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Carolii Rivalry t USC-Clem Date: Nove Place: Willi. /r /i a Tickets: Sold Series Record: cierr Season Records: (JSC x_ . ..* * r^lnci Ii television: Caro By Willie T. Smith III Gamccock St*H Writer For the first time in history USC and Clemson are both going to post season bowl games which makes the Nov. 24th Carolina-Clemson / game more interesting man ever. ? Coach Danny Ford in his first c full year as a head coach has led t the Tigers to an 8-2 record and a c Peach Bowl bid, despite the t graduation of several standout t players. t Saturday's contest marks the 1 77th meeting between the two r schools, uiemson currently noias a 44-29-3 advantage. In last year's game, the Tigers won 41-23 at Death Valley. The Gamecocks last win was a 56-20 victory in 1975 in Columbia. THE TIGERS COME to town riding on the wave of a three game winning streak. Their most recent victory was a 16-10 triumph over Notre Dame in South Bend. The Tigers are currently ranked 13th in the nation. The strength of the Tiger team this season has been their defense. They currently rank sixth in the For the 19 seniors on USC's football team, the most important game of their careers will take place this Saturday. Not only is it their final game in oa 1: L..A ? ~ wiuiaiiis-Drice oiauiurn, uui mure important, it represents their last chance to defeat a Clemson team during their stay at Carolina. Not since 1975 has USC defeated its hated rivals from upstate. Ho tAort, PVHHI la-Cle akes on r son facts imber 24 ims-Brice Stadium 106) 1:30 p.m. Out ison leads 44-29-3 (7-3) Clemson (9-2 3d circuit at lina Coliseum nation in total defense, third scoring defense, and eighth rushing defense. The defense is led by senior A American candidates Jim Stucki ina DUDoa crown. Drown, wno roach Jim Carlen calls "possib he best college linebacker in tl rountry," leads the team with 1 ackles. Three times he h ackled the opposition for a los wice he has caused a fumble, ai le has one interception which I eturned for 47 yardis. Stuckey is third on the te tackling list with a total of fifteen of them for a loss of y dage. THE TIGERS ALSO h several other defensive stando Among them are linebacker , Davis, tackle Steve Durh; defensive backs Eddie Geath Rex Varn, Willie Underwood, Terry Kinard. Geathers, Da and Kinard are tied for the t lead in interceptions with th apiece. That year, the Gamecocks w headed for the Tangerine B< and behind Jeff Grantz, K< Long and Clarence Willia defeated Clemson 56-20. Si then, Carolina fans have had 1 to cheer about in the annual cl between the two schools. IN 1976, USC came into the g< with a 6-4 record and a Peach E invitation on the line. The Ti| , .v. r "fiki ^ ,1 $ Hexr ygM f mson iew meaning in i Clemson runs out of the "I" formation on offense, with quarterback Billy Lott as the leader. Lott has connected on 59 of 119 passes this year for 776 yards. He is also fourth on the team rushing - - El list with 438 yards. Marvin Sims and Tracey Perry man the fullback slot, while Lester Brown < and Chuck McSwain split the L duties at tailback. HOb| i The receiving corps is strong ^ ' with sophomores Perry Tuttle and W Jerry Gaillard at the wide receiver positions. Tuttle has 25 receptions, four for touchdowns. Gaillard has flgp, hJ hauled in 13 passes this year. HPVmJ . Senior Mark Clifford starts at the J tight end position. 