How a Clemson football player and his Tiger-loving son ended up on South Carolina side of rivalry

Posted by author November 25, 2024 Football

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COLUMBIA — It was natural for Davis Beville to wake up on a Saturday morning and get ready to watch Clemson play football.

He grew up in Greenville, about 55 minutes from Memorial Stadium, in a room decorated with Clemson memorabilia.

His father, Scott Beville, was a long snapper for Clemson from 1988 through 1990. Scott Beville’s Clemson jersey is framed in Davis’ room.

Davis Beville was always around people tied to Clemson growing up but said his father “never forced any feelings onto me.”

Davis Beville has deep ties to Clemson. It’s where his parents met and the colors he used to wear.

His colors are now black and garnet as the third-string quarterback for South Carolina football.

“Growing up, I was on the other side of it, but now I feel good with where I’m at,” Davis Beville said.

This year marks the 121st matchup between South Carolina and Clemson. The Gamecocks (8-3) play Clemson (9-2) in the Palmetto Bowl on Saturday (noon, ESPN).

Davis Beville and his family rooted in football

Scott Beville had a blueprint to follow when his son arrived at South Carolina. Scott’s father, Steve Beville, played defensive end at Florida State, a Tigers’ rival.

“I always kind of laugh about it because when Clemson played Florida State, he wore orange,” Scott Beville said. “As he put it, ‘support family first.’ I’ll do the same thing here.”

Though Davis Beville originally revealed in August that his father might not wear the Gamecocks logo.

“He’s been wearing garnet and black every week. He wears about as close as possible without wearing the logo, I think. I don’t know if it’s intentional or not at this point,” Davis Beville said last week.

His father was asked if that’s still true ahead of Saturday’s game.

“Uhhh, I’m sure I’ll support the team,” Scott Beville said with a laugh.

Davis Beville’s journey to South Carolina football

Davis Beville was 6-foot-5, 200 pounds when he was drawing attention at Greenville High. According to MaxPreps, in three seasons he was 490-for-792 passing for 6,759 yards with 88 touchdowns.

South Carolina and Clemson recruited him. The Gamecocks pushed a little harder, according to Davis Beville.

The recruiting experience in general, softened the rivalry in Scott Beville’s eyes.

“I think it meant a lot more before I started playing, I think until I started getting recruited, he had a love for it but then he became a fan of me more than anything else,” Davis Beville said. “Once I was in the actual recruiting process and actually making those decisions for myself it was neutral to both sides.”

Davis Beville however committed to Pitt and spent three seasons there as a backup. In June 2022, he transferred to Oklahoma and played behind Dillon Gabriel, who is now at Oregon and is a 2024 Heisman Trophy contender.

In January, Beville transferred to South Carolina. In late August, coach Shane Beamer put him on scholarship.

On Nov. 23, he played in the fourth quarter along with all the seniors against Wofford, his final game in Columbia.

If he doesn’t make another appearance for South Carolina, his college career will end with 16 games, one start, 37-of-62 passing for 339 yards and one touchdown.

“When we found out he had a chance to come back home, we were really excited,” Scott Beville said, with no hard feelings that it was his former rival.

South Carolina vs Clemson for Davis Beville’s family

On Sept. 21 against Akron in the fourth quarter, Davis Beville lobbed a pass to Connor Cox for a touchdown and immediately put his head into his hands.

“Davis Beville looks like he’s really emotional, all the guys hugging him,” South Carolina radio voice Tommy Suggs described after the play. Beville’s teammates and Beamer were glued to him, as he lifted his head back up with emotion and pride.

“It’s been a journey, but coming around full circle, having all my family there for that, getting in, executing just meant a lot to me,” Davis Beville said.

In the crowd watching was Davis Beville’s grandfather, who taught his father that family matters more than rivalry.

Saturday will be no different.

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin