Getting beat by your rival isn’t fun, and getting blown out at home is even worse. Clemson beat South Carolina 34-10 on Saturday, and the Gamecock fans inside Williams-Brice Stadium weren’t too happy.
I think I know why Dabo was so mad after Renfrow's touchdown #Clemson #CLEMvsSCAR pic.twitter.com/wWOqlmFiep
— Bart Boatwright (@bartboat) November 26, 2017
In the second quarter of the game, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney had an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for apparently arguing with the officials about the trash being thrown by South Carolina fans onto the field.
ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe reported later that one of the end zones was “getting unsafe” and that about 20 bottles were thrown onto the field. Here’s what he told her at halftime, as transcribed by TigerNet.com:
"I didn't know it was in the rules to throw stuff in the stands," Swinney said. "I didn't know that was part of the game. That is about the tenth time. I am just trying to protect my players. If they don't control it, what we gonna do? That's all I'm trying to say. That's on me for losing my poise and my cool but that's an embarrassment. These people are better than that. That is just a few people here. It's just not the majority of these South Carolina people. That's an embarrassing situation right there and that's how someone gets hurt."
Why did @ClemsonFB Head Coach Dabo Swinney get flagged for an unsportsmanlike penalty?@sportsiren helps find the answer. pic.twitter.com/dUU149M4Iz
— Rich Take On Sports (@richtakesports) November 26, 2017
Here’s what he had to say about it after the game:
Dabo on USC students throwing things "It was disappointing. I know that’s not representative of South Carolina. I’ve got a lot of people that I know that are South Carolina fans that are great people, that are friends."
— Matt Connolly (@MattatTheState) November 26, 2017
While both teams went to the locker room, more trash was thrown.
#Clemson getting bottles and trash thrown at them as they go into the locker room with a 20-0 lead over the #Gamecocks @foxcarolinanews pic.twitter.com/JK0OgOTsTP
— Aaron Cheslock (@AaronCheslock) November 26, 2017
Apparently this was happening all game, since before it even kicked off:
Clemson forced to move their post-warmup huddle away from the tunnel due to having already been hit by objects from the stands pic.twitter.com/QeegMineBz
— Zach Lentz (@ZachLentzTandD) November 26, 2017
Heard a big bottle of Fireball was thrown...that's just a waste. I love Fireball
— David Hood (@MDavidHood) November 26, 2017
South Carolina's student section pelting Clemson players with trash as they enter the tunnel at half.
— Anna Hickey (@AnnaH247) November 26, 2017
Of course, jokes were made of South Carolina fans doing what they did:
It's getting really hard to tell the trash being thrown by the fans and the South Carolina football team apart
— THE CHICKEN DEATH BLOG (@STSouthland) November 26, 2017
South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley had a rough night, throwing two interceptions and just one touchdown:
Students have been more accurate throwing their water bottles than Jake Bentley has been throwing footballs.
— Larry Williams (@LarryWilliamsTI) November 26, 2017
We’ve seen this happen at rivalry games before, so South Carolina isn’t necessarily alone here. During last year’s Miami game against Florida State, Canes fans threw a whole bunch of trash onto the field:
Stay classy, college football fans.