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Ben Boulware gets autograph revenge on South Carolina helmet

Clemson Tigers, South Carolina Gamecocks

The rivalries run red hot south of the Mason-Dixon line, especially within in-state rivalries.

So when Clemson Tigers linebacker Ben Boulware was asked to autograph a South Carolina Gamecocks helmet during an appearance at the Fan Zone store in North Charleston, S.C., on Saturday, he left a happy message for the state -- but also a little rivalry revenge on the Gamecocks.

Boulware signed his name and wrote "This is our state/country! 2016-17 national champions!" on one side of the helmet. On the other, he wrote "56-7," the score of last November's Clemson-South Carolina game, outlined, of course, in a tiger paw.

But this message didn't just come out of thin air.

Last year, former Gamecocks quarterback Connor Shaw wrote a similar message on a Clemson helmet at the North Charleston store Fan Zone. 

Shaw, who played at South Carolina 2010-13, wrote "This is our state! 5." The number five being a reference to the Gamecocks' five-game winning streak over Clemson, 2009-13.

According to Charleston's Post and Courier, Fan Zone personnel urged Boulware to do such a signing. And it didn't take long for him to leave his message.

Even Shaw got a kick out of the signing.

Boulware has left his mark on the championship-caliber team and is projected to be a seventh-round pick or an undrafted free agent in the upcoming NFL draft.

-- Courtney Schellin

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