The fun is in the winning

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — This is what can happen when you garner bowl bids based on your fan base.

Both Clemson and South Carolina lost bowl games here in the Sunshine State on Thursday, a fitting end to seasons that never quite lived up to expectations.

The Gamecocks lost earlier in the day in Tampa at the Outback Bowl to Iowa, 31-10, while the Tigers fell here at the Gator Bowl to Nebraska, 26-21.

Both programs finished with disappointing 7-6 records and limp into the offseason with questions about the future.

"The fun is in the winning," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said here after the Cornhuskers came from behind to win the Gator Bowl game. "You work your butt off to win a bowl game, so this is disappointing."

Especially in his Tigers' second-half performance after taking a 14-3 lead into the locker room. After the break, Nebraska scored quickly and easily on its first two possessions in the third period and never looked back.

"They absolutely big-played us," Swinney said. "We just didn't play well enough to win."

Cinderella story

As the only team to ever play in this bowl game with five regular season losses, Clemson's invitation came partly because the team had such a Cinderella ending to its season.

After Tommy Bowden's sudden resignation at midseason, Swinney took over the reins and led the Tigers to 4-2 finish, winning the job, the hearts of Tiger fans and the media.

That and Clemson's reputation for bringing fans to bowl games tipped the scales that resulted in its match-up against the 8-4 Cornhuskers. The same might be said of the Gamecocks, who stayed home last year with an identical record.

While USC was dominated from the get-go by a powerful Hawkeye team, Clemson put up a good fight despite repeated errors.

A blocked field goal, a blocked punt and far too many defensive gaffes ultimately led to their demise in this effort.

"We missed way too many opportunities," Swinney said. "And even with that, we had a chance to win it in the end."

But again, with the victory at hand, the Tigers took a crucial sack and dropped a touchdown pass in the waning moments.

Trail of tears

Thus I-95 will be a trail of tears today as Clemson and USC fans wind their way home from Florida.

While bowl games can be sweet season-ending victories, they can also be pretty nasty tasting when things don't go your way.

This was supposed to be the day Clemson's senior running back James Davis went in search of 112 yards that would give him the school's all-time rushing record. Instead, he ended the day with a mere 26 yards and little to show for his effort.

It was also a disappointing day for the Tigers' other star running back, C.J. Spiller, who collected 17 rushing yards and six receiving.

This powerful combination, dubbed "Thunder and Lightning," were just a passing shower against Nebraska's defense.

"Their defensive line dominated us," Swinney said sadly. "They were disruptive. But I'm still proud of what our team has done. It's just not the finish that we wanted."

Gamecocks fans must feel much the same way. They certainly found little in their team's performance to make them believe things will be any different next season than they have been in the past.

It's like Swinney said, the fun is in the winning. And bowl games are supposed to be fun.

Reach Ken Burger at kburger@postandcourier.com or (843) 937-5598.