11- THE KICKING game is one of |nE^m| ay the team's strong points, m Placekieker Obed Arriri who ly doubles as a member of the soccer tie team, is 12 for 18 in field goal at26 tempts and 13 for 14 in PATS, for a as team leading 49 points. David Sims HlpfllP"' >s, handles the punting chores. He is i nd currently kicking for a 44.4 yard vhe average, which is third best in the ' am "Clemson is one of the top 10 ^ 82, teams in the country," USC coach ar- Jim Carlen said. "They have made a vast amount of improvement this wa3 '? season on offense and they have an ';C-* excellent defense. Danny Ford and his staff have done a good coaching ave j?b. We will have to play our best y uts. game since I've been here to have .1 Jeff a chance to beat them." HHHH ers, and This will be the first time both C/emson vis, teams will enter the game listed in (JSC's Al iam the top 20 and they also have the iree mosl combined victories (15) ever . mee going into the contest. Airport H I The only gai | seniors she on the other hand, were suffering LAST YF through a dismal season. They stronger tha 'ere entered the coniest with a 2-4>-2 their secon )wl, Bowl appea ?vin | _ Valley, they ms, s'a^e and the knowledge that it lead and coa ince wou'd be coach Red Parker's final ltUe game as their coach. lash . S?,.turlda? be the best On that rainy day in Death a Carolina ime Valley, nothing went right for the so much, towl men in Garnet and Black as the ,prs T'^ers completely dominated them Danny F< * and won a 28-9 verdict. won three | neaaea ioi The following season, the roles Atlanta wi were reversed. Clemson was 6-3-1 ?wn v,cl01 and hoping for a post-season in- Carolina a B vitation while the Gamecocks had teams tna m run into some mid-season injuries (jamecocKj ? and slipped to a 5-5 record. F Jim Ci In one of the most exciting however is games in the 77-year history of the comp is in (tft rivalry, the Tigers were once again JJ."" , victorious. In front of a regional .1 a television audience and 56,410 ciose oui paying customers, USC fought season in knnb r. rtA i\ 1 ~ I ~ ?U~ Win. uuv.i\ IIUIII a if-v ut'lltll idiv ill lilt: third quarter to take a 27-24 lead with just 1:48 to play. . , y * magical ei easy one. Bui an unbelievable 20-yard ranked in touchdown paSs from Steve Fuller against th< did the Gamecocks in and sealed a offensive 31-27 defeat. Trophy car this year'1. -M * jCSlfcfc ^Rftii^Sgyji defensive tackle Jim Stuc f-American candidate Georg ts the Clemson Tigers. Stui igh School. _ *% ne that c mid be h !AK the Tigers were ^ec< in ever and headed for Koger d consecutive Gator this s rence. Back at Death succe built up a big half time sted to a 41-23 win. .. . Mond will Y 's meeting promises to since ever. Never before has have ? Clemson game meant diplon eout overe; jrd's Clemson team has Tigen ;ames in a row and are the Peach Bowl in Whi th an 8-2 record. They team, ripe nvpr hnth Mnrth Parlpr ind Notre Dame, two believ t have defeated the playe< ?. where hard t irlen's USC squad A I ? on the verge of ac- Hall < g something no other At 1 rnc n/i v TV. v-w. .V . I vopv ctory. Carolina would Decei its most productive they history with its eighth oppoi than Gam< IK ROAD toward that Foi r?u*u ...:M 11 ^^4 - ?11111 win win iiul iK* an couni Clemson's defense is have the top 10 nationally over ; run and USC's main ajov< weapon is Heisman Pr ididate George Hogers. Clem 5 classic Gamecock Staff Photo key will be out to stop e Rogers Saturday when zkey went to Columbia's rounts; appy ond in the nation in rushing, *s has run for over 1,400 yards eason. It is likely to be his ss or failure that determines itcome of the game, his weekly press conference ay, uarien saiu mai ms team lave to play their best game he has been at Carolina to i chance at winning. Being as natic as always, the USC h seems to have stimated the quality of the le Clemson is a good football they are not as awesome as 1 would like the media to e. Also, the game will be i here in Columbia this year, the Gamecocks are always obeat. JSC victory would make the r>f Fame Bowl people happy. east iney win nave one ctable team to play in their mber 29 "classic." As of now, ^ are having trouble finding an lent who has anything better a 6-5 record for the ecocks to play. r 19 football players and f lowc Atho** I TC/"* enniArc tn b<\ v/viiv/i vuv OUIIIWI O v> IIU never seen a Gamecock win Clemson, Saturday should he ousday. * ediction: Carolina 14. unn 19