November 20, 2004
Brawl mars 4th Quarter of Clemson-South Carolina
Both teams were assessed offsetting unsportsmanlike penalties after South Carolina players were at the bottom of the hill taunting Clemson players as they made their pregame entrance. Shoving ensued before both teams were separated and the offsetting flags dropped.
There was extracurricular activity after several plays throughout the first half and the refs had to warn players several times when penalties should have probably been called. The officials warned both benches in the 3rd Quarter.
Late in the 4th Quarter, South Carolina trailed 29-7 and went for it on 4th down. After the play was over, some shoving broke out between Gamecock lineman Chris White and some Tiger defensive players following a hit on Syvelle Newton after he threw the ball.
The South Carolina bench cleared and a brawl ensued after the Clemson bench cleared. Coach Lou Holtz was in the middle of it trying to break things up with no effect at all. There were punches thrown by both sides and Gamecock running back Cory Boyd was seen running down Clemson back Duane Coleman in the other endzone. I saw several punches being thrown (including a one-on-one matchup between Justin Miller and a unidentified Gamecock.
I've also heard reports of South Carolina players fighting with police and removing a Clemson player's helmet and swinging it at him. Police on the scene had collapsible batons at the ready and if it had gotten much farther out of hand pepper spray may have been used (and the game would have probably been stopped if that had taken place.)
Police were all over the field trying to break it up and after a few flareups they got the teams to their respective sidelines. It appeared that there were some scuffles among some South Carolina players and the announcers on TV said they appeared to be fighting each other.
There was a 10-minute stop in the action. Offsetting penalties were called and neither team accomplished anything in the remaining 5 minutes. Both teams were herded to their lockerrooms as time expired and the coaches shook hands surrounded by a phalanx of law enforcement. Lou Holtz finished 1-5 against Clemson in his soon to be ending tenure as the South Carolina coach.
This incident pales in comparison to the riots in Columbia that included armed Clemson cadets (and reportedly armed S.C. students) in 1902 that caused the game to not be played again until 1909.
I will post a full analysis of the game later today.
UPDATE: I'm hearing that Syvelle Newton was the S.C. player who started the pregame incident at the bottom of the hill. Before the brawl late in the game, Newton was apparently shoved down after the play was over. Waiting on a friend with TiVo to let me know what he sees watching it again.
Newton was involved in a brawl in an early season high school game his senior year that resulted in his team being banned from the playoffs.
UPDATE #2: A picture from the fight.
UPDATE #3: Video clip locations have been updated and work now. Click here for video excerpts and a link to the full game feed online.
Comments:
posted on November 20, 2004 6:26 PM — link — abuse?Jeff Quinton said:
I'm hearing some Clemson band members might be pressing charges agasint S.C. players for the pregame incident (supposedly a flagline member had her flag taken by a SC player and was hit with it.)
posted on November 20, 2004 7:28 PM — link — abuse?
Clemson police aren't commenting on possible arrests but police were in the SC coaches box talking to Skip Holtz.
posted on November 21, 2004 12:16 AM — link — abuse?
This is disgraceful for both teams. For the SC players to take it to this level on Holtz's last game, well...they're going to have to live with marring that. Awful.
Clemson - I just can't believe it. CU has more class than that, especially after what happened earlier in the season. I was shocked to hear Bowden's comments afterwards: basically saying that the NBA thing has been showing over & over and his players have been influenced by that. No excuse.
Both teams need to suspend players from the bowl games and suspend guys from next season's openers, too. This can't go on in college football.
Jeremy said:
posted on November 21, 2004 12:33 AM — 12.107.36.233 — link — abuse?
Kevin, you're right on a couple of levels. USC clearing the bench initially was uncalled for. Unbelievable. Clemson obviously had to follow--I guess. But what continued was fighting--not the baseball bench clearing "shove fests".
I don't know that Bowden was necessarily blaming the NBA for this he did say that this was unacceptable, no?--but it was funny (???) to hear some of the players echo the NBA sentiment.
