For those who think Clemson does not emphasize the importance of beating rival South Carolina, they are wrong.
Coaches and players alike expressed their displeasure for their in-state rival on Monday as second-ranked Clemson gets set to host the Gamecocks Saturday (7 p.m.) at Death Valley.
“It’s a different feeling,” linebacker Shaq Smith said. “It’s not like this every week in college football, when you’re running into the locker room and people are spitting on you and throwing stuff on you. There might be some hatred in their blood down there, but the feelings are mutual. It’s a big game.