When University of South Carolina President-Elect Robert Caslen held his first press conference to introduce himself to faculty and students, he also made a chilling offer to the athletes.
Robert Caslen, the President-Elect of the University of South Carolina, and former superintendent and president of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, offered ice cream to all athletic teams that beat Clemson during the school year.
“I told the board of trustees, and I just told the students,” he said during his introductory press conference on July 22. “Whatever team beats Clemson, whether it’s the debate team, whether it’s a club team or whether it’s the football team, they’re invited to my house for an ice cream sundae social.”
Caslen also said, “We’re going to start learning how to beat Clemson.”
But the Gamecocks have beaten Clemson. They actually have the Palmetto Series trophy and have possessed it the past four years.
The Palmetto Series trophy is awarded to the school that generates winning points from team GPAs, the annual blood drive and the sports listed here from the Palmetto Series website.
Baseball
Basketball (men’s and women’s)
Cross Country (women’s)
Diving (women’s)
Football
Golf (men’s and women’s)
Soccer (men’s and women’s)
Tennis (men’s and women’s)
Volleyball
Caslen must have major sports baseball, basketball and football on his mind.
The Clemson men have streaks of three and five in basketball and football, respectively and a baseball series streak of four was halted last season.
Once upon a time, four years ago, although it seems like ages, Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney offered a pizza party to his team and fans. It was a way to celebrate making the 2015 College Football Playoffs Final Four and also show how insignificant any prior standings were for his highly ranked team.
The Tigers finished No. 1 in the playoffs poll followed by Alabama, Michigan State and their opponent Oklahoma. Clemson lost 45-40 in the national title game to Alabama and the rest is history.
USC hopes to accept Caslen’s offer on Nov. 30 by defeating Clemson and ending the five-game losing skid to the three-time national champs.
In his preseason football camp press conference on Thursday, South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp was asked about the ice cream party by Ryan Cook of WLTX.
“I don’t know if you heard, but I know he said if USC or if any team beats Clemson, they will get an ice cream party.”
Muschamp quickly responded. “I like chocolate chip.”
Dabo’s pizza party received some derision from SEC media, so a Muschamp Palmetto Bowl win celebration, although he isn’t the party planner, will likely draw a few jeers as the game nears.
Wait are we making fun of Dabo for throwing a giant free pizza party? pic.twitter.com/pMT8eqr7Fu
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) December 31, 2015
A few signs and lots of dialogue referencing the ice cream party, and Muschamp’s flavor of the month can be expected in Columbia on November 30.