COLUMBIA — Just how big a deal was it when South Carolina's two major football schools knocked off ranked teams on the same day? No one's sure, since it's never happened before.

In the history of college rankings, according to Clemson assistant athletic director Tim Bourret, there had never been a South Carolina Saturday like this -- moments after the Tigers toppled No. 22 Florida State, 35-14, South Carolina won its first game over No. 20 Florida in 66 years, 30-22.

"You like to see the state be a success," Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said Sunday.

And there couldn't be a better, more charged up time for it heading to this week's showdown between the Gamecocks (6-4) and Tigers (7-3) at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Headlines from around the state said it all. The (Columbia) State newspaper's two-teir topper screamed, "USC rocks, Clemson rolls." Combined with equal-sized photos from both games and an accompanying story, football took up about three quarters of the broadsheet's front page.

"I think it's wonderful," said South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, his team entering the rankings at No. 19 for the first time this season.

Spurrier's win was landmark enough -- South Carolina had lost its last 14 games to Florida dating back to 1939. Spurrier was a big reason for that streak, the former Gators' Heisman Trophy winner going 10-0 against the Gamecocks during his 12 seasons as Florida's coach from 1990-2001.

Add in the Tigers second Bowden Bowl victory over the Seminoles and Tommy's father, Bobby Bowden, and Spurrier sees evidence that "times are changing" throughout college football.

Spurrier recalled in the mid-1990s when the state of Florida and its tri-powers of Miami, Florida State and his Gators contended for national titles almost every year and spent untold weeks among the top 10.

"Everybody assumed that was the greatest college football down there," Spurrier said. "I think college football is excellent all over the country right now."

It certainly was in the Palmetto State.

Clemson (6-4) and starting quarterback Charlie Whitehurst came out firing from the start. The Tigers led Florida State 14-0 and then blitzed the Seminoles in the second half with three third-quarter scores to put the game out of reach. Whitehurst, who rested his sore shoulder during Clemson's win over Duke on Nov. 5, finished 21 of 32 for 269 and three TD passes.

Just as important, the Tigers qualified for a bowl game, something they missed out on last season because of their ugly brawl with South Carolina.

Whitehurst thinks Clemson has closed the gap on teams like Florida State. "We kind of wore them out. And that was a little different," he said.

Can Tommy's Tigers handle a revived South Carolina?

"Tommy can play anybody good," said Florida State's Bobby Bowden. "It should be a good football game."

Especially with South Carolina on its historic roll. The team has won a record five straight SEC games and with a little luck, might head to the Georgia Dome as the SEC Eastern Division champs. Should Kentucky defeat No. 14 Georgia at Athens, Spurrier would be back in the big game and gunning for a title.

The head ball coach has found a different way to get there at South Carolina with defense, big plays at the right time and just enough of an attack to stay in front.

Against the Gators, it was the defense and receiver Sidney Rice that helped South Carolina build a big lead and hold on. Defensive lineman Chris Tucker set up the Gamecocks first score with a 48-yard interception return and they eventually led 20-5 in the second quarter. When Florida rallied to make it 20-19 right after halftime, Rice's 64-yard catch and run to the Gators' 1 led to Mike Davis' second TD run to extend the lead.

When it was over, rings of cameras and reporters swept in on Spurrier at midfield as the cheers of Gamecock fans washed over him and his giddy players.

"It was just a wonderful, glorious day," Spurrier said.

Perhaps with Spurrier and Bowden, there are more such days ahead.

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