USC Overruns Clemson
The worst rushing team in the Southeastern Conference (and one of the worst in America) made it look easy Saturday against one of the best defenses in the nation, racking up 223 yards on the ground.
Meanwhile, one of the most potent offenses in the nation was kept off the scoreboard for three-and-a-half quarters – its sulking Heisman Trophy candidate limited to a meager 18 yards on nine carries.
Mix those two improbable ingredients together and you’ve got the recipe for an upset hardly anybody saw coming (least of all us) – an emphatic 34-17 victory for the University of South Carolina over its longtime rival and arch-nemesis, the Clemson Tigers.
Head coach Dabo Swinney’s Tigers came into Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. with all the momentum – a Top Fifteen national ranking, a six-game winning streak, a Heisman Trophy candidate (running back C.J. Spiller) and virtual ownership of this intrastate grudge match, especially in recent years.
Clemson entered Saturday’s contest with a 65-37-4 overall advantage in the series – including a 25-9-1 mark over the last three-and-a-half decades. The Tigers had won ten of the previous twelve match-ups and six of the last seven, prompting our founding editor to declare the series a “Rivalry In Name Only.”
Well, USC proved him wrong … at least this year.
South Carolina (7-5, 3-5 SEC) dominated on both sides of the football, running roughshod over a vaunted Clemson defense and bottling up a Tiger offense that was averaging 38 points and 415 yards a game during its six-game winning streak.
Coming into the game, USC ranked last in the SEC (and 97th out of 109 Division I-A teams) with just 116 rushing yards per game.
Against the shell-shocked Tigers (8-4, 6-2 ACC), however, they had eclipsed that mark by halftime – racking up 131 yards rushing at the break.
Keying the surprisingly prodigious ground attack was freshman Kenny Miles, who finished Saturday’s game with 114 yards on 17 carries. Sophomore quarterback Stephen Garcia added 46 yards on 14 carries, while junior tailback Brian Maddox added another 44 yards on 18 carries.
Garcia also connected on 10 of 21 passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns.
The biggest surprise in the offensive attack? Freshman cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who made his offensive debut with five carries for twenty yards from the “Wildcat” (err, “Wildcock”) formation. Gilmore also added a perfectly-thrown thirty-nine yard deep ball to fellow freshman wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey that set up South Carolina’s first touchdown of the game.
Plagued by costly turnovers all year, this time it was USC that took advantage of miscues committed by the ACC’s Atlantic Division Champs.
After failing to cause a turnover in its last three games, USC created two in the first quarter – and quickly turned both of them into touchdowns.
The Gamecocks never looked back, grinding out an old-school SEC-style win – one in which pass-happy head coach Steve Spurrier call 58 rushing plays against just 22 passes.
That’s the most rushing plays he’s called in a game since coming to USC.
Carolina fans didn’t let Clemson forget it either, chanting “SEC, SEC” during the game’s final moments.
Clemson heads to Tampa next week to play No. 7 Georgia Tech for the ACC Championship and a Bowl Championship Series bid.
South Carolina, meanwhile, awaits its postseason destination.
MORE COVERAGE
USC-Clemson Pics, Storylines
Where Will USC Go Bowling?
Pics: Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina
Comments
By Jeffy on November 28th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
That ACC must really be tough this year?! I know one guy not invited to New York.
By countryboy on November 28th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Finally, after 8 tough SEC games it was about time Carolina got a “breather” to finish the regular season. Now we will see if Klempsun can handle the Georgia Tech rushing game, which ESPN said was #1 in the country.
By No Way! on November 28th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
I am guessing a new coach for Clemson next year?
By Liberty For Me on November 28th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Just like I drew it up…..
By Bob on November 29th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Carolina over #15 Clemson
Georgia over #7 Georgia Tech
Florida thrashes Florida State, while everyone played
ACC vs SEC. Anyone else get it?
I’ve always said if Carolina starts competing at an SEC level, Clemson will not be a problem. That is not to say we will never lose to them, just that we will win our share.
By Skidmarks on November 29th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Garcia looked good on the bench.
