Another Clemson-South Carolina Regional, No Thanks!

As South Carolina knocked off Alabama today to advance in the SEC Tournament, I just shook my head.

Not that I cared about the Gamecocks beating the Crimson Tide. I did not have a dog in the fight.

The reason I shook my head is because I have a feeling what South Carolina’s win today might mean for next week. The Gamecocks’ win over ‘Bama likely sewed up a spot for them in next week’s NCAA Tournament.

As some of you know, D1 Baseball has projected Clemson to be the No. 6 national seed in the NCAAs, and they have the Gamecocks as the No. 3 seed in the Clemson Regional.

Personally, I hope it does not happen.

Why?

I am tired of the Clemson-South Carolina rivalry being decided in the postseason. It seems like the NCAA tries to pair these two up in a baseball regional more than any other two rivals.

I get it. The Clemson-South Carolina baseball rivalry is arguably the best in college baseball. People want to watch it. The fan bases pack out the stadiums. I get it.

However, the reason I do not like it is because it takes away from what happened in the regular season, where the outcomes are supposed to mean more.

Here is why I hate it so much.

The last time Clemson played in a College World Series was in 2010. The Tigers had their greatest postseason run in baseball that year.

They started it off by beating Auburn twice in the Auburn Regional, including two epic games in the championship round. They then battled Alabama in the Super Regional in Clemson.

The Crimson Tide won Game 1, while the Tigers destroyed Alabama in Game 2. Clemson had a big lead in Game 3 but had to hang on for dear life to advance to Omaha.

But they did.

In Omaha, the Tigers started things off by taking down top seeded Arizona. They then beat Oklahoma in the second game to advance to the winner’s bracket.

The Gamecocks also made it to Omaha that year and were on the same side of the bracket as Clemson in the College World Series. But South Carolina lost its first game to Oklahoma before eliminating Arizona in the second game.

They trailed the Sooners late in their elimination game, but found a way to come back, setting a showdown with the Tigers.

Clemson was in good shape. The Gamecocks would have to beat them twice to advance.

It seemed like a done deal for Clemson. The Tigers had already handled their business against the Gamecocks in the regular season, including a 19-6 series clinching win in Columbia.

However, Michael Roth and South Carolina did not pay attention to what happened in the regular season. Roth threw a three-hitter in a 5-1 Gamecocks’ win to force a decisive game with the winner going to the CWS Finals.

This was not the first time Clemson and South Carolina were meeting in the CWS semifinals. They also played against each other in the 2002 CWS and the Tigers needed just one win to advance that year too. However, the Gamecocks beat them twice (12-4 and 10-2) to advance.

It appeared the Tigers were going to have the upper hand in 2010, as they built a 3-1 lead through six innings. However, the Gamecocks rallied and beat Clemson 4-3.

South Carolina went on to beat UCLA in the CWS Finals for its first of back-to-back national championships.

Clemson finished third, which is something to be proud of. However, no one mentions it when they think back to the 2010 season. Just like in 2002, all they think about is how the Gamecocks beat them in Omaha to advance to the championship series.

The Tigers’ two best postseason runs ended with third place finishes, yet no one wants to remember those seasons because of how those seasons came to an end – losing to South Carolina.

So, pardon me if I do not want to see Clemson and South Carolina play each other in the regional. The Tigers swept the Gamecocks in the regular season, and they deserve to let it end there.

South Carolina already had its chance to claim bragging rights this year and they failed. They should not get a second chance, at least that is my two cents.

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