Dear Tigers,

If there are any certainties in sports, it’s that this week in college football is one of the most enthralling spectacles of the year, and the Palmetto Bowl between Clemson and South Carolina is the perfect encapsulation of a rivalry. 

As someone who applied to both Clemson and USC, I will be the first to admit that both schools offer unique opportunities and are special in their own way. Of course, I wholeheartedly believe that there is something in these hills that makes Tiger Town the best institution in the nation.

With that said, this week is about one thing and one thing only: two football programs competing on the biggest of stages to prove which earns the title of the best team in the state of South Carolina.

For some of you, Saturday’s game between Clemson and South Carolina will carry a sense of familiarity. For others, including myself, it will be the first time we witness the Tigers taking on the Gamecocks in Death Valley.

Covering Clemson football for the past three seasons, I have cherished every moment of the journey, and spectating the bitterness between the two schools and fan bases is a perfect representation of the impact sports have on our culture. 

Feed off the rivalry between the two schools on Saturday, but regardless of the game’s outcome, live in the moment and soak it all in because we are all lucky to be a part of history.

—Justin Robertson

Justin Robertson is a junior sports communication major from Dayton, Maryland. You can reach him at [email protected] or on Twitter, @j_probertson.