CLEMSON, S.C. (FOX Carolina) — The legacy of former South Carolina quarterback Steve Taneyhill continues to resonate far beyond Columbia, touching fans, players and coaches across the Palmetto State and beyond.
Taneyhill passed away Monday morning at the age of 52. He led the Gamecocks from 1992 to 1995 and remains one of the most recognizable and influential figures in program history.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney reflected on his first encounter with Taneyhill in the early 1990s, recalling a recruiting visit to Alabama during Swinney’s junior year.
“I will never forget it,” Swinney said on Monday. “… He had that long hair. He had that long hair and all that swag and we’re all in there going, ‘Oh yeah, we ain’t getting him.’ We knew right then we ain’t getting him and sure enough we didn’t.”
Originally from Pennsylvania, Taneyhill ultimately chose South Carolina, a decision that helped shape a defining era of Gamecock football. Among his many accomplishments, he guided the program to its first-ever bowl victory in the Carquest Bowl following the 1994 season.
As tributes poured in, Swinney also spoke about Taneyhill beyond the helmet, sharing memories of their relationship later in life and offering heartfelt condolences to his family.
“As an assistant, I started going out on the road recruiting for Clemson, and he was a high school coach,” Swinney said. “So, I got to know him. And I really liked Steve. I mean, he was a really good guy. Huge personality. Very, very good football coach. And, man, I just… it really kind of took my breath away a little bit. But I prayed for his wife this morning because [Todd] Helms asked me to. And so, just, yeah, prayers with all the Taneyhill family, all the South Carolina people who loved him as a player. Because he’s one of the greats in this rivalry, for sure. And definitely left an impact with a lot of people and who he was. So, thankful that I got a chance to know him as well.”
Taneyhill’s influence on South Carolina football — and on one of college football’s most passionate rivalries — remains undeniable, cementing his place as a true Gamecock legend.
