The Hit vs. The Hit: Jadeveon Clowney's play enters Gamecock lor - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Latest Scores, Headlines and Analysis

The Hit vs. The Hit: Jadeveon Clowney's play enters Gamecock lore

Posted: Updated:
By Jeremy Turnage - email
Gamecock defensive end Jadeveon Clowney delivers a big hit to Michigan running back Vincent Smith in 2012. (Source: TheBigSpur) Gamecock defensive end Jadeveon Clowney delivers a big hit to Michigan running back Vincent Smith in 2012. (Source: TheBigSpur)

  • More WALB News10 HeadlinesMore News Headlines

  • Thursday, June 20 2013 12:09 AM EDT2013-06-20 04:09:02 GMT
    The Albany Water Gas and light commission is preparing customers for a change that starts soon for those who pay with debit or credit cards.   WG&L leaders say the utility is paying $20,000 dollars a month
    The Albany Water Gas and light commission is preparing customers for a change that starts soon for those who pay with debit or credit cards.

  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:41 PM EDT2013-06-20 03:41:18 GMT
    An Albany man who was born when Woodrow Wilson was president celebrated his birthday today. Century Pines Assisted Living Center threw a party for resident Charles Walker who turned 101 today. Walker was
    An Albany man who was born when Woodrow Wilson was president celebrated his birthday today.

  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:34 PM EDT2013-06-20 03:34:54 GMT
    For years, the area right across the street from the RiverQuarium has been rundown, but that's changing. A couple of businesses are thriving there. The new art park is open, and a sidewalk improvement
    For years, the area right across the street from the RiverQuarium has been rundown, but that's changing.
    •   

It's South Carolina vs. Michigan.

Michigan has the ball in their own territory, and they line up for a run play in the I-formation. The ball is snapped.

Michigan's quarterback hands it off to his running back, who runs for a few yards, but is soon met with a thunderous hit from a Gamecock defender. The Wolverine's helmet flies off as the two players hit the ground.

It sounds familiar, but it's not the 2012 Outback Bowl where Jadeveon Clowney's game-changing hit against Wolverines running back Vincent Smith helped to revive the Gamecocks to beat Michigan.

It's 1985, and it's Gamecock linebacker Willie Hill putting a stop to a run by Wolverines running back Thomas Wilcher. It was also the last time the Gamecocks played the Wolverines. The play was uploaded to YouTube in February 2011 and is titled "The Hit!"

The games are 28 years apart, but both share a common bond besides the opponent: a big hit that enters Gamecock lore.

Clowney's hit during Tuesday's 33-28 victory at the Outback Bowl has spread all over social media and the sports news outlets.

It made number one on ESPN's Top 10 plays during SportsCenter. SB Nation's Spencer Hall compared the hit to "a bowhunter cracking a wounded deer's neck." Yahoo! Sports called it a "jaw-dropping play." Sports Illustrated said the play was a "monster hit".

Whatever you want to call it, The 2012 Hit will be something talked about long after Clowney has played his final down of South Carolina football. Maybe even his last down of football period.

Copyright 2013 WIS. All rights reserved.