Sports

Palmetto Bust: Which Loss Was Worse?

EXAMINING THE EGGS LAID BY CAROLINA, CLEMSON … For the last three seasons, the University of South Carolina football team’s annual matchup with arch-rival Clemson has been a Top 20 affair.  Last year – for the first time ever – it was a Top Ten matchup. In fact you’ve got…

EXAMINING THE EGGS LAID BY CAROLINA, CLEMSON …

For the last three seasons, the University of South Carolina football team’s annual matchup with arch-rival Clemson has been a Top 20 affair.  Last year – for the first time ever – it was a Top Ten matchup.

In fact you’ve got to go all the way back to 2008 (a.k.a. the last time Clemson beat South Carolina) to find a “Palmetto Bowl” in which at least one of the two teams wasn’t ranked in the Top 20.

Such has been the rise in stature of this traditionally one-sided rivalry …

This upward trajectory may have hit a ceiling this season, though.  Both Carolina and Clemson laid eggs in their 2014 season openers – with Steve Spurrier‘s No. 9 Gamecocks getting routed at home on Thursday night by a No. 20/21 Texas A&M squad that was supposed to be entering a rebuilding year.

Meanwhile Dabo Swinney‘s No. 16 Clemson hung tough with No. 12 Georgia for three quarters before getting gashed in the fourth quarter by Bulldog running back (and Heisman Trophy frontrunner) Todd Gurley.

Both teams had critical weaknesses exposed in areas that were supposed to be their strong suits: Clemson on offense and Carolina on defense.  And both coaching staffs have some serious work to do if they hope to climb back into the national spotlight.

So … which team’s loss was worse?

Our founding editor (a 2x South Carolina alumnus) isn’t going to want to hear this, but we think the answer is clear: South Carolina’s defeat was MUCH worse.

First the Gamecocks were ranked seven spots higher than Clemson heading into the season.  Second they were played a presumably weaker opponent (Texas A&M was ranked nine spots below Georgia) – and  they were playing them at home.  Third, while the margin of defeat was equal, South Carolina got beaten much more severely than Clemson – which was actually a few third quarter first downs away from keeping its game competitive.

The Gamecocks trailed Texas A&M 31-14 at halftime and never seriously challenged the Aggies in the second stanza …

Anyway, those are our thoughts.  Which team do you think laid the bigger egg?  Vote in our poll and post your thoughts in our comments section below …

RAPID REACTION

Pic: Travis Bell Photography

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51 comments

Tre B. September 1, 2014 at 11:40 am

HA!!! For the first time EVER, this brings “fair and balanced” to this blog… lol

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a face in the crowd September 1, 2014 at 11:41 am

They were both pretty ugly. Clemson’s was especially bad, as it confirmed that when the going gets tough, the team basically submits. Compare Clemson to Oklahoma State, which simply refused to go away against Florida State. No comparison. South Carolina was never in the game and will be lucky to stay in the top 20 as well.

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Squishy123 September 1, 2014 at 3:01 pm

You think either team will be in the top 20? Clemson may just because they actually were in the game for 3 quarters, but SC likely won’t even be in the top 25 because they were out of the game once the clock said 14:59 in the first quarter .

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SC Political Digest September 1, 2014 at 11:53 am

FITS was the biggest Buffoon. He picked SC to run away, then went double or nothing to pick Clemson in a game everybody knew they had little chance to win.

FITS track record in college football, is about like his knowledge of politics.

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Jan September 1, 2014 at 12:07 pm

Fits track record in college football is almost as good as your track record on Presidential elections. What were those predictions again?

President Perry
President Gingrich
President Santorum
President Romney

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SC Political Digest September 1, 2014 at 2:29 pm

You – like all liberals – (see Ferguson) have to lie to fulfill your myths..that makes you as stupid as FITS..

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Squishy123 September 1, 2014 at 5:03 pm

So why do you keep coming back here, is it that lonely on your blog?

