Museum Event Remembers Tigers vs. Gamecocks Football
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Veteran Sports Journalist Cobb Oxford put together a team of experts to discuss the history of the Clemson vs. South Carolina Football rivalry recently at the Anderson County Museum.
The Clemson-South Carolina football rivalry is memorable for its depth of tradition, wild stories, and impact on generations of South Carolinians. The annual contest is not simply a game — it’s a day when lines are drawn, allegiances are reaffirmed, and the entire state stops to watch history unfold.
The panel included Tim Bourret, former Clemson Sports Information Director and considered by many to be a walking encyclopedia of Clemson football, Filmmaker Chris White, writer and producer of the documentary “Bragging Rites: The Carolina-Clemson Rivalry,” and Veteran Sports Journalist Rudy Jones.
The Clemson vs. South Carolina football rivalry, known as the Palmetto Bowl, is one of the oldest and fiercest rivalries in college athletics, shaping local identity since 1896. Rooted in more than a century of cross-state tension, power struggles between public flagship universities, and palpable school and civic pride, the annual matchup has become the most important sporting event in South Carolina and a defining tradition for fans of both the Tigers and the Gamecocks.
Origins and Traditions
The rivalry began with the first football game in 1896, scheduled around the South Carolina State Fair in Columbia — a game that marked the start of the “Big Thursday” era, when the schools met every year at the fairgrounds, stoking the competitive spirit and drawing thousands of spectators. The 1902 contest, in particular, erupted into a postgame riot after South Carolina’s upset win, leading to a seven-year suspension of the series and the birth of the Gamecock mascot and the Tiger Burn tradition, which endures today.
Uninterrupted Streak and Modern Era
From 1909 to 2019, Clemson and South Carolina faced off every season without interruption, the second-longest continuous rivalry in major college football until the pandemic-forced pause in 2020. In 1960, the matchup shifted from the fairgrounds to a home-and-home format, alternating between the universities, enhancing the atmosphere and deepening attachment for both communities.
Comparisons and Significance
Like Alabama–Auburn, Clemson–Carolina is an intense in-state rivalry, but unlike most, the schools compete in different top conferences: Clemson in the ACC, South Carolina in the SEC. Legislative action from the state in 1952 guaranteed the rivalry’s annual renewal, cementing its role in South Carolina’s sporting culture. Since 2014, the game has been officially dubbed the Palmetto Bowl, with a trophy awarded to the winner.
Series Record and Recent History
Clemson leads the all-time series 73–44–4 and has dominated most recent meetings, though South Carolina won the latest game in dramatic fashion, keeping hopes alive for a College Football Playoff spot. Historic victories, legendary pranks, coaching controversies, riotous fan behavior, and star athletes have all contributed to an ongoing saga that turns late November into a statewide event, drawing families and alumni back to campus, and infusing every tailgate with passion and tradition.
Since 1983 the award-winning Anderson County Museum has been the custodian of local and regional history, with the goal of preserving and interpreting artifacts that document the history of Anderson County and South Carolina for present and future generations. The museum seeks to contribute significantly to the intellectual landscape of Anderson County through our exhibits and programs throuhg education and providing an environment for the community and visitors alike to explore, discover and enjoy history.
