The War of Words has already begun

The War of Words has already begun

It’s that time of the year again when coaches at Clemson and South Carolina hold their annual spring meetings with boosters and supporters while players express their opinions on a variety of subjects via social media or possibly through media outlets.
As everyone knows by now, as it usually goes this time of year, Clemson and South Carolina have already begun firing off at the mouth about who is the best and what is going to happen when the Tigers and Gamecocks tangle in Columbia on Nov. 28.
Of course it all started when South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier reportedly told USC boosters at a Carolina a few weeks back that if they had the No. 1 ranked defense in the country last year they would have won more than just the Russell Athletic Bowl.
As expected the Clemson faithful did not take too kind to that statement and took pleasure in reminding the Ol’ Ball Coach what that No. 1 ranked defense did to his team in Clemson.
The Clemson camp ultimately fired back this past weekend when quarterback Deshaun Watson said in a story written by USA Today’s Dan Wolken that Clemson will not lose to the Gamecocks as long as he is the quarterback.
“My high school coach was a big Clemson fan and I told him, as long as I’m the starting quarterback here, I’m not going to lose to South Carolina,” Watson said in the article. “It’s a big rivalry. Who wouldn’t want to play in that game?”
South Carolina junior college transfer Ulric Jones is looking forward to it. After seeing what Watson said, Jones took to twitter and wrote, “I’ll make sure to bust his ass! Mark my words.”
Those were strong words, and the way in which he said it, got the attention of Watson’s teammates, who were quick to show their quarterback they have his back.
Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson fired back on twitter, “Ulrich Jones haven’t made a play in college to be talking that nonsense.”
After receiving a few nasty notes from Clemson fans, Jones was not done. He later went onto write, “Maybe I should tweet my phone number so the upset fans can call me and cry like on social media. You Clemson people crack me up.”
Though Watson’s statement to USA Today offended Jones, it wasn’t the first time a player in this rivalry game made such a bold statement during the off-season. Former USC defensive end Jadeveon Clowney made a similar prediction in 2012 after beating Clemson, 27-17.
“I don’t know how it feels to lose to Clemson,” Clowney said at the time. “I’m not going to know how it feels either because we aren’t losing to them as long as I’m here.”
Clowney and the Gamecocks went on to win again in 2013, keeping his word as he finished his South Carolina career with a 3-0 record against the Tigers.
Can Watson do the same?
If he does, he will not be the first Clemson quarterback to do so. Steve Fuller, who also wore the No. 4 jersey and is considered by most to be the Tigers’ best quarterback of all-time, was 3-0 against the Gamecocks as the starting quarterback from 1976-‘78.
Homer Jordan, who led the Tigers to the 1981 National Championship, was also 3-0 against South Carolina in his career from 1980-’82, while DeChane Cameron was 2-0 as a starter against USC in 1990 and ’91.
But if he was to stay at Clemson all four years, and his words hold true, Watson could do something only one other quarterback on either side has done in the 112-year history of the rivalry. He possibly could go 4-0 in the big game.
Only Charlie Whitehurst, known as the chicken slayer by Clemson fans everywhere, has won all four games as the starting quarterback in the Clemson-Carolina Rivalry. Watson got off to a good start when, despite playing on a torn ACL, he completed 14 of 19 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for two more scores in the Tigers’ 35-17 victory this past year.
“Watching Clemson lose five straight times to South Carolina, playing in that game was something I wanted to do,” Watson said in Wolken’s article.
And now we will get to see if his words will ring true or will Jones do what he said. Either way, it should be a fun thing to watch in a rivalry that is always heated.
It’s that time of the year again when coaches at Clemson and South Carolina hold their annual spring meetings with boosters and supporters while players express their opinions on a variety of subjects via social media or possibly through media outlets. As everyone knows by now, as it usually goes this time of year, Clemson and South Carolina have already begun firing off at the mouth about who is the best and what is going to happen when the Tigers and Gamecocks tangle in Columbia on Nov. 28. Of course it all started when South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier reportedly told USC boosters at a Carolina a few weeks back that if they had the No. 1 ranked defense in the country last year they would have won more than just the Russell Athletic Bowl. As expected the Clemson faithful did not take too kind to that statement and took pleasure in reminding the Ol’ Ball Coach what that No. 1 ranked defense did to his team in Clemson. The Clemson camp ultimately fired back this past weekend when quarterback Deshaun Watson said in a story written by USA Today’s Dan Wolken that Clemson will not lose to the Gamecocks as long as he is the quarterback. “My high school coach was a big Clemson fan and I told him, as long as I’m the starting quarterback here, I’m not going to lose to South Carolina,” Watson said in the article. “It’s a big rivalry. Who wouldn’t want to play in that game?” South Carolina junior college transfer Ulric Jones is looking forward to it. After seeing what Watson said, Jones took to twitter and wrote, “I’ll make sure to bust his ass! Mark my words.” Those were strong words, and the way in which he said it, got the attention of Watson’s teammates, who were quick to show their quarterback they have his back. Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson fired back on twitter, “Ulrich Jones haven’t made a play in college to be talking that nonsense.” After receiving a few nasty notes from Clemson fans, Jones was not done. He later went onto write, “Maybe I should tweet my phone number so the upset fans can call me and cry like on social media. You Clemson people crack me up.” Though Watson’s statement to USA Today offended Jones, it wasn’t the first time a player in this rivalry game made such a bold statement during the off-season. Former USC defensive end Jadeveon Clowney made a similar prediction in 2012 after beating Clemson, 27-17. “I don’t know how it feels to lose to Clemson,” Clowney said at the time. “I’m not going to know how it feels either because we aren’t losing to them as long as I’m here.” Clowney and the Gamecocks went on to win again in 2013, keeping his word as he finished his South Carolina career with a 3-0 record against the Tigers. Can Watson do the same? If he does, he will not be…

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The War of Words has already begun
Source: The Clemson Insider