By Sicster on November 29th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Carolina fans should feel jubilant in all the sec vs acc talk.
afterall, the cocks close this decade 3-7 against their acc rival!
By Pat Hendrix on November 29th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Well, Spiller did have a tummy ache, and they did spot USC 17, oh, and they were looking to the ACC championship game. But most importantly, they got they got outplayed and outcoached. Too bad the taters hired a realtor to be their coach. That might just be the luck SC needed to finally break the tater dominance.
By CNSYD on November 29th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Congrats to the cocks. You upped your all time win percentage from 35.2 to 36.2. Just win the next 27 in a row and you will make 50%. Seriously you whipped our ass and we deserved to lose. We are now at T-364 and counting. I understand your reasons to be happy about your SEC future but let me tell you, if you don’t already know, in SEC hotbeds like the state of Alabama USC gets zero respect. Clemson has a lot more respect for you than those people. Point is that until you start beating them they will classify you with UK and Miss St.
By K Trane on November 29th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
If I recall Georgia Tech beat Georgia last year as did Clemson beat South Carolina. Just because the SEC had a good year doesn’t make them a superior conference in football.
By Overruled on November 29th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
K Trane,
The verdict is in: you are a moron with that statement.
The SEC has 25 national titles overall, including 7 in the last 20 years, (4 this decade)
The ACC has 4.5 national titles overall (Ga Tech split in 90)including only 2 in the last 20 years, last one in 1999.
Sorry you don’t get to count the Miami titles when they weren’t in the ACC.
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' on November 29th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Better luck next year, FITS!
By Brandon on November 29th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Hey how about ya’ll quit living in the past…the fact is that the Gamecocks are better than the Tigers end of story, deal with it and quit bitching.
By SEC v. ACC No Contest on November 29th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
K Trane – There are NO teams in the ACC who can beat Florida, Alabama, or LSU.
The SEC won the last 3 national championships. How can you even post that comment?
Clemson fans have a right to be proud of their football program but you look like a fool trying to defend the rest of the ACC.
The Chick-fil-a bowl puts the 3rd best ACC team against the 5th best SEC team and the SEC still wins most of those games.
Come on man!
By Al Fields on November 30th, 2009 at 4:07 am
The guaranteed way for Clemson to have a losing season year by year….join the SEC!
That’s the difference in the ACC (Average Athletic Conference) and the SEC. In the ACC, you lose three games and you play for a “conference champsionship”. In the SEC, you have TWO undefeated division winners ….and you play for the right to play for a national title! Five of Clemson’s conference wins came against teams that were AT or below .500! (Much akin to the “National Championship team in 1981…look it up!). That year they drew 9-3 Nebraska in a bowl when there were TWO 10-1 teams ahead of them. Be THANKFUL those teams were already LOCKED into bowls. If they had had the BCS back then….Clemson might have NOT been playing on New Year’s day!
SC shut down THREE Heisman Trophy candidates this year (Sneed-MS, Tebow-FL and Spillers-CU. They took ALABAMA and FLORIDA to the 4th quarter till their wins were secure! Next year is looking even better with only 8 departing seniors and 47 (repeat 47) returning freshmen and 27 sophomores. Folks didnt realize that 16-17 of our starting positions were filled by FRESHMEN a majority of the time this year!
Yes, we already looking FORWARD to next year too! (Especially with Tim Tebow gone!)
By Liberty For Me on November 30th, 2009 at 6:16 am
Bob..I think your right
I think most kids who had a choice would go to SEC teams….So the best talent goes to the best SEC teams from top down.So the best SEC team will always beat the best ACC team….But of course as you go down the list competiton in talent gets more even.The difference is the strength in schedule….But when its heads up…Florida,Alabama…WAY too much for any other conference.Gamecocks are getting there.Then there will be a decade of Clemson quiet soon.Saturdays result will be the norm.
By Toyota Kawaski on November 30th, 2009 at 8:31 am
CNSTD i see u spent the weekend in the parents basement oh scratch that travel trailers don’t have basements anyway looking up records to make you feel better about your pathetic program.This is the beginning of the end for the mail room boy hired as CEO.
