For me it started in 1997. Going into that game they were 6-4 we were 5-5 and we needed that one to have any hope of a bowl bid(probably would've been left out just like 1996). Anyway we start off hot and get up 14-3 at one point in the first half and we were still up 14-6 not long before halftime when we called what turned out to be a disastrous trick play(wonder if Brad Scott was secretly coaching for them), they get the ball back score to close to 14-13 at halftime, the floodgates opened for them after that in what would eventually be a 44-0 run. We end up losing 47-21, end up 5-6 and I remember all the tater fans at school taunting us about how "they" kept us from going to a bowl game. My "screw you" moment with them.
Year and/or game where you decided you hated clemmons and all things taters, and if possible add circumstances that led to this disdain?
- Thread starter ScWildthing61
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The decision to call that trick play was one of the most mind-bending events in Gamecock Football history. Up to that point, the basic offensive strategy was working without the need for any slight of hand.
But, to answer your question, the year was 1984. I was a Gamecock fan long before that year, but my hate for everything orange started in 1984. We had just lost to Navy the previous week, then went up thar and beat them in their beloved Dearth Valley. Also the previous week, there was some rumor floated that the Orange Bowl had reached an agreement in principle with South Carolina for an invitation to their New Year's Day bowl game, which would effectively be a chance to play for the National Championship. My memory is getting worse everyday in my old age, but I seem to recall ABC's Beano Cook either being the source of the rumor or at minimum, propagating the rumor. Which leads me to the reason that my hate for them began. Their fans threw oranges on the field at our players, because we they knew we were not getting that invitation to play in the Orange Bowl.
But, to answer your question, the year was 1984. I was a Gamecock fan long before that year, but my hate for everything orange started in 1984. We had just lost to Navy the previous week, then went up thar and beat them in their beloved Dearth Valley. Also the previous week, there was some rumor floated that the Orange Bowl had reached an agreement in principle with South Carolina for an invitation to their New Year's Day bowl game, which would effectively be a chance to play for the National Championship. My memory is getting worse everyday in my old age, but I seem to recall ABC's Beano Cook either being the source of the rumor or at minimum, propagating the rumor. Which leads me to the reason that my hate for them began. Their fans threw oranges on the field at our players, because we they knew we were not getting that invitation to play in the Orange Bowl.
When adults who were clemson fans talked crap to me as a kid for being a Gamecock, probably sealed it for me.
It’s kind of messed up when you think about it for someone in their 30’s or 40’s to be belligerent to a 9 year old kid because of the team they cheer for.
It’s kind of messed up when you think about it for someone in their 30’s or 40’s to be belligerent to a 9 year old kid because of the team they cheer for.
I was born into this. But I married into a tater family. I enjoyed the family Christmas get together with them this year.
I sure hope your wife is worth it! I kid, I kid.
To answer the original question, there's no specific time where I realized Clemson was trash. It was a slow process, where a natural dislike because of their fans' obnoxiousness, their stupid traditions, their hideous uniforms (especially in the Bowden years), and Dabo Swinney's dorkiness coalesced into a complete and total hatred of all things Clemson.
As it was for @will110, there was always a strong dislike since birth. It was just the way it was in my family. But my hatred was sealed Clemson when I was on the diamond during my time as a Batgirl. It was my Freshman year when one of their guys struck out, threw his bat directly at me, and hit my legs with it. From that moment on, we never worked Clemson's side ever again.
This is how it is in my family too. Even my grandpa, who is not a sports fan, grew up in New Jersey and then Georgia, and couldn't tell the difference between a fullback and a power forward, tells Clemson jokes.
I was the first Carolina grad in my family. Everyone else went to Clemtech or Wofford. All I heard growing up was how great Clemson was, but I saw it differently. The dislike began when I was about 9 yrs. old. It grew and grew until it became a hatred of epic levels. I was completely distanced from my younger brother for 4 years. He finally apologized for his "jackass behavior". We are still distanced during football season, especially the last game of the season and holidays. I hate those orange bastards with every fiber in my body!!!
The Three Laws put down by my father when I was young.
We hate all things Clemson
Orange is the one color not allowed in the house. Halloween and Pumpkins are the only exception to Rule 2
When you grow up, you won’t get married during football season
We hate all things Clemson
Orange is the one color not allowed in the house. Halloween and Pumpkins are the only exception to Rule 2
When you grow up, you won’t get married during football season
Never liked them even growing up when I wasn't even a Carolina fan. Upon attending USC I had an instant disdain for them as a heated rival. But ever since that MF'er Rod Gardner pushed off in 2000, it's been nothing but searing hatred.
Here's some irony - his first TD with the Redskins as a rookie was negated because of a push-off.
I loved football early on and watched most everything on tv pertaining to football. I tuned in to the Frank Howard show and he turned me off with his corn pone country act. It just did not appeal to me. Then in the 10th grade my hs coach was Mike Caskey, a former Gamecock rb, and that sealed it for me. Been a Gamecock thru thick and thin. A lotta thin but it just made the thick supreme.
Old man here. Learned to “hate Clemson” at an early age but really when I started USC in 1964. Used to just hate them bad and let them know it too, up close. Interestingly I changed a bit and remain changed to this day. Still consider them a rival, have not liked some of their coaches but got to know Danny Ford, Miles Aldrich, Tommy West a bit. They all used to come to Columbia and “hangout” at IB’s Sportsbar in Irmo and Billy G’s in the Vista where Ford did the sports talk show from the little front area. Talked to him and tried to buy him a beer which he would refuse. Cool as hell though and nice and funny. He used to speak a lot at the Columbia Touchdown Club. Very funny and gracious actually.
The main differentiator for me was when JoMo died and they had a memorial service at WB. Danny brought his entire staff and spoke. Made me cry actually when he spoke and it was what you would expect of course…”lot more important things in life than football, etc. ”…. He admitted, somewhat unsurprisingly the true nature of their relationship which was they were pretty good buddies. (They were a lot alike..would drink a few beers, a bit hard to control by their AD’s, etc.). Changed my attitude toward Clemson that day and it’s never changed since. Actually changed my attitude toward life too. My “hate” for Clemson just went away that day.
The main differentiator for me was when JoMo died and they had a memorial service at WB. Danny brought his entire staff and spoke. Made me cry actually when he spoke and it was what you would expect of course…”lot more important things in life than football, etc. ”…. He admitted, somewhat unsurprisingly the true nature of their relationship which was they were pretty good buddies. (They were a lot alike..would drink a few beers, a bit hard to control by their AD’s, etc.). Changed my attitude toward Clemson that day and it’s never changed since. Actually changed my attitude toward life too. My “hate” for Clemson just went away that day.
I didn't want to be sacrilegious, but was thinking of answering very similarly.
My hatred peeked in college. After that, working with, having family members, living next to people of the opposite persuasion softened me a bit.
My kids playing with their kids made it hit home too. Hard to speak with venom when you're talking about the game with a child.
Maybe it's just age too.