Clemson football’s Rod Gardner became part of a group known as the “Gamecock killers” with an unbelievable catch to push the Tigers past South Carolina.
It’s simply known as “The Catch, Part II.”
Every day this week, as we head into the matchup with in-state rival South Carolina, we will have a feature on a “Gamecock killer.”
A “Gamecock killer” is a special kind of Clemson football player.
These particular athletes, no matter how their respective teams performed, remain an integral part of the folklore that resinates within the rivalry forever.
Today, we take a look at one of the most famous plays in the Palmetto Bowl’s history and it was delivered by Clemson football wide receiver Rod Gardner in the year 2000.
Let’s set the scene:
Trailing by 14-13 with less than 20 seconds remaining facing a 3rd down and 12, quarterback Woody Dantzler lined up in shotgun.
The Tigers hadn’t been able to move the ball very much all night against what was a very motivated South Carolina defense.
Dantzler rolled to the left and, as he faced pressure, threw the ball up for grabs back to the right.
What ensued next is one of the most argued about Thanksgiving conversations around the state of South Carolina.
Rod Gardner, the star wide receiver for Clemson football, made an unbelievable catch inside the South Carolina 10-yard line.
Aaron Hunt kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired and Clemson went on to beat the Gamecocks.
Every South Carolina fan will say that Rod Gardner pushed off. For whatever reason, no one ever wants to bring up the fact that the defensive back was holding him down the field.
Either way, it proved to be a Clemson football victory and, to this day, the name “Rod Gardner” haunts the Gamecock faithful to their very core.
That’s what it truly means to be a “Gamecock killer.”
Next: Clemson opens as two-score favorite over Gamecocks
Want to see more Gamecock killers? This one is second in our series. Check out the rest of them below!