Clemson’s Rough Start Sparks Celebration Among Gamecock Fans
Clemson’s rocky beginning to the 2025 season has reached a level not seen in years, and South Carolina fans are relishing every moment of it. On Saturday afternoon, the Tigers fell 34-21 to Syracuse at Death Valley, dropping to 1-3—the worst start under head coach Dabo Swinney. For a team that once built its identity around being nearly unbeatable at home, the struggles have turned into a spectacle for their in-state rivals.
Gamecock fans wasted no time piling on. The taunts came quickly, with one familiar jab resurfacing: “Clemsoning is back!” Social media lit up with memes and throwbacks to the old reputation that Clemson had for faltering in big moments.
The back-to-back defeats to Georgia Tech and Syracuse have fueled questions about the cracks forming in Swinney’s program. For South Carolina supporters, who endured years of Clemson’s playoff dominance, the Tigers’ current slide is a rare opportunity to enjoy the upper hand—at least off the field.
Of course, the Gamecocks still face their own challenges this season. But Clemson’s early collapse has injected new energy into the rivalry, reminding fans that dynasties don’t last forever and momentum can shift quickly.
There’s still a long way to go before South Carolina and Clemson meet in the Palmetto Bowl, but for now, Gamecock fans are savoring the sight of their rivals stumbling—and they’re making sure not to waste the chance for some classic garnet-and-black gloating.