By Andrew on November 30th, 2009 at 10:53 am
USC patting themselves on the back for being in the SEC and how tough that is, is about like Belgium talking about how impressive they are because they are in NATO along with the United States.
As a Clemson fan the trouble with Saturday was that we got beat badly by a mediocre football team. Hats off to USC, they deserved the win.
Gotta have a fairly large view of your limited contributions to think that the rest of the SEC sees you as anything more than a homecoming opponent / 5th place team though.
By CNSYD on November 30th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Overruled, you need to check on those 25 “national championships”. Auburn will tell you how hokey some of those Alabama claims are. They were awarded by unknown organizations. If it ain’t AP or now BCS then it don’t count.
Toyota, Facts are facts. Your Jap loving ass probably thinks you slant eyes won WWII. If the ACC is so bad why is there a big sign at WB about USux winning it in 1969? Another fact for you. Wake beat Ols Miss and Vandy. Same as USux. I guess that means they are equal to USux. You have never told me whether you showed up at Sic Willie’s seat as you were invited to. Also you never told me whether it was you who administered the alleged ass whipping on Merritt. Nor have you gone to Sloan St. and bad mouthed Frank Howard to the owner. I know you have done none of the above as you are a chicken shit.
Brandon, please tell me where the “history line” starts and stops. It seems you chickens keep wanting to move it.
By Just a good ole boy on November 30th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
To our ACC brothers, winning the ACC championship is like being the tallest midget…
By CNSYD on November 30th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Just a good ole boy, I knbow you cocks abhor history and logic especially when it doesn’t go your way but lets look at the effect of USux being in the SEC. The main reason I hear is that USux dominated Clemson is because they play in the SEC and Clemson plays in the ACC. So please explain to me how USux is 9-14 in games vs. ACC opponents since USux joined the SEC.
By weighing in on November 30th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
CNSYD,
That’s 25 official titles for the SEC. If you want me to claim the ones that you say come from “unknown” groups then, then it’s 45.
And like a typical Clemson fan, you believe you were a better team and can only talk about past years. WRONG again. You are an above average team in a below average conference, while USC is an average team, on the rise, in an elite conference. Your Final 6 games (your “hot streak”) the teams were a combined 33-38 with only 1 of them having a winning record. Even your QB admitted they weren’t prepared for a team like USC.
BTW, you lost bragging rights about 3:03 on Saturday, so until next November, STFU!
By CNSYD on November 30th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
weighing in, Your USux reading skills have failed you again. I said Auburn people (you know who Auburn is right?) say that most of the “championships” claimed by Alabama are faux. So tell me why USux has a big sign in WB for the 1969 ACC championship if the ACC championship means nothing? Another document with which you are not familar called the USConstittion says I can say what I want for as long as I want.
By CNSYD on November 30th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I will make it easy for you guys. Here is the list of SEC “national championships” which include ones even the schools don’t claim. I don’t dispute that the SEC has won a bunch of real ones but it is hokey to claim some of the ones that some schools do. I didn’t see USC on here but I did see GT.
