COLUMBIA — The relief was palpable on Saturday.

Relief from Clemson fans that the Tigers beat South Carolina with a 28-14 win. Relief from the Gamecocks that a miserable season was over. And both glad the process of rebooting for next year can be realized sooner rather than later.

It’s sad in so many ways for both sides.

Even the relentless sunshine that cast long shadows over Williams-Brice Stadium couldn’t warm the crowd and mask the truth. The most recent edition of the rivalry that defines our state athletically will either be forgettable or — perhaps worse — memorable for all the wrong reasons, that being a capstone for sorry seasons.

Otherwise nothing about this game mattered besides the bragging rights tethered to rivalries.

There’s value in that, certainly. Depending upon wh

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