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SC Political Digest September 1, 2014 at 5:15 pm

Why?: To slap the S#!* out of you, and make you look stupid. And it is Soooo worth it.

Squishy123 September 1, 2014 at 5:18 pm

Yeah, well good luck with that. Pretty much everyone here knows your reputation as just another ignorant bitch. Go do something useful like make me a sandwich or iron a shirt.

Denial September 1, 2014 at 5:27 pm

You’ll never get through the five stages like this…smh.

vicupstate September 1, 2014 at 4:02 pm

Don’t forget

President Bachmann

President Herman Cain

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Scooter September 1, 2014 at 11:55 am

I think this shut both loud mouth fan bases up.

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Bible Thumper September 1, 2014 at 1:49 pm

Nooo!
You’re worse.
No, you’re worse.

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Jamie Crater September 1, 2014 at 6:35 pm

You must be a Coker fan!

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shifty henry September 1, 2014 at 12:47 pm

Worst? Carolina’s loss x10……

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Big Mac Attack September 1, 2014 at 1:03 pm

Thankfully this poor performance put out by bot SC schools was in the first game of the season. They will look like totally different teams come October. Georgia & Texas A&M are both very good programs, and I don’t think that the losses are going to define either team’s season. Gamecocks got the worst of it obviously with 1) a big loss at home; 2) a big loss on a national stage (earliest kickoff of the season right?); 3) a conference loss (huge if they are trying seriously to win the East).

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Stymie Yelodog September 1, 2014 at 1:38 pm

Carolina sustained the worst beating. But they were never in it. Clemson’s hurt more because of their 2nd half meltdown.

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84 foot HBC September 1, 2014 at 1:43 pm

As a big lover of the Cocks, it pains me to say this… but at least Clempsen played a fairly solid first half before collapsing in the 4th quarter. Carolina was flat, and down right embarrassing from start to finish. Carolina looked like a high school team facing the Aggies last Thursday night. Ellis Johnson had no problem bringing the D to the efence when he was the defensive coordinator.

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E Norma Scok September 1, 2014 at 8:04 pm

“As a big lover of the Cocks”

That never stops making me laugh.

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Bible Thumper September 1, 2014 at 1:46 pm

The main reason that Gamecocks defeat was worse is because it was a conference loss.

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GC September 2, 2014 at 9:01 am

A loss at home and SC was a ten point favorite

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SEC Now September 1, 2014 at 1:47 pm

Has anyone heard the Coke commercial congratulating Steve Spurrier for his 200th career SEC victory that started airing last Thursday? Talk about counting the chickens before the eggs have hatched. How embarrassing if he doesn’t have an SEC victory all season? #Epic

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Tigerbobby September 1, 2014 at 2:07 pm

The hype and oversell of USC sports needed a kick in the mouth…and got it. Clemson can live with that defeat. They are the better engineering and science school and their president focuses on academics. Pastides has written off academics and will do the cheerleading now until he can pick up his million and leave. Before that ever faculty member has to still buy the cooking book of his wife…No more than 7-8 wins this year…

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Terry the tater September 1, 2014 at 2:37 pm

Clem5on and the fighting Dabo’s wrote off academics as well when they let in scholars such as pothead Smoking Sammy Watkins. They also were so delusional as to think they actually had at worst a top 3 national D-Line. One that gave up 330 yards rushing and 5 rushing TD’s (would have been at least 2 ore if not a a blown call by the refs in the 1st half to get a turn over, a 100+ yard kick off return, and a penalty late in the 4th to call yet another TD back) chew on that a while Cletus that /defense is the most over rated thing in football since the Boz in the NFL. Where was Beasley all game anyway? As for schools, USC is #1 in International business in the county, and also has a better law school as well as medical school. Clemtech grads can cut the of a graduate from many of the better schools USC has than Tater U. Clemson will be lucky to win 6 games this year. No National title, no conference title, no divisional title, and once again no state title. Their whole year will be a bust and Dabo will have a lot of explaining to do. I wonder how he and the rest of you idiots will twist the facts again to try to say they are good?