Year School Source
1934 Alabama Dunkel, Houlgate, Poling, Williamson
1935 LSU Williamson
1936 LSU Williamson ee Billingsley, Boand, Dunkel, Football Research, Houlgate, Litkenhous, Poling, Sagarin
1940 Tennessee Dunkel, Williamson
1941 Alabama Houlgate
1942 Georgia Berryman, DeVold, Houlgate, Litkenhous, Poling, Williamson
1945 Alabama National Championship Foundation
1946 Georgia Williamson
1950 Kentucky Sagarin
1950 Tennessee Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, Football Research, National Championship Foundation
1951 Tennessee AP, Litkenhous, UPI, Williamson
1951 Georgia Tech Berryman, Boand
1952 Georgia Tech Berryman, INS, Poling
1956 Tennessee Sagarin
1956 Georgia Tech Berryman
1957 Auburn AP, Football Research, Helms, National Championship Foundation, Poling, Williamson
1958 LSU AP, Berryman, Billingsley, Boand, DeVold, Dunkel, FB News, Football Research, Helms, Litkenhous, National Championship Foundation, Poling, Sagarin, UPI, Williamson
1959 Mississippi Berryman, Billingsley, Dunkel,
1960 Mississippi Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, Football Research, FW, National Championship Foundation, Williamson
1961 Alabama AP, Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, FB News, Football Research, Helms, Litkenhous, National Championship Foundation, NFF, Sagarin, UPI, Williamson
1962 LSU Berryman
1962 Mississippi Litkenhous
1962 Alabama Billingsley
1964 Alabama AP, Berryman, Litkenhous, UPI
1965 Alabama AP, Billingsley, Football Research, FW, National Championship Foundation
1966 Alabama Berryman
1967 Tennessee Litkenhous
1968 Georgia Litkenhous 1973 Alabama Berryman, UPI
1975 Alabama Matthews
1977 Alabama Football Research
1978 Alabama AP, FACT, Football Research, FW, Helms, National Championship Foundation, NFF
1979 Alabama AP, Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, FACT, FB News, FW, Helms, Matthews, National Championship Foundation, NFF, NY Times, Poling, Sagarin, Sporting News, UPI
1980 Georgia AP, Berryman, FACT, FB News, FW, Helms, National Championship Foundation, NFF, Poling, Sporting News, UPI
1983 Auburn FACT, Football Research, NY Times
1984 Florida Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, FACT, Matthews, NY Times, Sagarin, Sporting News
1992 Alabama AP, Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, Eck, FACT, FB News, Football Research, FW, Matthews, National Championship Foundation, NY Times, Sporting News, UPI/NFF, USA/CNN
1993 Auburn National Championship Foundation
1996 Florida AP, Berryman, Billingsley, Eck, FACT, FB News, FW, NFF, Sagarin, Sporting News, USA/CNN, NY Times, National Championship Foundation, Dunkel, Matthews, DeVold
1998 Tennessee Alderson, AP, BCS, Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, Eck, FACT, FB News, FW, Matthews, National Championship Foundation, NFF, NY Times, Seattle Times, Sporting News, USA/ESPN
2003 LSU BCS, Billingsley, Colley, DeVold, Dunkel, FACT, Massey, NFF, Sagarin, Seattle Times, USA/ESPN
2006 Florida BCS, USA Today, AP
2007 LSU BCS, USA Today, AP
2008 Florida BCS, USA Today, AP
By Toyota Kawaski on November 30th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
CNSTD
1) Did not bad mouth Coach Howard never would love old school coaches. Like its some secret his son owns Sloan st drink there often when i lived in Clemson.
2) A friend cut his ass at what use to be Nicks have no clue if its still there.
3)Same reason there is a sign/flag at Memorial stadium talking about a southern conference championship?????
4) The hell with Fits and his dumb ass y’all can have him. He never told me what row his free tickets were on.
5) BTW it people like you that make Carolina fans hate Clemson lived in Still Water for 4 years and loved it to bad folks like you come there on Saturdays and ruin the quaint feel of Clemson.
6) 34-17 34-17 34-17 34-17 34-17 34-17
By CNSYD on November 30th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Toyota the Jap, bad news for you. I live right near Stllwater. Been in the Clemson area for almost 16 years now. Were you Tommy and Brad’s neighbor? Rich Rod lived there for a short while. Tommy recently sold his house for $1.1M. I am afraid I am compelled to respond when Gamecocks want to bad mouth Clemson whether it be academics or athletics. I do believe that the only people who should have a say are those who graduated from the school and contribute equally to academics and athletics. The rest are just noise in the system. Both schools have people and things of which they are justifiably proud and they also have people and things of which they should be ashamed.
By Liberty For Me on November 30th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
CNSYD….I get creeped out when I agree with you.But you are the man again here.Not only is the ACC not even close to the SEC..But I think the Big East is passing them> I know this year they can kick their ass.Gamecocks played a lot of losses close this year and have some great rookies and recruits coming in..(Florida,Cocks game next year will be great)
By Liberty For Me on November 30th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
CNSYD…My mistake..I attributed you to the wrong comments.Your still wrong..fewwww..
By CNSYD on December 1st, 2009 at 12:15 pm
LFM, close only counts in horseshoes and handgrenades.