 22, 2002 in Omaha, Nebraska. Eight NCAA Division I college baseball teams met after having played their way through a 64-team bracket to play at historic Rosenblatt Stadium...
. Both schools are perennially considered to be among the top programs in the country, giving the rivalry a prominent spot in college baseball beyond the state of South Carolina.
Recent series
| 2011 Series | All-Time Series | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Location | Winner | Score | Attendance | |
| Mar. 4, 2011 | Carolina Stadium • Columbia, SC | South Carolina | 168-125-2 |
||
| Mar. 6, 2011 | Doug Kingsmore Stadium Doug Kingsmore Stadium Doug Kingsmore Stadium is a stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. It is primarily used for NCAA college baseball and is the home field of the Clemson Tigers of the Division I Atlantic Coast Conference. It opened in 1970 and has a record single-game attendance of 6,480... • Clemson, SC |
Clemson | |||
| Mar. 8, 2011 | Fluor Field • Greenville, SC | South Carolina |
College World Series in the 2000's
The rivalry has taken a deeper hold in the 2000's, as twice in the decade the two teams battled, coincidentally in the semifinals both times, with the Tigers being 2-0 and needing only one win to advance to the championship, and the Gamecocks losing the first game and having to win twice to reach the finals out of the double elimination repechageRepechage
Repechage is a practice amongst ladder competitions that allows participants that failed to meet qualifying standards by a small margin to continue to the next round.- Types of repechage :...
round in both situations.
2002
Leading up to the 2002 semifinals
2002 College World Series
The 2002 College World Series was held June 14 through June 22, 2002 in Omaha, Nebraska. Eight NCAA Division I college baseball teams met after having played their way through a 64-team bracket to play at historic Rosenblatt Stadium...
, Clemson had already won three out of four regular season games against Carolina. The Gamecocks beat their rivals soundly, 12-4, and then beat the Tigers again, 10-2, the following day to advance to the national championship game. The Gamecocks fell to Texas 12-6 in the championship game, the last under the format where a one-game final was played.
2010
Eight years later, in what has been called The Last Bat at Rosenblatt
2010 College World Series
The 2010 College World Series began on June 19, 2010 and concluded on June 29 in Omaha, Nebraska at Rosenblatt Stadium. South Carolina won the championship after defeating UCLA. Rosenblatt has hosted the CWS since 1950, but 2010 will be the final College World Series to be played in the famed...
, an identical situation leading to the series began. Clemson had taken both on-campus games from South Carolina in the regular season, including a lopsided 19-6 victory in the rubber match, played before over 8,000 fans at Carolina Stadium in Columbia, but had lost in the "neutral site" game. The Gamecocks had just come off a 12-inning win against the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
less than 24 hours before, while the Tigers had two days of rest. However, fatigue was not a factor as the Gamecocks won the first game, 5-1, on a dominating complete game pitching performance by reliever Michael Roth, who had not started a game in more than a year. Carolina won the second game the following day, 4-3, to advance to the championship series against UCLA
2010 UCLA Bruins baseball team
The 2010 UCLA Bruins baseball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the 2010 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Bruins played their home games in Jackie Robinson Stadium. UCLA finished the regular season as the #2 team in the Pacific-10 Conference behind the Arizona...
, who they defeated, 7-1 (Game 1) and 2-1 (Game 2) to win the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
The NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament is held each year from May through June and features 64 college baseball teams in the United States, culminating in the College World Series....
.
Men's teams
| Sport | Last Matchup | All-Time Series | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Location | Winner | Score | Attendance | Leader | Record | |
| Basketball | Dec. 5, 2010 | Colonial Life Arena • Columbia, SC | South Carolina | South Carolina | |||
| Soccer | Sep. 2, 2011 | Riggs Field Riggs Field Riggs Field is a 6,500-capacity soccer-specific stadium located in Clemson, South Carolina. The stadium is home to the Clemson Tigers men's and women's soccer teams. It has also hosted the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship in 1987. The stadium opened for soccer in 1980, and was renovated in 1987... • Clemson, SC |
Clemson | Clemson | |||
| Swimming & Diving | Oct. 29, 2011 | Westside Aquatic Center • Greenville, SC | South Carolina | South Carolina | |||
| Tennis | Mar. 23, 2011 | USC Fieldhouse • Columbia, SC | Clemson | South Carolina | |||
- Carolina does not sponsor Men's Cross Country.
- Men's Golf and Men's Track & Field teams do not compete head-to-head.
- Clemson will discontinue swimming/diving programs by 2012 (with the exception of women's diving).
