Gamecocks vs. Tigers: 30 Years of The Battle of the Palmetto State Part 6

Today we will take a look at the  1993, 1994 , 1995 , and 1996 reincarnations of the annual football showdown between South Carolina and Clemson.

In 1993 Clemson returned many of their best players from the disappointing ’92 season, and Ken Hatfield, to outside observers, was rebuilding the the program the right way.

But Clemson fans, who viewed Hatfield as an outsider from the time he was hired, were growing tired of him.  The common saying around fan circles was “Frank Howard built it. Ford tilled it. Hatfield killed it.”

The Tigers came into the Carolina game 7-3 but they had yet to beat a true top 25 team, they were shut out two weeks earlier by North Carolina, and Florida State entering the ACC had resulted in Clemson not winning the ACC championship for a second straight year.  By this time in late November Hatfield’s fate at Clemson was nearly sealed.

Largely due to fan discontent, school officials refused to grant him a one-year extension on his contract after the 1993 season.  The players new this was their last chance to play for their coach.  More importantly around Clemson, the players wanted revenge on USC quarterback Steve Taneyhill after his antics at Death Valley the year before.

Riding the hot streak from the end of the ‘92 campaign, South Carolina started the ‘93 season well.  Behind the arm of Steve Taneyhill and the legs of junior running back Brandon Bennett, the Gamecocks won a marque victory in Athens over the Bulldogs of Georgia the opening week of the season.  On the final play of the game Bennett leaped over the Georgia defensive line to score the winning touchdown.  The call of Georgia announcer Larry Munson begging his defense to “Lay down Dogs, Lay Down!”  will ring in the ears of Gamecock nation for the rest of time.

That would prove to be the high point of the season for USC.  The Gamecocks fell hard.  The offensive line play was atrocious.  Taneyhill ran for his life on just about every play.  The defense allowed at least 200 yards rushing five times and the Gamecocks only wins the rest of the season came against Louisiana Tech, East Carolina, and Vanderbilt.  they were 4-6 coming into the Clemson game and Sparky Woods’ seat was so hot even Lucifer felt bad for him.

The Gamecocks played Clemson tough at home.  They outgained the Tigers 295 to 286, but Taneyhill struggled and the Gamecocks just weren’t able to convert in the red zone.  Wide receiver Terry Smith and the Clemson Tigers came away with the 16-13 victory.

The close win was not enough to endear Ken Hatfield to the fans or the administration.  Angered at what he saw as a lack of support, Hatfield resigned at the end of the regular season.

On November 23, 1993 Clemson hired UT-Chattanooga head coach and former Danny Ford assistant Tommy West to replace Hatfield.  It was viewed by fans as a return to Clemson football.

The Tigers went on to a 14-13 Peach Bowl victory over Kentucky and finished at 9-3

Sparky Woods was also let go after his forth loss to Clemson in five years.  The reigns of the program were handed to Brad Scott.  To most he seemed like a perfect hire.  Scott had served for 11 seasons  under Bobby Bowden at Florida State.  The last four years he was FSU’s offensive coordinater and he led Charlie Ward and the “Fast Break” offense to a National Championship in 1993.  The Gamecock fan base was reinvigorated by the hire.

After a solid first season Scott and the ‘Cocks came into the 1994 showdown against the Tigers with a chance to qualify to go bowling for the first time since 1988.  Taneyhill once again led a star studded offense which by seasons end was one of the most improved in the country.  The offense included senior running back Bennett, wide-out Toby Cates, Stanley Pritchett, Boomer Foster, Corey Bridges, andMarcus Robinson.

Clemson QB Nealon Greene

The ‘94 season was a rebuilding year for coach West and the Tigers.  Clemson suffered a three game loosing streak in October, the first such streak since 1985.   The Tigers did turn it around during the stretch, winning three straight, including a victory over a top 25 North Carolina team.  Nealon Greene emerged as a star at quarterback after replacing Patrick Sapp and the Tigers seemed to be getting back to tradition.

The two teams entered Death Valley with identicle 5-5 records.  They were both playing for a bowl bid, not a small feat considering the jobs the two first-year head coaches were facing less than a year earlier when they took the jobs.

The first half was a tight defensive struggle that had the Gamecocks leading 13-7. As fans filed back into Death Valley for the 2nd half  the tide was about to quickly turn in favor of South Carolina. Borrowing from his mentor Bobby Bowden, Scott and the Gamecocks pulled off a daring throwback pass on the opening 2nd half kickoff that gave the Gamecocks field position inside the Clemson 5 yard line. South Carolina would eventually pound the ball into the endzone and the rout was on.

When the final ticks finally limped off the clock, the Gamecocks had whipped Clemson 33-7 and the celebration for the USC faithful in Death Valley for a second straight tip was underway. The game also served as one of the worst beatings Clemson has ever suffered to the Gamecocks in Death Valley.

Taneyhill once again took his place as one of Clemson fans most hated Gamecocks when he stomped on the Tiger paw at midfield.  It was another image that would be embedded in both fans minds, and South Carolina seened to be turning the tide of the rivalry.

Steve Taneyhill

The Gamecocks also went on the get their first bowl victory in school history on January 2nd at the Car Quest Bowl when they defeated West Virginia 24-21.  Scott’s first season was a resounding success and Gamecock Nation was once again excited about the future.

1995, However, was a dose of reality for the Gamecocks.  Despite Taneyhills record breaking season and the emergence of Duce Staley at running back the Gamecocks stumbled to a 4-6-1 season.  The defense, especially the run defense, was the cause of most of the ‘Cocks problems in 1995.  They were one of the worst run defenses in the nation.  They gave up eight 200+ yard games and served as a coming out party for SEC running backs Robert Edwards, Madre Hill, and Moe Williams.

Clemson rebounded with an 8-4 campaign.  Their four respectable losses came to #1 Florida State, #11 Virginia, Georgia, and Donovan McNabb’s Syracuse in the Gator bowl.  They got a healthy dose of payback in Williams-Brice in ‘95 racking up nearly 500 yards in their 38-17 victory.

A clear trend had developed in the series.  The road team had now won five straight.  1996 would be no different.  South Carolina took back control in Death Valley behind Staley and a running game that racked up 239 yards, the most against the Tigers since 1978, in the 34-31 win.    The Gamecocks finished the 1996 season at 6-5 but did not get a bowl bid.

Clemson finished ‘96 7-5, but lost to LSU in a bowl game and the fans were beginning to become dissatisfied with Tommy West.

The rivalry had drawn even over the last six seasons for the first time since the early 1970’s and West knew his job was on the line if he didn’t start beating the Gamecocks consistently.  It was the first good opportunity for South Carolina to change series history… but would they take it?

By Charles Fritz, News.sc

Check out Part 1 of our series on the Clemson vs. South Carolina Rivalry

Check out Part 2 of our series on the Clemson vs. South Carolina Rivalry

Check out Part 3 of our series on the Clemson vs. South Carolina Rivalry

Check out Part 4 of our series on the Clemson vs. South Carolina Rivalry

Check out Part 5 of our series on the Clemson vs. South Carolina Rivalry

Come back and check out Part 7 of the series tomorrow as we discuss the 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 games, and feel free to share your memories of the rivalry with us.

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