There is plenty of blame to go around...but this started at the Hill before the game (thanks Newton)--and there were numerous occasions for the refs to take control of this game with personal foul calls. Throw the freaking flag. The refs let this game get out of hand--but of course the players need to take plenty of responsibility as well. This was a horrid event.
On a slightly lighter note, Yusef Kelly walking off the field with the USC helmet was priceless--maybe a little classless...but still funny.
T Richards said:
posted on November 21, 2004 10:03 AM — 66.245.1.22 — link — abuse?
I attended the game and here are a few things that occurred and are not being mentioned in the media:
1. Clemson player(s) started the fight by piling on Gamecock QB Syvelle Newton after throwing the incomplete pass on 4th down. One of the Clemson players (unidentified) threw a punch at Newton while he was down on the ground.
2. Gamecock players on the bench saw the punch thrown that hit Newton and charged the field.
3. Clemson players reacted just as quickly and charged the field as well.
4. During the fight, somehow a cop was thrown threw midair. Not clear which player(s) on which team caused this to occur
5. As the fight made it's way to the end zone directly in front of the Clemson student section, students threw all sorts of debris onto the field aimed at the Gamecock players. Much of this debris hit the police on the field.
6. Yusef Kelly (Clemson) made his way to the Clemson sideline running with a Gamecock helmet i hand. The Clemson fans cheered loudly. Yusef ran right next to the stands and chucked the helmet 15-20 rows deep into Clemson Booster territory. Not sure what happened to the helmet after that.
A few notes:
These 2 teams hate each other. Although this rivalry may not get the national attention of an Alabama/Auburn, it is indeed a blood bath and is one of the fiercest rivalries in all of sports.The referees, for whatever reason, decided to call a very loose game. I was shocked when the first flag thrown all day finally occurred in the 2nd quarter.
The Gamecock player reaction of charging the field was unacceptable. However, perhaps one reason it occurred was that they felt that referees either did not see the punch thrown to Syvelle Newton (you can see it clearly on the Jefferson-Pilot telecast) or were going to do nothing about it. In that sense, nothing occurred. There was no unsportsmanlike personal foul called on Clemson for that incident specifically and no Clemson player was ejected for throwing the punch that started the melee. In fact, there were no ejections at all (on either side) which I cannot understand.
posted on November 21, 2004 10:34 AM — link — abuse?
I've seen the replay. There was no punch. Newton even said it himself postgame that there was no cheap shot. Williamson hit Newton's facemask with an open hand after being blocked into him.
As the JP announcers also pointed out, it was a minor scuffle among some linemen on both teams that escalated when a bunch of SC bench warmers rushed the field.
The police officer who left his feet was hit by a SC player (possibly Silas?)and I've heard the deputies involved were going to cuff him right there on the field if University police and USC coaches hadn't intervened.
posted on November 21, 2004 3:22 PM — link — abuse?
I'm hearing suspensions and at least one arrest will take place later today.
posted on November 21, 2004 4:39 PM — 65.1.209.53 — link — abuse?
It's too bad a couple of classless individuals had to ruin a game...the story should've been about Lou Holtz's last game as SC coach but instead a bunch of thugs on both sides of the ball get into a stupid fight. Dumb, dumb, dumb.
And to read Tommy Bowden's comments about it, it's almost like he doesnt' care that much.
Of course, he is a Bowden and they are all about winning at any cost....
posted on November 21, 2004 4:48 PM — link — abuse?
Michael,
I suggest you go somewhere with his full comments on audio or the transcript. ESPN hacked his statement to death in the editing room to tie in the NBA angle.
posted on November 21, 2004 7:04 PM — link — abuse?
You talked about what happened in the NBA game the night before. You didn't seem to think that your players were accountable. Were you suggesting that fight was the cause of what happened?
Bowden: I answered the question, and then as I concluded. I've never had that happen in my coaching career. It's not in sports' best interest period. My point was that they sat there and watched that for four straight hours. All I did was answer the question, and I made. I said it was a bitter, intense rivalry, and that the fight had no place for it.
posted on November 21, 2004 11:54 PM — link — abuse?
