Gamecocks Give Clemson a History Lesson, Advance to CWS Finals

by The Feathered Warrior on Jun 27, 2010 12:57 AM EDT in Baseball Comment 23 comments

"A wagon fulla Gamecocks? In the Champeenship? I'd like to see you try!"

That's what some people, including the author of this post, said when asked about the Gamecocks' chances of going to the College World Series. Ray Tanner & Co. answered all of the skeptics when they beat arch rival Clemson for the second time in as many days to advance to the College World Series finals. The Gamecocks will take on the UCLA Bruins beginning Monday for the right call themselves college baseball champions. More on that later. For now, let's enjoy this win.

Obviously, Gamecock fans don't need me to remind them that USC's 2010 run in the CWS closely mirrors that of 2002. In both instances Carolina came out of the loser's bracket to take two games from Clemson and advance to the championship. What some people might have forgotten, though, is that USC lost the regular season series to the Tigers in 2002 just like they did this season. With Saturday's win the Gamecocks can officially claim the season series versus Clemson. A few quick notes for you:

2010's games with the Tigers proved to be a good bit closer than 2002. Each contest was decided by a one-run margin whereas USC walked over Clemson with relative ease in 2002.

South Carolina's all-time NCAA Tournament record is now 101-56. The Gamecocks improved to 21-16 at the College World Series. Saturday's win also ensures that USC will win more games than it loses in five of its nine appearances in the CWS.

One last note. Honestly, losing in embarrassing fashion to your arch rival TWICE on a national stage for the right to play for a championship is a pretty harsh fate to wish upon anyone, but it couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of fans. For a fan base that used to call themselves the Country Gentlemen (sic), they sure have a knack for making themselves appear like inbred, degenerate yokels.

Go 'Cocks!

Poll

SB Nation has been cracking down on its authors using unlicensed pictures for our posts. Accordingly, allow me to paint you a picture using my imagination brush. Vote below on the picture you would have liked me to post.

Gamecocks celebrating. The garnet and black are awash in high-5's and fist bumps. Michael Roth can be seen in the background still pumping strikes over the plate "just for the heck of it."

14 votes

Clemson fan crying. He's wearing a trucker hat emblazened with "IPTAY" and a t-shirt that says "Git-R-Done." Wife in tow is similarly clad in jean shorts and a rinestone-studded t-shirt declaring herself a "Pawn Star."

28 votes

Clemson hat stack. In the background Jack Leggitt can be seen in the dugout, reading Curious George.

4 votes

The Avatar Spirit Stick...being swung by Jackie Bradley, Jr... in the direction of Clemson fans... as they run for their lives.

12 votes

A giant flaming pile of dog excrement atop a Clemson baseball hat. No further explanation needed.

10 votes

68 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I wonder if we'll see Leonardo Dicaprio in the stands on Monday?

I hear he picked up a new USC CWS hat for the occasion.

by Cocky, Esq. on Jun 27, 2010 1:38 AM EDT reply actions

Lawd, oh lawd ...

Why? Why does it have to be baseball? Out of all the sports we could’ve gotten to a national championship game playing … baseball? Should I seriously watch such a long mind-numbing sport just to see our Gamecocks win at something? I … I … I can’t think right now. My head hurts. I am going to have to give this some serious thought later. Pray for me.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Jun 27, 2010 12:11 PM EDT reply actions

Hey, at least it isn't soccer...

Dum spiro spero - "While I breathe, I hope"
State motto of South Carolina

by The Feathered Warrior on Jun 27, 2010 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

True 'nuf.

Although, as much as I dislike watching soccer, I’d still rather watch that than baseball. I think only racing, or a baseball-like game such as softball or cricket, is more boring. That’s just my opinion. If football season doesn’t start soon, I’m gonna FREAK OUT!

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Jun 27, 2010 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm actually a really big fan of both soccer and baseball.

Those were the two sports I played growing up, but I understand that the majority of the public finds the boring – at least on some level. Football reigns supreme, but if you can’t get excited about South Carolina winning a national championship in baseball, you’re not alive. Check your pulse, man!

Agreed on NASCAR, though. I’m still mad at ESPN for trying to cram it down my throat for the better part of a decade now.