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Squishy123 September 1, 2014 at 3:04 pm

Speaking of pot smoking, how did Clowney make it through three seasons without getting caught, he had stoner eyes everytime he was on television.

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GC September 2, 2014 at 11:03 am

Clowney was trying to keep up with Watkins, smoking his dope in the Caddy! Don’t throw stones in glass houses both schools have had their problems!

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TontoBubbaGoldstein September 1, 2014 at 3:33 pm

Clemtech grads can cut the of a graduate from many of the better schools USC has than Tater U.

Mr Terry, please “dumb down” your high falutin’ prose so that this *Clemtech* grad (BA ’90) can understand it.

Thanks!

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CNSYD September 1, 2014 at 3:52 pm

USC Jr does have a better law school and medical school than Clemson’s. Could it be due to the fact that Clemson doesn’t have a law school or a medical school? So going down your line of “thinking”, Clemson has a better architecture school than USC Jr.

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Terry the tater September 1, 2014 at 7:19 pm

Or that most high schools such as tater tech don’t offer law or med school either.

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Tigerbobby September 1, 2014 at 4:03 pm

The Business school at USC has one program, ie international business that is good – The rest is no Wharton, Stanford or Harvard program. The law school is third class, the engineering program is bleeding out and young professors are joining Clemson. When was the last time you heard the president of Clemson talk football? When was the last time you heard Pastides talk research or education? Btw for all y’all worried about salaries: the salary of Lorenzo Ward, an articulate scholar of football is twice that of the highest paid full professor at USC – turn the SEC into a minor league for the NFL, pay those who pay a decent middle class salary ( how about that as “economic development”?) and separate the universities from this nonsense. It would be better for players (about $50k plus health insurance for a couple of years bs 0 – $5k now), fans and the universities who could focus on providing kids a higher education.

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Squishy123 September 1, 2014 at 4:19 pm

Ward was stumbling, stammering, and sweating like nothing I’ve ever seen by a coach Thursday night. Must be stressful when Spurrier throws you under the bus.

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GC September 2, 2014 at 10:59 am

Since tiger land is focusing on academics, I am sure 4-8 every year will be OK because they can be like Duke in football.

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tigerbobby September 2, 2014 at 12:37 pm

I tell ya most faculty I know at USC and Clemson would trade a high rankings in football for ones in academics. With all the money in college football, something is gonna give – you think college football should become minor league football or the mission of universities (teaching and research) should continue to be secondary to sports entertainment?

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SC Political Digest September 1, 2014 at 2:37 pm

SC has problems that are fixable. Clemson is just not that good. And would lose worse if they played Ga. again.
SC could be vastly improved, as the season wears on.But some coaches may be fired, once the fire is put out.

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Squishy123 September 1, 2014 at 3:03 pm

What are they going to fix? Replace the entire defense, teach the defense how to tackle, improve “the best offensive line in the SEC” from getting manhandled by a smaller defensive line? Maybe get a quarterback who can complete more than 50% of his passes?

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SC Political Digest September 1, 2014 at 3:18 pm

Spurrier has built a powerhouse that PUNKS your stupid @$$ every year. In 2013, his team lost to a putrid Tenn. squad, but still beat the BEST team Dabo had assembled since he stabbed Tommy in the back, and got you Dumb@$$#$ to give him the job….

Only an idiot, like you, would bury Spurrier, because you are too stupid to learn from the past.

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Squishy123 September 1, 2014 at 4:16 pm

Yeah he was sure impressive on Thursday, that play calling was spectacular.

Why do dirtpecker fans always figure that if you badmouth USC, you are automatically a tater fan. Personally I think both teams are nothing more than a bunch of tattoo’d thugs. Did you notice the lack of tattoos and dreadlocks on aTm’s team? Looks to me like their coach has some control over his players.

