COLUMBIA --- Steve Spurrier isn't used to getting hit with a Gatorade bath after beating a rival team. Those dousings are supposed to be reserved for more special occasions, like a Southeastern Conference title or a national championship.
But there was the head ball coach, after his Gamecocks defeated No. 15 Clemson 34-17 on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium, getting wet thanks to Moe Brown and other South Carolina players.
The victory over South Carolina's archrival set off a raucous postgame celebration as Brown and other Gamecocks players rushed to the student section to slap hands and listen to chants of "U-S-C." The alma mater was followed by Celebration .
Spurrier justified his dunking by saying the Gamecocks (7-5) were Palmetto State champions, but he didn't look like he suffered any ill effects.
"We did win the state championship. For some reason, Moe Brown and one of the other guys hit me with a Gatorade bucket, although I think it was only water," said Spurrier, who led Florida to seven SEC titles and the national championship in 1996. "I said you're only supposed to do that if we ever win a championship around here. Then I started thinking we're the state champs. We are. We also beat S.C. State."
Indeed, it was a day for South Carolina to celebrate. Stephen Garcia threw three touchdown passes, Stephon Gilmore ran a variation of the popular wildcat formation to perfection, and the defense shut down Clemson's C.J. Spiller and its high-powered offense.
The victory was the first for South Carolina at home over Clemson since 2001, and just the third time at Williams-Brice Stadium in 22 years. It was South Carolina's largest margin of victory at home against Clemson since the 1975 team routed the Tigers 56-20. Clemson still leads the series with a mark of 65-38-4.
South Carolina started the day with a penalty on the opening kickoff, which gave Spiller a second chance to return the kick. The Heisman Trophy candidate raced 88 yards into the end zone for a touchdown to set an NCAA record, and the partisan crowd of 80,574 had to wonder if it would be business as usual for Clemson.
But the Tigers (8-4), who are headed for a showdown with Georgia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, never could get their offense on track. Quarterback Kyle Parker faced heavy pressure from South Carolina's defensive front, and he was hurried into completing just 22 of 42 attempts for 212 yards.
More importantly, Clemson turned the ball over three times (one interception and two fumbles), and those miscues led to 14 South Carolina points. South Carolina turned the ball over twice, but it did not surrender any points off them.
"Their guys just came out and played hard," said Spiller, who had a fumble in the second half. "When you're on the road, you can't turn the ball over."
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who beat the Gamecocks in his first meeting a year ago, agreed after seeing his team's six-game winning streak come to an end.
"We had the opportunity to get out to a fast start and create a lot of momentum for our football team and we just turned it over," he said. "When you're negative in the turnover margin, it's hard to win."
The Gamecocks surprised the Tigers with an effective rushing attack that netted 223 yards on 58 carries. Kenny Miles led South Carolina with 115 yards.
But it was the insertion of Gilmore, a freshman from Rock Hill, S.C., that spurred the Gamecocks. Normally a cornerback and punt returner, Spurrier inserted him at quarterback on South Carolina's second possession, and he led the team into position to tie the score at 7. After three rushes out of the wildcat formation, Gilmore dropped back to pass and found fellow freshman Alshon Jeffery for 39 yards to Clemson's 8. That set up Brian Maddox's 1-yard touchdown run.
"He wanted to run it, so I ran it," Gilmore said. "The offensive line blocked, and I was able to find some holes to run in."
Spurrier had been promising Gilmore a chance to play on offense, and he delivered in the 12th game of the season.
"The thing about Stephon is he can make guys miss," Spurrier said. "He needs to get the ball."
Gilmore didn't play on offense any more after that touchdown drive, but the score turned the momentum into South Carolina's favor. After DeVonte Holloman returned an interception to the Clemson 11, Garcia found tight end Weslye Saunders on a 9-yard touchdown pass. A 47-yard field goal by Spencer Lanning gave the Gamecocks a 17-7 lead at the half.
South Carolina added to its lead with Garcia's 14-yard touchdown pass to Tori Gurley in the third quarter, but Clemson didn't give up. After an exchange of field goals, Clemson pulled to 27-17 on Parker's 22-yard touchdown pass to Michael Palmer.
Clemson tried an onside kick, but Jeffery scooped up the ball and returned it 35 yards to the Clemson 4. On fourth and goal, Garcia found Saunders in the back of the end zone to seal the game with 1:06 to play.
Spurrier, who ruffled some feathers when he arrived in 2005 with his emphasis on winning an SEC title over beating Clemson, said the team would savor the victory and then begin preparations for its bowl game.
"I think sometimes we celebrate it too much," he said. "I think when Clemson beats us they don't celebrate it wildly. We'll try to enjoy the victory and celebrate that, but after that we'll move on to the next game."
Reach John Boyette at (706) 823-3337 or john.boyette@augustachronicle.com.
RIGHT AT HOME
YEAR -- WINNER -- SCORE
2009 -- South Carolina -- 34-17
2008 -- Clemson -- 31-14
2007 -- Clemson -- 23-21
2006 -- South Carolina -- 31-28
2005 -- Clemson -- 13-9
2004 -- Clemson -- 29-7
2003 -- Clemson -- 63-17
2002 -- Clemson -- 27-20
2001 -- South Carolina -- 20-15
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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uummm! that's really too bad. maybe the acc shouldn't have "champions"? i know in my sons peewee football league, they don't even keep score.
This was a typical Clemson / USC game. The record for the year doesn't ever seem to determine who shows up for this game. The USC defensive team has been pretty good all year, though inconsistent, and the USC offensive team has been pretty bad all year, and consistent. None of that made any difference against a good Clemson team. We got a little taste of what next year holds for the SEC. Wait 'til next year!!
The week off definitely helps USC. They finally changed up their offense some and Garcia finally started passing with some confidence. Had they done this earlier in the year they would have won some more games.