Dabo Swinney Reflects on Rivalry Legend Steve Taneyhill After His Passing at 52
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney took a moment this week to honor the life and legacy of former South Carolina quarterback Steve Taneyhill, who passed away at the age of 52. And even though Swinney spent his career on the opposite side of one of college football’s fiercest rivalries, his respect for Taneyhill’s impact on the game-and the state-was clear.
“It really kind of just took my breath away a little bit,” Swinney said on Dec. 15, reacting to the news.
Taneyhill left a lasting mark on South Carolina football during his run from 1992 to 1995. He wasn’t just a flashy quarterback with a signature mullet and swagger to match-he was a record-setting gunslinger who helped elevate the Gamecocks program. He led South Carolina to its first-ever bowl game victory and still holds several school records, including most completions in a game (39), most attempts in a game (58), and career marks for completions (753) and passing touchdowns (62).
Those numbers don’t just stand out-they define an era in Columbia.
But Swinney’s memories of Taneyhill stretch back even further. He recalled seeing the young quarterback during a recruiting visit to Tuscaloosa in December of 1991, back when Swinney was a junior wide receiver at Alabama.
“He had that long hair and all that swag,” Swinney said with a smile. “We all were in there going, ‘Oh, yeah. We ain’t getting him.’”
That early impression stuck. And as fate would have it, their paths would cross again-this time on the high school sidelines.
Swinney got to know Taneyhill better during his coaching stops around South Carolina, where Taneyhill built a strong reputation at the prep level. He led Chesterfield High School to three straight state championships from 2007 to 2009, and also coached at Cambridge Academy and Union High School, where he spent four seasons from 2012 to 2015.
His coaching résumé reflected the same competitive fire he showed as a player-fiery, confident, and always pushing his teams to compete at the highest level.
Taneyhill was inducted into the University of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006, a fitting honor for a player who helped shape the program’s identity during the '90s. In his four years, he went 2-2 against Clemson-adding another layer to a rivalry that never lacks intensity.
“Prayers with all the Taneyhill family, all the South Carolina people who loved him as a player,” Swinney said. “Cause he’s one of the greats in this rivalry, for sure.”
In a rivalry built on passion, pride, and plenty of unforgettable moments, Steve Taneyhill stood out-not just for his play, but for the personality that came with it. His legacy lives on not only in the record books, but in the memories of those who watched him, coached against him, and respected the fire he brought to the field.