There will be a little something missing when Clemson plays South Carolina to end the regular season Nov. 28.
OK, a big something.
For the first time since he became head coach, Dabo Swinney will face someone other than Spurrier, who officially announced his resignation Tuesday. In their seven meetings, Spurrier held the upper hand in five -- though he ends his career with a loss in his final game against the Tigers.
But beyond the wins and losses, folks outside the state may best remember the war of words the two would get in to just about every season. Spurrier took great glee in poking fun at Swinney and Clemson at just about every turn. To his credit, Swinney would dish it right back, creating some unforgettable cracks about The real Death Valley, USC and Pluto (is it a planet yet?).
But their talk also brought a different dimension to the in-state rivalry, one that also coincided with the first time both programs had concurrent success. Between 2011-13, both teams were ranked in the Top 25.
Swinney told reporters in Clemson on Tuesday:
"Now all of a sudden, the national implications of that game changed drastically,” Swinney said. “Certainly with the personality of Coach Spurrier and the success he’s had in his career, I don’t think there’s any question it brought much more of a national audience to this rivalry. Now people are much more aware of it.”
Their rivalry never grew contentious, though. The two spoke Tuesday morning and Swinney wished him well. Before all the Spurrier talk was over, though, Swinney needed to get one last joke in.
Swinney said he would have to coach until he was 71, just to beat Spurrier one last time.