Dum spiro spero - "While I breathe, I hope"
State motto of South Carolina

by The Feathered Warrior on Jun 27, 2010 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

baseball

is a perfectly enjoyable sport… if you sat down and watched it you would realize that (especially college baseball)

by Gamecockrock on Jun 27, 2010 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I used to play it, and I still thought it was boring. To each his own I suppose.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Jun 27, 2010 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

i use to play also

but if any USC sport deserves the following of the great Gamecock Nation, it is our Baseball team… they are the only ones who win shit for us.

by Gamecockrock on Jun 27, 2010 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

congratulations…if there is a next time, maybe you can do it without the usual name calling. but when you haven’t won shit in 100+ years…

Clemson Sports Analysis and Insight
www.shakinthesouthland.com

by FIGUREFOUR on Jun 27, 2010 12:49 PM EDT reply actions

We won at something 100 years ago?

No one told me. Man, I’m always the last to hear about everything.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Jun 27, 2010 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

lmao

typical clemson fan… your team loses so you gotta TRY to trash talk about the team that beat yall celebrating.

by Gamecockrock on Jun 27, 2010 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

What ammuses me is how much they were advocating cheating in the Clemson game thread.

They kept saying that their players should lean and intentionally get hit. To me that is horrible, no one should advocate blatant cheating at any sport no matter the game or the rivalry.

by Jalakin on Jun 27, 2010 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

yes i know...

i commented back to that idiot who was saying that; his respons to me….. whats the difference between leaning and not leaning into it.

by Gamecockrock on Jun 27, 2010 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

The "usual" name calling?

Not sure which blog you’ve been following, but we keep it pretty civil around here. I wish that you would extend us the same courtesy when we visit your site.

Anyways, to me, my jab seems pretty tame compared to the borderline homophobia and animal cruelty I linked to. I suggest you get your own house in order before coming over here to lecture me on good sportsmanship. But that’s not really an excuse, either. Please believe me when I say that it was a lapse in judgement on my part. I offer my sincere apology.

I am sorry.

Hence forth perhaps we can treat eachother with an appropriate level of respect?

Dum spiro spero - "While I breathe, I hope"
State motto of South Carolina

by The Feathered Warrior on Jun 27, 2010 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

“inbred, degenerate, yokels”…Pure Class

Clemson Sports Analysis and Insight
www.shakinthesouthland.com

by FIGUREFOUR on Jun 27, 2010 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions

hey son

you cant handle the most heated rivalry in college sports, maybe you should get outta the kitchen.

by Gamecockrock on Jun 27, 2010 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions

first off, I am not your son, so please refrain from making that mistake again.

I have no issue with the jabbing, only linking our site to inbred, degenerate etc…

Clemson Sports Analysis and Insight
www.shakinthesouthland.com

by FIGUREFOUR on Jun 27, 2010 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions

and besides...

you Clemson fans supposedly do not give a damn about what we say.

by Gamecockrock on Jun 27, 2010 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Probably a little bitterness from the loss. We have always gotten along well and we could both use a good ribbing every now and again.

Point of the matter is, we lost, you guys won, congrats. Unfortunately, this is the end of legit trash talking until the fall. I am HOPING I will be in a better position to fire back this fall.

—ff

Clemson Sports Analysis and Insight
www.shakinthesouthland.com

by FIGUREFOUR on Jun 27, 2010 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Uh ... I wouldn't count on it.

You all lost your two biggest playmakers, Spiller and Ford. USC is still in good shape, and only improving. They lost Norwood, but they always recruit well so I have no doubt he’ll be replaced. They lost way more great players after 2008, and seemed to only improve in 2009.

I think this rivalry is way too heated though. There’s a difference between a typical rivalry and flat out hatred for the other team and their fans. I think USC/Clemson is too far towards the hatred thing, and that’s not good.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Jun 28, 2010 3:36 AM EDT up reply actions

FF...

I think we usually keep it pretty civil around here, and I’ve certainly seen a fair share of trash talking over at STS. I apologize if you took anything the wrong way—you’re def. cool and are always welcome here—but at the same time, this is rivalry and this was a pretty huge win for us.

Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.

by Gamecock Man on Jun 28, 2010 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions