The South Carolina-Clemson rivalry is unlike any other, defined by a deep-seated passion and an almost tribal loyalty that can be jarring to outsiders. For those not from the Palmetto State, the intensity of the animosity between Gamecocks and Tigers fans is striking. Just ask Paul Mainieri, South Carolina’s first-year baseball coach, who moved to Columbia last summer with the goal of winning SEC titles and national championships. But he quickly learned there’s another, equally important objective: Beat Clemson.
“All anyone in this town talks about is playing Clemson,” Mainieri said after a recent win over Gardner-Webb. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m starting to think fans care more about how we do against Clemson than how we do in the SEC.” This sentiment echoes the experience of former South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier, who arrived in 2005 and was bombarded with the same message: “Beat Clemson.” Spurrier, who initially prioritized winning SEC titles, eventually came to understand the rivalry’s significance to fans, even if he personally valued conference success more.
Mainieri and Spurrier share more than just their South Carolina coaching connection. Both played at SEC schools (Mainieri at LSU, Spurrier at Florida), coached at their alma maters, won national championships, and took breaks from coaching before landing at South Carolina. Both also arrived with no prior ties to the state or the university, forcing them to navigate a rivalry that meant everything to fans but wasn’t their primary focus.
Spurrier, who inherited a team that had lost seven of its last eight games against Clemson, eventually turned the tide, finishing his tenure with a 6-4 record against the Tigers, including five straight wins from 2009-2013. Yet, even as he embraced the rivalry, Spurrier never lost sight of his ultimate goal: winning the SEC. “What I’ve learned at South Carolina is that our fans realize there’s more to life than winning the SEC championship,” Spurrier said in 2014. “But if you ask them, I can assure you a majority would say they’d rather beat Clemson than win the SEC. Personally, I’d rather win the SEC.”
For Mainieri, the challenge is balancing the importance of the Clemson series with the broader goals of the season. Former South Carolina baseball coach and athletic director Ray Tanner recently reminded Mainieri of the 2010 team, which lost two of three regular-season games to Clemson but went on to beat the Tigers twice in the College World Series. “I’m not downplaying the importance of these games—they’re very, very important,” Mainieri said. “But when these games are over, no matter the results, we’re going to have a lot of baseball left in this season.”
Mainieri’s approach is to treat every game and practice with equal importance, ensuring his team is prepared for the big moments without overemphasizing any single opponent. “I preach to our players that every game is important,” he said. “That way, when the big games roll around, you don’t have to try harder than you do every day.” It’s a delicate balance, but one that could define Mainieri’s tenure—and his legacy—at South Carolina.
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