A local station in SC reported that ACC rules state conference suspensions only can happen when a player is ejected.
Matthew Keedy said:
posted on November 22, 2004 11:45 AM — 205.242.228.4 — link — abuse?
Is it just me or do most people actually enjoy watching brawls like the two we have recently seen. For me, its kind of like car racing; it takes a few wrecks to make it interesting. In a strange sort of way, these kind of incidents cause a lot of exposure that normally wouldn't be there. Who would have cared less about the Pacers/Pistons game if the fight had not taken place? I did not even know or care to know that Clemson and South Carolina were playing on Saturday. Now I am more interested in the rivalries and future meetings between the teams. I'm sure many others would echo my comments.
Patrick said:
posted on November 22, 2004 12:53 PM — 167.7.19.4 — link — abuse?
On the television replay it shows a Tiger punch Newton in the helmet when he is trying to get up. And as far as the gamecocks meeting the tigers at the bottom of the hill well thats part of the rivalry that sort of thing happens all the time. There should be some tigers going to jail for what they did on saturday, but you can be guranteed this when Spurrier comes to Carolina there will be retribution for the cowardly acts of the classless Clemson Tigers
Jeremy said:
posted on November 22, 2004 2:37 PM — 68.59.41.142 — link — abuse?
Patrick...jail? Um...riiiiight. As for the waiting at the bottom of the hill...that does NOT happen all the time. I remember FSU doing that once, maybe twice...but I do not remember any other teams ever doing that. It was uncalled for. As for the "punch" even Lou today said there was no "punch".
As for the "retribution" from Spurrier to the "cowardly acts of the classless Clemson Tigers", I'll say this--it took TWO teams to be involved in that brawl. Period.
posted on November 22, 2004 3:18 PM — link — abuse?
"when Spurrier comes to Carolina there will be retribution"
Spurrier won't put up with the brand of crap that Clemson & USC displayed. He'll just start kicking some people off team - period. As far as getting retribution, I would think that USC fans would simply want to beat Clemson at some point. That would be a start.
Benidicttiger said:
posted on November 22, 2004 4:32 PM — 206.74.60.163 — link — abuse?
This all stems from gamerooster frustration over their historical inability to beat Clemson componded more so by the fact that year before they got humbled at home and the week before they got Zooked. Calling Clemson off the Hill and fighting with the tiger's marching band was just classless. I guess the rooster or jealous because Clemson has the most unique entrance in sports. Think about it folks - football teams either run out a tunnel or run thru a big plastic helment thru smoke or paper this is high school up to pro. Basketball, Hockey, arena football they run thru a door or a tunnel have some kind of pyro display, music smoke and other stuff. Baseball they run out the dougouts. So I can see where the roosters would be mad about coming just like everbody else and coming out to Elvis's intro music. I was not surprised to see Syvelle Newton in with that bunch ,he was on a hooligan high school team that was kicked out the playoffs because they had a big fight during one of their games. Clemson dropped down to S.C. level when they cleared the bench as well.
The SEC crew that called the game with Mr. Magoo and his coke bottle glasses could have stoped all the after the whistle fun early in the game but they choses to let it built. Wrong on their part. Tommy blaming it on the NBA was equally wrong. The real problem neither team is well coached or well disciplined or they would not have done any of these things.
The NCAA needs to establsh a rule that teams stay in their 35 35 box while the other team makes their entrance. If they violate this then eject the player before the game. If they don't do something now then this will happen somewhere else where will it stop we will have teams going into the other teams locker room jumpin them before the gamePatrick said:
posted on November 23, 2004 10:41 AM — 167.7.19.4 — link — abuse?
