TIGER REVIVAL

Clemson saves best for USC

CLEMSON — Clemson picked one heck of a time for its best game of the year.

You know, how the Tigers were

supposed to play from the beginning, the last time they saw an opponent from the Southeastern Conference?

It's like Clemson saved up and took out a whole fall's worth of frustration on its in-state rival.

Because of that, the Tigers will go bowling. And it sure looks like they've found their coach — the same one who's been on the sideline the past six games.

Boisterous chants of "Da-bo, Da-bo"

echoed through rain-soaked Death Valley on Saturday afternoon as Clemson finished off a 31-14 ambushing of archrival South Carolina in front of an announced 81,500 bipartisan fans.

"That's a dang-good team," South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said, admitting he was outcoached by a man that's been toting around an interim tag for a month and a half. "That's a team that should have won the ACC title."

Even so, this win is immense for the here and now in Tiger Town.

There's a bowl to point toward. And, after a 4-2 run, Dabo Swinney's stay could soon become more permanent.

"I don't know what more he has

to do to get the job," Tigers senior quarterback Cullen Harper said. "He went 4-2. He united us as a team. We've won three in a row, four of the last five, and beat South Carolina pretty convincingly.

"I'm not sure what more you can do as a coach to prove yourself. If he doesn't get the job, I'll be shocked."

The Tigers, ignited by Swinney's spirit, led 24-0 in the second quarter.

Thunder and Lightning clapped and flashed all day for Clemson (7-5). James Davis and C.J. Spiller combined for 179 rushing yards and three scores (Davis runs of 1, 20 and 2 yards).

"We just got smashed," Spurrier said.

This rivalry's banner will continue to wave high here. The Tigers have won 10 of 12 in the series — three of four since Spurrier was supposed to come in and change things.

"What do you want me to do?" Spurrier said, when asked if he understands USC fans' frustration about the one-sided rivalry. "I'm frustrated, too. I thought we could play with these guys, but it turned out we couldn't. They're better than us."

The Gamecocks (7-5) will limp into a bowl, probably still the New Year's Day Outback game, despite two dreadful showings to finish the regular season.

Florida and Clemson — the orange crush in full force — beat USC by a combined score of 87-20. The defense, coordinator Ellis Johnson conceded, has backslid.

Perhaps more alarming, Johnson could see it coming.

"I'd like to say I'm surprised but, frankly, we've been going backward as a team for about three or four weeks now," Johnson said. "It's not a football team right now that's functioning. ... I'm not totally shocked we didn't play well."

And, like the Gamecocks' complete meltdown against Florida in the Swamp two weeks back, Chris Smelley's errant arm and a special teams lapse led to USC's early burial.

Twenty-one points came on drives after Smelley's three first-half interceptions. A blocked punt, Clemson's first of the year, turned into a short field goal by Mark Buchholz.

USC first-year special teams coordinator Ray Rychleski hadn't had one blocked in nearly eight seasons, going back through his tenure at Maryland.

"Clemson's a good team," said Smelley, who had four total interceptions, including one late in the game, and now has 15 for the year. "You don't want to give them anything and make it easier for them. We made too many mistakes, definitely."

The Gamecocks looked desperate late in the half, going for it on fourth-and-7 at the Clemson 40-yard line. That play failed, but USC got the ball back when Harper fumbled on the ensuing play.

Smelley found fullback Pat DiMarco out of the backfield four plays later for a 16-yard touchdown to finally get USC on the board.

Still, it was 24-7 at the half. Hardly the kind of start most anticipated.

The Tigers racked up 274 total yards in the first half, ending up with 383 yards for the game.

There was still a sliver of a chance the Gamecocks could make a game of it in the final two quarters.

USC marched on its opening drive of the second half, with Smelley finding Weslye Saunders for a 23-yard touchdown on third-and-6.

After that horrendous start, Smelley hit 7 of 8 passes on the two scoring drives that cut the lead to 10.

The Gamecocks had serious life when they got the ball back again, down 24-14.

But a three-and-out, followed by an 11-play drive that ended with the senior Davis' third touchdown of the day, was the knockout punch.

The Tigers converted all three of their third downs on that drive in a stretch of five consecutive third-down conversions.

It's well documented that this series — now 65-37-4 — has not been close. But recent games in it, especially since Spurrier arrived, had. Since 2005, nine points separated the two teams.

That changed Saturday. This one was never really in doubt.

"I didn't think we'd come out and dominate them like we did," Clemson senior safety Michael Hamlin said. "We just never gave them a chance to get into the game."

Clemson has to be wondering where this was all year. South Carolina has to be wondering what's happened in the past three weeks.

But both will play again this season.

CLEMSON QUICK TAKE

The Good

The Tigers defense intercepted

four Chris Smelley passes and

have 12 interceptions over the

last four seasons against South

Carolina.

The Bad

The Tigers defense gave up 200

passing yards for the second time

this season, breaking a streak of

eight straight games.

The Wacky

The Tigers special teams have

blocked three punts over the two

season and all three have come

against South Carolina.

- Andrew Miller

Source: Click Here