South Carolina football: The most iconic moments in the Palmetto State rivalry

ON-FIELD ANTICS

The riot

Following a 12-6 Gamecock win in 1902, Clemson cadets marched to the Carolina campus armed with bayonets and swords. The students, heated from the loss and the ensuing ridicule from their counterparts, stormed towards the Horseshoe, only to be met by Gamecock students bearing handguns and rifles.

No one was injured in the standoff, but the series was put on hold for the next six years. In 1909, the two teams met again, beginning the 111-year streak of consecutive matchups.

The prank

In 1961, some students from South Carolina’s Sigma Nu fraternity decided to have some fun with their rival school, and concocted a plan to prank the Tigers prior to the contest.

With approval from Gamecock head coach Marvin Bass, the Sigma Nus dressed as Clemson players, ran out of the tunnel at Williams-Brice Stadium (then Carolina Stadium), and took the field. Not knowing that the players were not actually players at all, the Clemson band played the fight song and the fans began to cheer.

The Sigma Nus went through some stretches and typical warm-ups to keep fans engaged before pulling the stunt. After a few minutes, the Carolina students began fumbling the ball left and right, doing summersaults in the backfield, and choreographing a dance in the endzone. The group even had a Frank Howard impersonator that was spitting tobacco juice anywhere and everywhere.

When Clemson fans finally figured out the ruse, a group took to the field to confront the imposters. Gamecock fans followed shortly after, resulting in a commotion that took a half an hour to clear up.

The two teams would finally take the field, but Clemson wouldn’t get its revenge, as South Carolina won the contest 21-14.

The paw

In 1992, freshman quarterback Steve Taneyhill led the Gamecocks into Death Valley and emerged with a 24-13 victory, ending a four-game series losing streak.

The long-haired gunslinger had taken over as starter following an 0-5 Gamecock start, and went on to win five of the final six games on the schedule, culminating with the performance against the Tigers.

After a huge scoring play in the second half, Taneyhill took to midfield and signed his name in imaginary ink. Taneyhill would finish his career without losing a game in Memorial Stadium, and he certainly knew how to get under the skin of his most hated foe.

The brawl

The low point in the rivalry, the brawl occurred during a 29-7 Clemson win in 2004. Late in the fourth quarter of a chippy contest, players began pushing and shoving, which turned into a ten-minute fighting match between the two schools.

After the game, both universities would forfeit their bowl games. It was legendary head coach Lou Holtz’s final collegiate game.