1. The SC five-peat
Perhaps the most haunting experience for Clemson football fans under Dabo Swinney came during the five-year streak where the Tigers lost to South Carolina.
Steve Spurrier had Clemson’s number and the Tigers just couldn’t get over the hump and beat the Gamecocks.
Here’s a breakdown of those scores:
- 2009: 34-17
- 2010: 29-7
- 2011: 34-13
- 2012: 27-17
- 2013: 31-17
Clemson fans had to hear over and over from Gamecock fans about how great their program was and how the ‘SEC was the superior conference.’ It was the best five-year run in the history of the South Carolina football program and it was infuriating at times.
Even to this day, South Carolina fans brag about the five-peat. They still say things like ‘We’re 5-5 against Clemson in the last decade.’ They don’t realize that the current players weren’t even able to drive the last time the Gamecocks beat the Tigers. Or the fact that Clemson is 70-42-4 overall against South Carolina.
It just goes to show how frustrating this time period was for Clemson football fans. Remembering just how annoying many within that Gamecock fanbase were during that time period should make Tiger fans appreciate the success and victories that much more.