Throughout my tenure at Clemson, I have faced many challenges. One of the most pressing has been finding a way to date a Gamecock while remaining cordial during the football season. However, I’ve managed to strike a balance between maintaining my identity as a Clemson fan and dating a student at the University of South Carolina.
One of the most important things I have learned is finding common ground. With the rivalry between schools being so intense, having common beliefs and interests surrounding it is important when the rivalry game approaches. We both love tailgating and cheering on our opposing teams, and it allows us to have fun during rivalry games, regardless of the outcome. Limiting expectations is also a key belief that we have in common, allowing us to remain respectful of each other’s teams during the rivalry.
However, there are some struggles when it comes to dating a rival. A year’s worth of bragging rights is one factor that plays into the rivalry between the schools. With Clemson winning last year’s game, I was able to give my girlfriend an earful about why Clemson is better, yet South Carolina’s win two years ago allowed her to make sly remarks about Clemson for the remainder of the year.
Regardless of the outcome of the rivalry game, dating someone who goes to my rival school allows for a fun twist to our relationship that not everybody has. Whether we refuse to wear team colors at games or cheer for each other’s team, game days are always full of surprises.
A recent memory of mine is wearing an LSU jersey to the LSU and South Carolina game earlier this year, simply because I would not allow myself to cheer for the Gamecocks against any Tiger. My girlfriend then followed this by declaring she will never wear orange at a Clemson game, which she has stood by, typically wearing white or purple to games.
Despite our differences, we have the mutual understanding that we can respect each other’s teams, no matter the outcome of the games. Overall, the rivalry adds a fun sense of competition throughout the year, as we both want to one-up each other when our teams win any sporting events.
