The University of South Carolina rung in rivalry week this past fall with strong performances both on and off the football field.

Students, faculty, staff and members of the USC community took on Clemson in the 40th Annual Carolina Clemson Blood Battle Nov. 18 through Nov. 24. The Carolina-Clemson Blood Drive Committee, which organizes the event, is the second-largest student-run organization on USC’s campus.

This year, members of the Carolina community donated 2,160 pints of blood and saved 6,480 lives. Together with Clemson, we saved 18,684 lives with 6,228 pints of blood.

Gamecocks also came out in record numbers for this year’s Tiger Burn organized by Gamecock Entertainment on Nov. 20. An estimated 6,500 students, faculty, staff and community members joined on Blatt Athletic Field to burn a 20-foot tall wooden tiger before the rivalry matchup, an increase of about 60% from last year’s event.

For more than a decade the tiger for the pep rally has been built by members of the USC student chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers in a warehouse on Catawba Street, requiring months of planning and construction before the burn begins.

This year’s build team focused on creating a more lifelike feline look, featuring a detailed snout, ears and angular features. The rally also featured appearances from the Gamecock football team, cheerleaders and dance team plus student performances.

The tradition of Tiger Burn dates back to South Carolina’s second victory in the rivalry game in 1902, when Carolina and Clemson students clashed over a drawing of a gamecock crowing over a beaten tiger. Eventually, both sides agreed to burn the drawing as a show of peace, but the Tiger Burn tradition was born.

This year on the football field, the Gamecocks claimed their second Palmetto Bowl victory in the last three meetings with a 17-14 win over the Tigers on Nov. 30. Redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers finished the game with 166 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

With the win, the Gamecocks finished the 2024 regular season with four ranked wins in the month of November and a 9-3 overall record. USC currently leads the 2024-2025 Palmetto Series 4-0.

The University of South Carolina celebrated a successful rivalry week with notable achievements both on and off the football field.

By the numbers:

• USC's community donated 2,160 pints of blood, saving 6,480 lives.
• Combined with Clemson, 18,684 lives were saved through 6,228 pints of blood.
• An estimated 6,500 members of the Gamecock community attended Tiger Burn, a record number for the event.

What’s new: This year’s Tiger Burn featured a more lifelike wooden tiger, with the rally showcasing performances from the Gamecock football team, cheerleaders and dancers.

Gamecock country: The Gamecocks secured a 17-14 victory over Clemson in the Palmetto Bowl, ending the regular season with a six-game win streak and a 9-3 record.