Women's teams
| Sport | Last Matchup | All-Time Series | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Location | Winner | Score | Attendance | Leader | Record | |
| Basketball | Nov. 17, 2011 | Littlejohn Coliseum Littlejohn Coliseum J.C. Littlejohn Coliseum, usually known as Littlejohn Coliseum, is a 10,325-seat multi-purpose arena in Clemson, South Carolina. It is home to the Clemson University Tigers men's and women's basketball teams. It is also the site of Clemson graduations and the Clemson Career Fair... • Clemson, SC |
South Carolina | Clemson | |||
| Soccer | Sep. 9, 2011 | Riggs Field Riggs Field Riggs Field is a 6,500-capacity soccer-specific stadium located in Clemson, South Carolina. The stadium is home to the Clemson Tigers men's and women's soccer teams. It has also hosted the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship in 1987. The stadium opened for soccer in 1980, and was renovated in 1987... • Clemson, SC |
South Carolina | Clemson | |||
| Swimming & Diving | Oct. 29, 2011 | Westside Aquatic Center • Greenville, SC | South Carolina | South Carolina | |||
| Tennis | Feb. 27, 2011 | Hoke Sloan Tennis Center • Clemson SC | Clemson | Clemson | |||
| Volleyball | Sep. 9, 2011 | TD Arena • Charleston, SC | Clemson | South Carolina |
- Carolina does not sponsor Women's Rowing.
- Clemson does not sponsor Women's Equestrian, Women's Golf, Women's Lacrosse, or Softball. (Carolina won the only meeting of the Softball teams.)
- Women's Cross Country and Women's Track and Field teams do not compete head-to-head.
Blood drive
| Series Originated | 1985 |
| Overall Record | Clemson leads, 14-13 |
| |
|
| Clemson (14) 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1997 2000 2006 2007 |
South Carolina (13) 1987 1993 1998 1999 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2008 2009 2010 2011 |
The rivalry extends beyond sports to the annual blood drive
Blood donation
A blood donation occurs when a person voluntarily has blood drawn and used for transfusions or made into medications by a process called fractionation....
between the two schools. Students, faculty and fans from the schools band together in an effort to collect blood before the holiday season when many are too busy to give blood. The blood drive is held from Monday through Friday the week before the football matchup. 2011 marked the 27th occurrence of the blood drive, with South Carolina winning for the fourth consecutive year with 4,079 pints versus Clemson's 3,041 pints of blood. With 8,022 units of blood combined, 2009's total donations broke the former record of 7,390 units, set the previous year. The blood drive is sponsored by the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
at the University of South Carolina and the Gamma Lambda chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega
Alpha Phi Omega
Alpha Phi Omega is the largest collegiate fraternity in the United States, with chapters at over 350 campuses, an active membership of approximately 17,000 students, and over 350,000 alumni members...
national service fraternity at Clemson. Everyone who gives blood receives a free shirt, with the graphic on the back usually featuring a Tiger and Gamecock together and a statement explaining that even though the competition is part of the rivalry, both schools share the common ground of giving blood.
See also
- Clemson TigersClemson TigersThe Clemson Tigers are any team that represents Clemson University as a member of the NCAA's Division I or in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference....
- Clemson Tigers baseballClemson Tigers baseballThe Clemson baseball team represents Clemson University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers are currently coached by head coach Jack Leggett and play their home games in Doug Kingsmore Stadium...
- Clemson Tigers footballClemson Tigers footballThe Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
- Clemson Tigers men's basketballClemson Tigers men's basketballThe Clemson Tigers men's basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the NCAA Division I. The current head coach is Brad Brownell.-Team history:...
- South Carolina GamecocksSouth Carolina GamecocksThe University of South Carolina's 19 varsity sports teams are known as the "Gamecocks". The unique moniker is held in honor of Thomas Sumter, a South Carolina war hero who was given the name "The Carolina Gamecock" during the American Revolution for his fierce fighting tactics, regardless of his...
- South Carolina Gamecocks baseballSouth Carolina Gamecocks baseballThe South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college baseball. South Carolina has perennially been one of the best teams in college baseball since 1970, posting 27 NCAA Tournament appearances, 10 College World Series berths, and two...
- South Carolina Gamecocks footballSouth Carolina Gamecocks footballThe South Carolina Gamecocks football team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college football. The Gamecocks have been a member of the Southeastern Conference since 1992. Steve Spurrier is the current head coach, and the team plays its home games at Williams-Brice...
- South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketballSouth Carolina Gamecocks men's basketballThe South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Southeastern Conference. The program attained national prominence under hall of fame coach Frank McGuire, posting a 205-65 record and three NCAA Sweet 16 appearances from 1967-1976...
- South Carolina Gamecocks men's soccerSouth Carolina Gamecocks men's soccerThe South Carolina Gamecocks men's soccer team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in Conference USA. The team has been coached by Mark Berson since its inception in 1978 and has participated in 20 NCAA Tournaments, reaching the Quarterfinals on four occasions...
- South Carolina Gamecocks women's soccerSouth Carolina Gamecocks women's soccerThe South Carolina Gamecocks women's soccer team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Southeastern Conference. The team was formed in 1995 and plays its home games at Stone Stadium. Shelley Smith is the current head coach of the women's soccer team.-See also:* South...
- South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketballSouth Carolina Gamecocks women's basketballThe South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Southeastern Conference. The team enjoyed its greatest success under head coach Nancy Wilson during the 1980s in the Metro Conference when it won five regular season conference...
- South Carolina Gamecocks men's tennisSouth Carolina Gamecocks men's tennisThe South Carolina Gamecocks men's tennis team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Southeastern Conference. The team has been coached by Kent DeMars since 1985.-See also:*South Carolina Gamecocks...
- South Carolina Gamecocks men's track and field