Following Saturday’s win at Florida, Steve Spurrier playfully asked reporters if ‘the Upstate team got beat today’ after hearing Clemson trailed Georgia Tech at halftime in Atlanta.

Told the final score and of freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson’s knee injury, Spurrier quipped: “Well that game now looks like we’re in better shape than we were two weeks ago. But anything can happen as we all know.”

The quote was interpreted by some in attendance and several Clemson media members as insensitive to the Tigers. Watching the video (c/o of GoGamecocks.com), it appears Spurrier liked the Gamecocks’ chances due to Georgia Tech’s 22-point victory, not Watson’s availability.

During Tuesday’s presser previewing this weekend’s South Alabama game, Spurrier cleared the air and said he did not mean ill will toward Clemson.

“Well, I didn’t mean to … put it that way,” Spurrier said. “They’re interpreting too much. I have tremendous respect for Clemson and Dabo (Swinney). I like him. I like all of those guys. (Defensive coordinator Brent) Venables. They’ve done an excellent job. They’ve done a better job that we have this year, that’s for sure. They have the bragging rights as far as the record on us, that’s for sure. They played the same time as we did. I was just asking in fact if they had lost. I knew they were behind, but I didn’t know the final score. I’ll try not to say anything to upset them through the next couple of weeks, anyway.”