Gamecocks crushed by Clemson, 30-0

The South Carolina Gamecocks got a whipping from the Clemson Tigers on Saturday in the Palmetto Bowl, taking a 23-0 shutout on the chin in Williams-Brice despite the energized effort they’d shown in recent weeks and a raucous crowd behind them.

Clemson opened the scoring on the game’s first possession, with quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei shaking off some poor pass attempts to scramble for 22 yards on a huge 3rd and long, which ultimately set up a 29-yard rushing score by tailback Will Shipley.

The Gamecocks, unfortunately, had no immediate answer on their first drive of the game, taking an early substitution penalty and then struggling to make things happen with quarterback Jason Brown under…