The Bad Apples

Fanatic Antics

Colin Cowherd consistently reminds his listeners that fan is short for fanatic. Unfortunately, Clemson and South Carolina fans have both given college football evidence for this shorthand term.

Ironically, both incidents occured while hosting NC State. Two weeks ago, ESPN's cameras caught South Carolina fans giving a middle finger to Wolfpack Quarterback Russell Wilson as he was being carted off on a stretcher. The picture was posted on many obscure college football internet sites, as well as Clemson message boards. Apparently some Clemson fans felt upstaged and wanted to take the insults to the next level.

Sixteen days later, NC State made the trip to Death Valley. As Head Coach Tom O'Brien began to leave the field through the crowd of fans that are traditionally allowed to enter the field after the game ends, he was occosted by a couple of Clemson fans. Tommy Bowden began his press conference with an apology to Coach O'Brien and NC State football.

While neither incident has made much of an impact in the national press, it is still embarrassing for two programs still trying to shed the images of Yusef Kelly kicking a South Carolina player on the ground during the 2004 brawl, or the confederate flag being displayed in Columbia during "College Football Gameday" on ESPN two seasons ago.

Their is only so much the athletic departments can do, outside of Clemson ending the "Gathering at the Paw" tradition (which is somewhat outdated, and still asking for trouble). Both are cases of "a few bad apples", but as the saying continues, it spoils the rest of the bunch. It is a reflection on the entire fanbase, like it or not, when these things occur.

Without sounding preachy, its up to the fans themselves to prevent incidents like this again. I hope the fans involved in "flipping off" Russell Wilson and the ones who went after O'Brien felt it was worth it in the end, because it cost both programs just a little more dignity.