November 22, 2004
"Strong Indications" of Bowl Suspensions for S. Carolina, Clemson
Dennis Dodd at CBS Sportsline.com is reporting that sources indicate a strong possibility that South Carolina and/or Clemson could be banned from competing in a bowl game this postseason after their game, marred by brawls between the teams, this past Saturday. Clemson prevailed in the game, 29-7.
Certainly, neither team is headed to a major bowl this season, suspension or not. The ACC has more bowl-eligible teams than contractually-obligated games, so the impact is minimal for that league. The SEC, on the other hand, will already have trouble filling its slots if Arkansas loses to LSU this weekend, and a South Carolina ban would mean two SEC-affiliated bowls would not get SEC teams.
The entire "brawl issue" is a double-whammy at South Carolina, having placed a damper on the Lou Holtz retirement story and the arrival of his looming successor, Steve Spurrier.
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Comments & Trackbacks
Mike says:
posted on November 22, 2004 03:23 PM — linkNow this is a great move for collegiate athletics, making the point that we aren;t going to tolerate this sort of foolishness. Huzzah!
Ben Prather says:
posted on November 22, 2004 04:01 PM — linkThis post season ban makes MUCH more sense than, say, punishing Colorado now that the guilty parties are gone. Here the guilty parties are in the pads on the field this year.
Kevin Donahue says:
posted on November 22, 2004 04:07 PM — linkI sure hope the ACC and SEC sack up and go through with this. This would really send a message.
Rob Knodell says:
posted on November 22, 2004 04:26 PM — linkThe SEC will the hardest time carrying through with this because it would mean either the Indpendence Bowl or the Music City Bowl would be without an SEC team this postseason (unless Arkansas upsets LSU). Both bowls are long-time partners of the league, and one of those bowls and cities would be denied tens of thousands of South Carolina fans that are suddenly re-energized by the Spurrier hiring.
In a way I support this punishment, but in SC's case, it would mean also extending that punishment to a bowl organization.
Footnote: the Houston Bowl (a new SEC partner with a tie-in agreement) will also be denied an SEC participant unless Arkansas wins and South Carolina is not suspended. As the eighth-bowl in the SEC pecking order, Houston officials halfway expected this and have been scouting potential at-large teams for most of the season.
Joel Foreman says:
posted on November 22, 2004 04:33 PM — linkThis needs to happen. I've seen some pretty horrible things in stills from that brawl (kicking opponents without helmets in the head as they crouch on the ground with their hands over their ears and face)
Not only must this happen, but those players engaging in criminal battery need to answer for it. Too much of this thuggery is going around right now, and every instance should carry some form of stinging punishment and shame.
Paul says:
posted on November 22, 2004 04:34 PM — linkIf you threw a punch you need to sit the Bowl game. i would hate to see the seniors on both sides suffer for the mistakes of few, yes both sides cleared out but only a few were actually throwing punches. This could be a good first game for thouse that don't start aswell,...most fightting were starters. i do think it quite odd though for Lou to let his players go to the bottom of the Hill at being when there feild enterence is on opposite side?...and let me pose one question to everyone,...since SEC basically $$$ needs $$$ USC to play in a bowl, what are the chances USC plays and CU does not???
Rob Knodell says:
posted on November 22, 2004 05:01 PM — linkMoney-wise, your theory makes sense, Paul. If Clemson is looking at going out to Boise for a low-paying bowl that it won't sell many tickets or "travel" many fans to, they might be just as well to stay home and call it "punishment". However, they still lose the three weeks or so of practice.
South Carolina, on the other hand, is still a strong possibility for two $1 million-plus-paying bowl games (Peach or Independence) and would take huge numbers of fans to either of those or the Music City in Nashville. It's a very different situation than Clemson's.
Jeff Quinton says:
posted on November 22, 2004 05:02 PM — linkSEC news conference should be underway shortly if not already.
The obvious question: where were the suspensions of any kind after Florida-FSU last year?
Would this be getting the attention it did now if the issue wasn't already at the forefront after Detroit.
Jeff Quinton says:
posted on November 22, 2004 05:08 PM — linkEven if the ACC bowls are filled, a chance to place a team in another bowl would enhance revenue for the whole conference. The issue is moot now since Clemson said they won't accept a bid.
From ACC College Football - Fanblogs.com
pinged on Nov 22, 2004 5:10 PMTigerNet reports that Clemson University will not accept a bid to post-season play. Until more news is released it would appear to be related to Saturday's brawl....
Paul says:
posted on November 22, 2004 05:15 PM — linkClemson will not accept,...will SC follow suite? and am i the only one who thought it strange for SC to be on the OTHER SIDE OF THE FIELD taunting when CU came down the hill? Lou should save some dignity and follow bowden and not accept bowl,...beside it would most likely be another loss...lol
Jeff Quinton says:
posted on November 22, 2004 05:20 PM — linkAs of 3 pm, no decision had been made on the SC/SEC end of things and later a 5 p.m. news conference was announced in Columbia - turning the radio on now for details.
From Backcountry Conservative
pinged on Nov 23, 2004 1:27 AMVideo excerpts: Real-Time Slow-Motion I'm posting this on request. Thanks to Taft from TigerNet for providing it. It is a brief excerpt of video from the brawl at Saturday's game. Yahoo Sports has the whole game video here and the...
