Clemson's Biggest Villain Stalled Dabo Swinney's Success

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The Clemson Tigers have a fairly favorable ACC schedule, but its non-conference schedule could be an impediment to Dabo Swinney returning to the College Football Playoff. 

The Tigers’ toughest conference games will come against Miami and Virginia Tech. Clemson will begin the regular season against LSU and finish the campaign in the "Palmetto Series" against South Carolina.

Swinney had early success against the Gamecocks as a head coach, defeating them 31-14 in 2008. But he struggled during his initial seasons as the full-time head coach, losing five straight to Steve Spurrier between 2009 and 2013.

The Tigers were ranked in four of the contests, including No. 6 in 2013 when they lost 31-17 to No. 10 South Carolina.

ESPN named Spurrier as Clemson's greatest archenemy, as he stalled the momentum Swinney brought to the Tigers early in his tenure.

"Eventually, Dabo Swinney and Clemson overcame the Spurrier bugaboo, but from 2009 through 2013, the Tigers made it an annual tradition: arrive at the Palmetto Bowl with a high ranking and big expectations, only for Spurrier and South Carolina to deliver a devastating blow," wrote David Hale.

"That Spurrier and Swinney were friendly off the field never mattered. Swinney's biggest gift in those early years was his ability to turn the perfect quote to thrill fans, but Spurrier managed to undercut even that, turning those brutal Clemson losses into an offseason of cutting — and hilarious — jokes that only added salt to the Tigers' wounds." 

Since that loss in 2013, Clemson has won nine of its last 11 meetings against South Carolina. Swinney was able to earn one win against Spurrier's Gamecocks before the legendary coach resigned in October of the 2015 season.

Interim head coach Shawn Elliott nearly pulled an upset of Clemson in 2015, losing 37-32.

Swinney won't have to worry about coaching against Spurrier this season, but the final contest of the season against South Carolina could have a similar meaning for Clemson.

A win or loss in that game could determine if Swinney's unique approach this offseason was enough to keep his team in CFP contention, or if he's losing his fastball like Spurrier did in 2014.

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