Dabo does it, Clemson beats rival 31-14

CLEMSON - Dabo did it, leading Clemson from college football's biggest embarrassment to a bowl game. Whether it's enough to give Clemson's interim coach the job full time is another matter.

"My job was to get them ready to play," Dabo Swinney said. "It's somebody else's job to determine if they want me to continue here or somebody else. Quite frankly, I'm at peace either way."

Clemson, 3-4 a month ago, has won four of its final five and is now in line for the Champs Sports Bowl, whose representatives attended the game.

James Davis scored three touchdowns in his last Death Valley appearance and the Tigers (7-5) beat the Gamecocks for sixth time in seven seasons.

He and his fellow seniors got to stroll down Memorial Stadium's famed hill after each was introduced to the cheering crowd.

"To score three touchdowns, that's something you dream about," Davis said. "Just to come down the hill for the last time and share it with your family. It felt really good."

Swinney took over on Oct. 13 when Tommy Bowden walked away with the Tigers' expected Atlantic Coast Conference title season in shambles.

Almost from the start, Swinney made every right move.

None, though, was bigger than letting Clemson's best playmakers make the plays. That showed against South Carolina (7-5).

Davis powered his way to his 47th, 48th and 49th career touchdowns, one away from the school record.

C.J. Spiller had a dazzling 39-yard burst to set up Davis' first score.

In the second quarter, quarterback Cullen Harper was falling to his knees about to be sacked when he threw an on-target pass to Jacoby Ford for a 50-yard touchdown.

And don't forget Clemson's defense, which rattled passer Chris Smelley into four interceptions and outshone a South Carolina unit that had led the Southeastern Conference much of the year.

When Smelley threw his fourth interception with 4:25 to go, all Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier could do was stare onto the field.