CLEMSON — Clemson fans are still on high from their historic National Championship win over Alabama, landing the school bragging rights over their bitter rivals, the South Carolina Gamecocks, for the foreseeable future.
But now that football season is behind us, will the Tigers retract their claws long enough to trade their orange in for garnet when it comes to another sport? Say … basketball?
By far and large, the answer has been an overwhelming “Not on your life.”
On Saturday, the Gamecocks men’s basketball team will make school history by making their first appearance in the Final Four against heavily favored Gonzaga — but not to be outdone, the men aren’t the only ones playing.
The women’s team, with a bit more experience in playoff and championship games, will also be playing in the Final Four come Friday.
“I’m a Gamecock fan, I’ve always been a Gamecock — and I hate Clemson,” said Dwayne Phillips of Easley. “The only team I maybe hate more than Clemson is Alabama — and Kentucky, because they always beat us when they shouldn’t. But that National title game? I was the biggest Alabama fan on the planet that day.
“It just killed me to see the Tigers win,” he said.
But when asked if Clemson fans should pull for Carolina in the Final Four, Phillips — abruptly — changed his tune.
“Well yeah, I mean you gotta keep it in state, you know? It’s not football, I think there’s probably a lot of Clemson fans pulling for us.”
Despite Phillips’ confidence, Clemson online message boards would suggest otherwise.
One user, BleedOrange442, stated it would be a cold day in (you know where) before he ever cheered for Carolina.
“Never. Nope. Not happening,” he wrote. “The day I pull for those birds is the day I hand over my Clemson degree.”
He was hardly alone.
While some fans stated they would cheer for the Cocks to “keep it in state,” the vast majority had suddenly seemed to become die-hard Gonzaga fans.
“I don’t even know where Gonzaga is, but I’m pulling for them. Hard,” said Daboluvr86.
Carolina v. Gonzaga tips off Saturday with the winner advancing to the championship title game on April 3.
