Dabo Swinney needs to rethink everything about this Clemson trick play (Video)

Clemson got up early on rival South Carolina but then Dabo Swinney went a little too far into his bag of tricks and it immediately cost the Tigers. 

South Carolina hung 63 points in their upset of Tennessee a week ago, which raised some questions about what they would have in store for their rivalry matchup against Clemson on Saturday afternoon. But Dabo Swinney and the Tigers looked to put any questions about that to bed early.

Clemson got on the board first with a pick-six off of Spencer Rattler, but added to that lead later in the first quarter on a long drive headlined by Will Shipley and punctuated with a D.J. Uiagalelei touchdown run to take a 14-0 lead. The Gamecocks got on the board but Clemson answered again with their defense on South Carolina’s next possession but notching a safety.

It was on the ensuing punt after the safety, however, that Swinney got a little too ahead of himself as he tried to reach into his bag of tricks only for it to blow up in his face horribly.

Clemson shoots itself in the foot with botched trick play vs South Carolina

On the return, Clemson tried to run the returner into a huddle around the 20-yard line and hand the ball off. Upon doing so, they kicked it out to the right sideline but the new ball-carrier immediately coughed it up after taking on contact, thus giving South Carolina the fumble recovery and the ball.

There is something positive to be said about Swinney wanting to be aggressive and pour it on his team’s biggest rivals. That, however, was not the way to go about it.

With great field position, the Gamecocks punched in the touchdown to make it a 16-14 game. Thankfully, the Tigers responded with a touchdown of their own and then a clutch red-zone interception to retain a 23-14 lead.

Even still, Swinney might want to be a bit more conservative with Clemson still trying to prove itself to the College Football Playoff selection committee.

For more College Football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.