Spurrier fled before imminent Clemson-USC rout

CLEMSON — The golden age of the Palmetto Bowl was more like a golden flash.

Seems like a lifetime ago when rivals Clemson and South Carolina met with more than bragging rights on the line. When both teams were chasing a tenth win. When both teams were chasing the Top 10. When folks outside the state’s borders actually cared about the game.

The rivalry was on its way to becoming an annual blockbuster. Two years later, the game is shaping up to be a snoozer.

Clemson is amid a dream season. South Carolina is stuck in a nightmare.

Since its last loss to South Carolina in 2013, Clemson has won 22 of its last 25 games. That includes wins against Ohio State, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Florida State. It also includes the drubbing of Wake Forest on Saturday. Clemson has ascended to No. 1 in the College Football Playoff standings. It will face North Carolina on Dec. 5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

Since its last victory against Clemson in 2013, Carolina has compiled an 11-14 record. It has been ranked in merely six of the last 27 Associated Press polls. It has won four of its last 16 Southeastern Conference games. On Saturday, it fell to Southern Conference co-champion The Citadel.

While Clemson celebrated its third 11-win season in the last four years, Carolina lamented its first non-conference home loss since 2007. Five years ago, on that same field, the Gamecocks defeated Alabama and dethroned the No. 1 team in the nation.

If there was any doubt before Saturday, the loss to The Citadel should dispel it. No one should expect the No. 1 team to fall in Columbia this year.

The worst part about Carolina’s embarrassing loss is that interim coach Shawn Elliott was the one at the podium answering questions about it. Not Steve Spurrier.

Spurrier should have been there to explain why this program has plummeted so rapidly. And Spurrier should be there next weekend, when Clemson arrives with bad intentions.

Consider the opposite ends of the spectrum these teams have reached through the last two seasons. Consider the larger spoils Clemson is pursuing. As sad as it sounds, at least this year, the Palmetto Bowl is not a rivalry.

It is simply a formality. A predictable pasting. A foregone contusion.

And Spurrier should be on the sideline to endure every agonizing play of it.

Yet, on Oct. 13, Spurrier officially announced his resignation. He cited his weariness and a desire to give the program a head start on finding his replacement.

Then, it was acceptable, considering all Spurrier had achieved for the program — three 11-win seasons, a five-game winning streak against Clemson, a division championship, immaculate facilities. Then, it was believable, because we could picture Spurrier pacing at practices tired, frustrated and admittedly overwhelmed.

Now, it is laughable, because we can picture Spurrier sitting calmly in a recliner while the program he left behind suffers through a four-game losing streak with a rivalry rout apparently forthcoming. Now, it is deplorable, because we can see Frank Beamer announce his plans to retire from Virginia Tech then gracefully commit to closing the season with his team.

Beamer was carried off the field after his last home game Saturday, despite Virginia Tech’s loss. Spurrier did not give USC the chance to carry him off the field. He ran away from it. He ran away from the impending poundings. He ran away from the criticism that would accompany them.

He thrust Elliott into a no-win situation. OK, a one-win situation. Still, the four losses Carolina has suffered since Spurrier’s departure will stick on Elliott’s career record. They belong to Spurrier.

He hired this staff. He appointed the recruiting coordinator. He assigned the play-callers.

Spurrier should be the one explaining how a program that compiled three 11-win seasons cannot muster 11 wins through its next two seasons combined. Spurrier should be the one explaining the discrepancy of fortunes between USC and Clemson. Spurrier should be the one explaining Carolina’s recruiting miscues, including the whiff on quarterback Mason Rudolph.

A Rock Hill native, Rudolph led Oklahoma State to a 10-0 start this season while averaging 316.1 passing yards per game. During that same span, Carolina averaged 350.6 yards of total offense.

Earlier this week, Rudolph told FoxSports.com he would have considered signing with USC. However, Spurrier never gave him the chance. Rudolph attracted scholarship offers from SEC programs LSU and Ole Miss, but not from Carolina.

Wonder why Clemson coach Dabo Swinney does not get the same heat for passing on Rudolph? Well, this Deshaun Watson guy they signed instead is a pretty good alternative.

No one is bothered that Clemson let Gaffney receiver Quinshad Davis escape to North Carolina, because Clemson signed Artavis Scott, Deon Cain and Ray Ray McCloud. No one is bothered that Clemson let Pendleton defensive tackle Michael Hill leave its front yard to sign with Ohio State, because Clemson has Christian Wilkins and Scott Pagano.

South Carolina does not have any alternatives. And that is why it presumably does not have any chance against Clemson.

The man primarily responsible for that demise is not around to accept it. Spurrier exposed Carolina to this illness. He should be there against Clemson to take his medicine.

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