Gamecocks vs. Tigers: 30 Years of The Battle of the Palmetto State Part 1.

It is the game of the year in South Carolina. It divides families and friends alike. All eyes in the Palmetto State will be glued to there TV screens on November 28th when the Tigers of Clemson roll into Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks. Only 129 Miles separate these schools and the bitterness of the rivalry may be as intense as any rivalry in sports.

Historically Clemson has dominated the series with a 65-37-4 record against their arch rival. But, as history has also showed us, every year has a very different story of it’s own. We here at News.sc want to take the next two weeks to give you a little perspective on the last thirty years of the rivalry and get you ready for what should be another classic showdown.

We started 30 years ago in 1980 when both Clemson and South Carolina were programs on the rise to national prominence. Clemson had hired former Alabama great Danny Ford as their head football coach before the 1978 Gator Bowl victory over Woody Hayes’ Ohio State. But 1980 was a rebuilding year for the Tigers who came into the game 5-5.

Running Back George Rogers

South Carolina on the other hand was ranked 14th nationally and had already qualified for their second bowl in two years for the first time in school history. Coach Jim Carlen’s Gamecocks were 8-2, had a Heisman Trophy candidate, and soon-to-be winner, in running back George Rogers, and had already notched one of the biggest victories in school history over Michigan in the “Big House” on their belt. It was an opportunity for the Gamecocks to turn the tide of the rivalry after winning 13-9 in 1979.

The question surrounding this game from the Clemson fans was is Danny Ford the right man for the job?

Clemson was reeling after losing 4 of their last 5 games capped off by a 34-7 loss to Maryland the previous week. Coach Ford knew his job was in jeopardy if he could beat his cross-state rival.

Clemson Coach Danny Ford, Photo by Frank Alexander

With a beaten group of players Ford knew he needed to inspire his players and the 64,000 fans in Death Valley on that November day. Taking a page out of his mentor Paul “Bear” Bryant’s book, he reached into his bag of motivational tricks and pulled out a pair of orange pants.

The Tigers warmed up in their usual orange helmet, orange jerseys, and white pants. But a few minutes later they Tigers stormed down the hill clad in all-orange for the first time in school history.

“We knew how excited the fans would get when they first saw us come to the the hill wearing nothing but orange,” Clemson All-American linebacker Jeff Davis recalled. “They (the fans) went crazy. We knew right there we were going to win”

The teams exchanged field goals in the opening quarter of play. Clemson took the lead when Obed Ariri knocked in his second field goal from 47 yards to give clemson the 6-3 half-time lead.

In the third quarter USC kicker Eddie Leopard tied the game up at six with a 29 yard field goal. This would be the last bright spot of the day for the Gamecocks.

At the end of the third quarter Carolina was threatening to take the lead when Clemson defensive back Willie Underwood jumped in front of a Gary Harper pass and returned it 64 yards to the Gamecock 24. It was Underwood’s first interception in his 47 game career.

Six plays later, Tigers quarterback Homer Jordan broke through the goal line from the one to give Clemson the 13-6 lead.

On the following possession Harper again floated a ball to Gamecock receiver Ben Cornett and again Underwood made the interception. This time he took it all the way to the house. The 37 yard return gave the Tigers the 20-6 lead.

Jeff McCall added the final touch on the “program changing” game with a 15 yard touchdown run to seal the 27-6 victory.

The great George Rogers had 168 yards rushing on the way to earning the 1980 Heisman Trophy, but was held without a touchdown for the third straight season against Clemson.

This game will go down in Clemson lore as the catalyst for the greatest decade in school history and the schools first and only national championship the following year in the Orange Bowl…fittingly while wearing all orange.

Written By Charles Fritz, News.sc

Come back and check out Part 2 of the series tomorrow as we discuss the 1981, 1982, and 1983 games, and feel free to share your memories of the rivalry with us.

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