Bowden sees South Carolina's edge

Wonder who's got the edge in the Clemson-South Carolina game this week? If you listen to Tigers' coach Tommy Bowden, it's all Gamecocks.

From Steve Spurrier's golf skills and hair color to team momentum and coordinator pedigrees, Bowden thinks No. 19 South Carolina has nearly every advantage heading into the state rivalry Saturday.

So why bother to show up at Williams-Brice Stadium?

"Say what you want, I didn't make those up," Bowden said Tuesday. "Why do you play the game? It's a rivalry."

And one that Bowden's on the winning side of since he's arrived in Clemson seven seasons ago. Bowden went 5-1 vs. one Hall of Famer in coach Lou Holtz's six seasons with the Gamecocks. Now, South Carolina is led by Spurrier, who routinely tore apart opposing defenses during his 12 seasons as Florida's coach.

"There's a new sheriff in town," Bowden said. "And he's shooting different bullets."

Bowden painted a bleak picture for Clemson's chance to continue its successful run over the Gamecocks.

- South Carolina has an all-star on defense in all-Southeastern Conference safety Ko Simpson; the Tigers have no all-conference performers coming into the year.

- South Carolina's offensive playcaller (Spurrier) has won six SEC titles and a national championship; Clemson's coordinator, Rob Spence, has a Mid-American Conference crown to his credit.

- South Carolina has the momentum of five straight wins, including over Tennessee and Florida; Clemson is riding a two-game streak after a 35-14 victory over Florida State last Saturday.

- South Carolina outrecruited Clemson last winter, according to some analysts, Bowden said, even with Spurrier's late start.

"I had my best one last year by far," Bowden said. "They hired him and he trumped it in four weeks."

Don't forget about Spurrier's Heisman Trophy won at Florida in 1966 and his success at about everything he's done. "He's tall, he's a good golfer, better looking than me, darker hair than I do," said Bowden, chuckling a bit.

When a questioner rattled off several statistical categories like scoring offense, total defense and turnover margin where Clemson ranked ahead of South Carolina nationally, Bowden chalked it up to the Gamecocks' Southeastern Conference being a stronger conference this season than Clemson's Atlantic Coast Conference.

"They're probably playing tougher conference (opponents) on a week to week basis," Bowden said. "Therefore have not had as much success as we've had."

Clemson quarterback Charlie Whitehurst says Bowden's not throwing in the towel, just keeping things light for their first game against Spurrier.

"He's having fun with it probably," Whitehurst said. "It'll definitely be a tough game for us."

Bowden has a healthy respect for Spurrier's offensive style. After Bowden was not retained as a Duke assistant by then-incoming coach Spurrier, Tommy's next employer, Alabama, told he could travel to a school to study and offensive system - without hesitation, Bowden chose Spurrier and his new Blue Devils' attack.

"We're probably playing the master of all masters in attacking personnel in the course of a game," Bowden said of his new state rival.

Spurrier wasn't putting much stock into Bowden's talk Tuesday. "You won't ever hear me talk like that," Spurrier said. "I would sort of say it should be a heck of a game and hopefully we can compete with those guys."

Spurrier says he's had good dealings with Bowden in the past and has respect for the Tigers.

Bowden says will all the pluses on South Carolina's side, he'll have to be extra vigilant about keeping the Tigers loose.

"Look at all the plusses they have," Bowden said. "They'll have every box checked" in their favor for this week's game.