The Rivalry

by Mickey Plyler - Radio Host - Wed Nov 23 10:30:48 GMT-04:00 2016

The Rivalry

My first Carolina-Clemson game was 1974. My dad took us to see Clemson beat South Carolina, but I don't remember much about that one mainly because I was only six at the time. I do remember Ken Calicut having a huge rushing day because we were both from Chester, SC. I missed the 1975 game, but have seen every game in the rivalry since 1976.

I grew up in this rivalry. I love this rivalry. Mainly because in my lifetime my side has had the upper hand. Clemson is 27-13-1 in the games I have seen.

I have always felt that losing hurts more than winning feels good in the rivalry. Perhaps the best way to explain it is that beating them feels almost like relief instead of ecstasy.

I have memories from almost every game. The loss in 1979 was my first loss and watching that punt soar through the air really hurt. I was shocked in 1984, especially after we got the big lead. I hurt for my friend Rodney Williams on a cold night in 1987. Those strange games in 1992, 94 and 96 we felt bad, especially the Tanneyhill losses, but those five straight losses were something I thought I would never see and hope to never see again.

The wins that stick out were games like the 1977 comeback win, which might be the best game in the rivalry's history. Jerry Butler made one of the greatest catches in Clemson history with his 20-yard touchdown with less than a minute to play to give the Tigers a thrilling 31-27 win.

I was there in 1980 when Willie Underwood intercepted two passes including one he returned for a touchdown as Clemson shocked the 14th-ranked Gamecocks.

I don't think I will ever see as many oranges than what we saw rolling across the astroturf field in Columbia when Rod McSwain blocked the punt in 1981.

I loved Rodney's revenge in 1988 when the Tigers sent him out a winner with the 29-10 victory.

Perhaps the most physically dominant I have seen either team was Clemson's 45-0 win in 1989 in Columbia.

I was there when Emory Smith carried Gamecock defenders in the 1995 win.

I really enjoyed the Chickens' 0-11 season in 1999 and the Rod Gardner win in 2000. Mark Bucholtz's kick in 2007 was sweet. So was watching Deshaun Watson's heroics on one leg in 2014.

This series has seen orange britches and "No Cigar Today" t-shirts. It has given us fights and one liners. What other rivalry could feature oranges and Zero candy bars thrown on the field?

I feel like I have seen almost everything in this rivalry, but the last two years have given us a few things I thought I would have never seen. Last year Clemson was a 20-point favorite. This year its up to about 23-24 points. I would have never believed one team would be favored by that margin.

Last year about 35,000-40,000 Tiger fans took over Williams-Brice Stadium. This year I expect fewer Gamecock fans on the stands than we have seen in many years and maybe ever.

I love this rivalry, but boy I really love how it has been the last two years. Here's to adding another happy chapter Saturday night.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

src="https://2cic.b-cdn.net/t/ads/plyler/allstate_logo.gif" border=0>

border=0>

Prayer List

The prayer list is a medium for our community to recognize those that are in need. If you would like to add someone to the list, please email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com. Please let me know when it is appropriate to remove a person off the list.

Those who need our prayers include: Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got Igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S., Daniel Rosborough, the Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L., Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys," Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas V. family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers, Julie Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll, Brandon Thompson, Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders, Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Amanda Peake, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, the Sturkey family, the Lance family, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Jonathan and Jacki Sullins, Peter Laboy, Elizabeth Galloway and family, Anita McDonald, Willard Harryman, Liz Surratt, Molly Senn, Jackie Shearer, Richard Sellers, Tim Drisdelle, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, Jack Cunningham, Mia Daughtery, Tee Senn, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Sean Rowell, George Parker, Levon Kirkland and family, Catherine Sewell, Randy Davenport, David Vaughn, Keith Dalton, B.T., Bill Hilbig, Rita Elrod Hammond and family, Jim McKeller, Tony Alewine, Sharon Storck, Dick Baird, Richard Bagnal, Dustin and Brittany Peurifoy, Jan Allan, Gregg and Sylvia Lewis, Travis Hamrick, Kaki Harmon, Jammie McKellar and babies, Karen Edwards, Jackson Lindsey, Cathy Hutson Gregg, Kristin Heckman, Jennifer Johnson, Lyndsie Johnson, Emily Davis, Hayes Davis, Judy Towe, Johnny Towe, Ken Brown, Elaine Brown, Rhonda Thompson, Tim Davis, Jacob Greinke, Jack Finley, Richard and Clara Crawford, Israel, Frankie Allen, Bobby Allen, the Wessinger family, the Parsons family, Todd Price and family, Rosemary A Flynn, Dr. Mickey Shealy family, Mr. Gillespie, Bobbi Nicholson, Dr. Matt Stower, Tyler Kemmerlin, Parks Hutto, Patrick DeStefano, Robert Summerville, Michelle Richey, Julie Moore, Ashley Fitch, Drew Moyer, Kevin Anderson, Lyn Price, John Robert Smith, Allison Williams, Nicholas Wickiser, Hammond Family, Elaine G. Duvall, Addison Grace, Bennie Cunningham, Kevin Orcutt, Alan Finley, Keith Wells, Steve Byrd, Jessica Hernandez, Wayne Mullins, Rita Alexander, Tony Osterman, family and friends of Gary Cooper, Derk Denton, Tim Vacek, Mike Vacek, Jerry Brown, Phil Compton, Alma Jean Sullivan, Lindsey Motley, Riley Cook, Dwayne Wood, Eileen Thomas, Larry Nimmons and Family, Chrissy Adams, Annie Gregory, Amy Black, Will Black, Sam Smith, Dixon Family, James Skalski, Joe Lazorik, Frances Bell and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.