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SC Political Digest September 1, 2014 at 4:58 pm

Play calling was fine, idiot. Didn’t Nick Jones drop a TD and Thompson throw an INT. Can’t stop that w/ play calling…

You don’t know much about football, do you???….So it’s kinda stupid to be talking about it, if you’re you…LMAO…

PS: check out our site SCPSD…educate yourself…then maybe you’ll speak w/ a little authority, like we do on our site….Hahahahahaa…

Squishy123 September 1, 2014 at 5:01 pm

3rd and 1, let’s call a 40 yard pass play.

Did the defense call one correct play the entire game?

Grand Tango is that you, with yet another name?

E Norma Scok September 1, 2014 at 8:06 pm

Or better yet..3rd and 7..pass for 3.

Lou Holtz Likes Beer Too September 1, 2014 at 5:22 pm

Play calling was fine, idiot. Didn’t Nick Jones drop a TD and Thompson throw an INT. Can’t stop that w/ play calling…

Tell ’em, Tango! One guy can’t pass and the other can’t catch…

SC Political Digest September 1, 2014 at 6:05 pm

But that’s correctable, is it not?

Lou Holtz Likes Beer Too September 1, 2014 at 7:26 pm

Depends on what’s causing it. You know, much like the lead paint you and your sibs grew up with…

Ron Turner September 1, 2014 at 2:43 pm

“Both teams had critical weaknesses exposed in areas that were supposed to be their strong suits: Clemson on offense and Carolina on defense. And both coaching staffs have some serious work to do if they hope to climb back into the national spotlight.”
Read more at https://www.fitsnews.com/2014/09/01/palmetto-bust-loss-worse/#bOgEd7MpWuzS4r0G.99
Carolina’s glaring weakness on defense is a 160 corner that will most certainly be trampled by Todd Gurley. Coach Ward, “you’ve got to be kidding me!”

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Mike at the Beach September 1, 2014 at 3:52 pm

The only sports prediction I have *ever* made was that this silly debate would start. Sadly, I am now one-for-one in sports predictions.

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Tunes'n'News September 1, 2014 at 4:16 pm

WHICH PREDICTION WAS WORSE?

#FITSPick: South Carolina 38 Texas A&M 22
Actual: Texas A&M 52 South Carolina 28

#FITSPICK: Clemson 33 Georgia 30 (OT)

Actual: Georgia 45 Clemson 21

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Jamie Crater September 1, 2014 at 6:35 pm

Both!

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Thomas September 1, 2014 at 7:12 pm

If I was the HBC, knowing I have four top QB’s, I would play all four. Here is why. Coach Steve is a genius for calling plays. He has a playbook that is l-o-n-g. His problem is it takes three years to train one QB to hit every pass in his playbook. I submit training each QB to hit 5 different pass plays. Put in a QB to throw any combination of his 5 pass plays. Put each QB in as needed or as planned. Each QB can still hand off or run screens, so no problem there. Why? Dylan is best coming off the bench. He has 5 pass plays which he is really good at. The rest of the pass plays Coach Steve calls end up as incomplete. Mix up the QB rotation to keep the defenses off balance. With 4 QB’s throwing 20-25 solid different pass plays from Coach Steve’s playbook, we will get those points and that lead. Giving David Williams some carries next week is a good call. The more he runs the more he will look like Marcus Allen.

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Jamie Crater September 1, 2014 at 8:44 pm

I know these schedules are done years in advance but it is stupid for either of these teams to start the season with such good teams!

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snickering September 2, 2014 at 11:20 am

I pretty much expect USC to lose no matter who they’re playing. That’s why I don’t. care.

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ELCID September 2, 2014 at 6:55 pm

Clemson fix your special team problems and you will do OK.
USC fire Lorenzo Ward and you can salvage the season too.

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