Lou Holtz can say there was no punch all he wants to but if you look at the zoom shot on Jefferson Pilot Sports it clearly shows a punch to the side of Syvelle Newton's head. It is there plain as day and the camera tells no lies. And yes Yusef Kelly should go to jail for what he did, he was seen on the front page of our local newspaper stomping a South Carolina player in the head. If that is not assault and battery nothing is, but there should also be some Carolina players that go to jail to I am sure. The classiest thing that both universities did was turn down the bowl invitations because both universites have players who are hoodlums and need to be dealt with properly
Not puttin' ip with whining gamecocks said:
posted on November 24, 2004 8:15 AM — 12.36.152.153 — link — abuse?
Hey Dude! I think it is interesting how you have singled out Kelly for "kicking a downed helmetless USC player in the head". If you would have BEEN AT THE GAME or a at least not so ridiculously biased you would have seen that same DOWNED GAMECOCK with the helmet, that he himself removed, in hand and swinging it at many CU players some of which did not have helmets on. BOTH TEAMS WERE IN THE WRONG. And what is the deal with the "At least he could fight like a man" comment anyway. Have some class - you have the same attitude that the players on the field had. Narrow minded and immature. Everyone agrees its classless and embarassing to fight, but you are saying it is okay to fight as long as you "fight like a man".?! Go back to Columbia and ROOST with the rest of your thugs. BTW...Look at all the pictures not just the ones that convict CLEMSON. I have a great one of a USC bench bunny throwing haymakers with his helmet and another USC player pushing down a cop. That "poor old defensless gamecocks" pitch is not going to work here.
Susan said:
posted on November 24, 2004 10:17 AM — 24.168.233.245 — link — abuse?
I am a Clemson fan. But I am so glad that both are penalized from the bowl games. They have to be penalized or this will act will continue. Just think they penalized both teams from a bowl game even the honest ones were penalized. What a SHAME!!!! This really gives South Carolina a bad name. The redneck state. Just play the game. In every game there has to be a loser...and a winner. Accept that.
USC4ME said:
posted on November 26, 2004 10:39 PM — 24.88.32.137 — link — abuse?
OK...to begin with saying a usc player took a flag and hit some flag girl with it is just stupid!!!! For some reason ppl are saying that there was no punch thrown....THERE WAS!!! Watch the replay and you can see for yourself. As far as clemson having one of the most unique entrances is beyond me....running down not to exciting to me (especially when players fall i.e. last year). I am very ashamed of both teams. It looks very bad on this state! One thing i am not understanding is how some ppl in this state say that Lou should have done something....HE WAS OUT THERE TRYING TO BREAK UP THE FIGHT! Where was Tommy??? Bowden hasn't said one thing about this fight being a big deal and that looks very bad on his part. I'm not saying that clemson is to blame or that carolina is to blame but both teams acted childish and their punishment is well deserved. However the guy that hit syvelle should be punished more severely along with moe thompson. I also believe that the rivalry game should not be played for atleast 2 years; we need to give this brawl longer than 1 year to chill and we need to have some better refs that will call unsportsmanlike conduct from the very start of the game!!!!
Scott said:
posted on November 27, 2004 6:16 PM — 12.21.241.112 — link — abuse?
All the tigers need to say is 29-7. Last year, 63-17. Clemson leads the series 62-36. Carolina has won 3 bowl games in their 112 year history, 0 SEC championships, 0 National Championships. Clemson has won 14 bowl games, including 1 National Championship and 13 ACC championships. And as for the fight, at least Clemson can say we've kept Carolina from going to a bowl for the last three years now.
Gamecock Fans are Idiots said:
posted on December 4, 2004 11:16 PM — 165.166.232.50 — link — abuse?
Jeff, are you BLIND? We need to get together and I'll show you the punch. THERE was a punch. Get that tater juice out of your eyes. Also, why are you rednecks excited about beating a sorry SC team? This is coming from a Dawg fan whose school OWNS you. Thats right you toothless rednecks Georgia owns you. Come back please, please, please!
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Michael Hickerson said:
posted on November 20, 2004 6:07 PM — 65.1.98.135 — link — abuse?What is it with fights at games in the last 24 hours? First that NBA game and now this....