Do you think the South Carolina Gamecocks fear playing Clemson at Death Valley?

If you were a Lamecock, would you welcome another chicken lickin’ like the Tigers have been doling out since Steve Spurrier left Columbia and retired?

Are millions of dollars in TV rights and ticket revenue worth that kind of humiliation to Ray Tanner, Will Muschamp and the rest of the South Carolina fan base?

Even if Clemson isn’t allowed to fill but half it’s seats, that 44,000 Tiger fans who would pay almost anything to be in the stands for another Gamecock thrashing.

That’s the kind of question that’s bound to ruffle South Carolina fans’ feathers. But it needs to be – even begs to be – asked and answered.

Breaking the string

Due to covid-19 caution, the Atlantic Coast and Southeastern Conferences had ordered their members to play only conference opponents. That meant no South Carolina-Clemson game this season.

That would end, at least for a singe season, a football rivalry and tradition of more than a century old. The ACC relented, probably due to pressure from Clemson and other teams.

The ACC said non-conference game must be played at home and all opponents must meet medical protocol requirements.

Clemson’s revised 2020 football schedule includes a Sept. 19 date against an unannounced non-ACC opponent.

Unfortunately for in-state fans, it can’t be the Gamecocks. The SEC’s newlyreleased schedule calls for teams to begin play Sept. 26. In addition, South Carolina has games filled for Clemson’s open dates.

Is the chance of lickin’ the chickens again worth it to Dabo Swinney and Clemson AD Dan Radakovich?

They have 2 open dates and a winning streak against every team on the Tigers’ schedule.

The Gamecocks and Tigers were originally to play each other Nov. 28, a date that’s open for both teams.

The ACC championship will not be decided until Dec. 12 or 19 in Charlotte.

All of this is academic if the SEC won’t change its mind and allow South Carolina and its other teams to play at least 1 opponent from another conference.

It looks now like the Tigers are on their way to another ACC championship.

They have long winning streaks against all the teams on their schedule: Wake Forest (11), Virginia (4), Miami (2), Georgia Tech (5), Syracuse (2), Boston College (9), Notre Dame (3), Florida State (5), Pittsburgh (1) and Virginia Tech (5).

We’ll expect to see what the SEC does this week.