SC

Nikki Haley’s “Clemson Air” Could Be Grounded

A budget subcommittee of the S.C. House of Representatives has approved language which would prohibit state colleges and universities from using the state plane to recruit football players. This prohibition was approved just days after FITSNews exclusively reported on the extensive use of this plane by Clemson University football coaches…

A budget subcommittee of the S.C. House of Representatives has approved language which would prohibit state colleges and universities from using the state plane to recruit football players.

This prohibition was approved just days after FITSNews exclusively reported on the extensive use of this plane by Clemson University football coaches – including head coach Dabo Swinney, offensive coordinator Chad Morris and defensive coordinator Brent Venables. Clemson coaches have taken numerous flights over the last two years – including jaunts to San Antonio, Texas and Jacksonville, Florida.

Of course they’ve also flown it to places like Lawrenceville, Georgia – which is less than two hours away from Tigertown by car (less than that if Swinney is behind the wheel).

Complicating matters, Clemson’s use of the plane for football recruiting began shortly after S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley – a Clemson graduate and die-hard supporter of the school’s football program – took office. In fact sources close to the committee tell FITS the prohibition was passed in order to “send a message” to the governor regarding her alleged favoritism in recruiting.

Clemson and its in-state rival, the University of South Carolina, both won 11 games last season – and both scored Top 20 recruiting classes in 2013 (although Clemson’s recruiting haul was modestly better than USC’s incoming class). While Clemson still enjoys a big lead in the series – one of the oldest rivalries in all of college football – the Gamecocks have won four in a row over the Tigers under head coach Steve Spurrier.

The plane prohibition passed by a 7-1 margin. In fact the only dissenting vote – S.C. Rep. B.R. Skelton – just so happens to be a professor emeritus at Clemson. Skelton is not a regular member of the committee, either, he was voting on behalf of S.C. Rep. Chip Limehouse (RINO-Charleston), who missed the meeting because he was busy campaigning for the state’s first congressional district.

As we noted in our original report, “in addition to banning use of the state plane for press conferences and ceremonial bill signings, we believe South Carolina’s institutions of higher learning should be prohibited from using the state plane to recruit football players.”

In fact we’ve consistently stated all of these government-funded schools should be set free to pursue their destiny as private institutions … especially Clemson.

What do you think? Vote in our poll and post your thoughts in our comments section below …

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82 comments

jimlewisowb February 11, 2013 at 3:14 pm

“Clemson’s use of the plane … began shortly ….after…Haley….took office”

No more of a coincidence than South Carolina began sliding into the shitter after Haley took office

Roll on Gypsy Queen Dooh Nibor, dammit roll on !!

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jimlewisowb February 11, 2013 at 2:14 pm

“Clemson’s use of the plane … began shortly ….after…Haley….took office”

No more of a coincidence than South Carolina began sliding into the shitter after Haley took office

Roll on Gypsy Queen Dooh Nibor, dammit roll on !!

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General Lee February 11, 2013 at 3:24 pm

Being a Gamecock club member I could really care less, Clemon just about always out recruits us but they can’t develop talent to save their lives. BTW I had a IPTAY member tell me that after they had some sort of National Signing Day party in Clemson Dabo and his assistants agreeded this is the class that will bring Clemmy back to the top? Fuck’em all

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Squishy123 February 11, 2013 at 5:01 pm

Spoken like a typical coot fan. Two or three years of success over a century of midiocracy has gone to their heads.

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PagerD February 11, 2013 at 5:12 pm

And 32 years of progressive decline from when the ACC mattered still haven’t convinced Clemson fans that mediocrity is here to stay. Win the ACC and then get shattered 70-33 by WVU? What else does that say except that Clemson and its conference are not part of college football.

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Vanguard16 February 11, 2013 at 5:24 pm

Hmmm, let’s do some math:

70 – 33 = 37

63 – 17 = 46

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CNSYD February 11, 2013 at 5:31 pm

Is that what Les Miles said?

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Jim Tom February 11, 2013 at 8:23 pm

If you’re going to bring games from previous years up how did you fare against Auburn in the SEC Championship? I think you lost by 39.

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General Lee February 11, 2013 at 2:24 pm

Being a Gamecock club member I could really care less, Clemon just about always out recruits us but they can’t develop talent to save their lives. BTW I had a IPTAY member tell me that after they had some sort of National Signing Day party in Clemson Dabo and his assistants agreeded this is the class that will bring Clemmy back to the top? Fuck’em all

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Squishy123 February 11, 2013 at 4:01 pm

Spoken like a typical coot fan. Two or three years of success over a century of midiocracy has gone to their heads.

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PagerD February 11, 2013 at 4:12 pm

And 32 years of progressive decline from when the ACC mattered still haven’t convinced Clemson fans that mediocrity is here to stay. Win the ACC and then get shattered 70-33 by WVU? What else does that say except that Clemson and its conference are not part of college football.

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Vanguard16 February 11, 2013 at 4:24 pm

Hmmm, let’s do some math:

70 – 33 = 37

63 – 17 = 46

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CNSYD February 11, 2013 at 4:31 pm

Is that what Les Miles said?

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Jim Tom February 11, 2013 at 7:23 pm

If you’re going to bring games from previous years up how did you fare against Auburn in the SEC Championship? I think you lost by 39.

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Charlemagne, King of France February 11, 2013 at 4:11 pm

its great that the witch hunt to drum up support from the “anti-clemson” fans (this hurts USC too) is really going to hurt the little guy (in this case school) that fits is always saying he is out fighting for. this is going to hurt recruiting for practically every single small school in the state, the citadel immediatly comes to mind

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Charlemagne, King of France February 11, 2013 at 3:11 pm

its great that the witch hunt to drum up support from the “anti-clemson” fans (this hurts USC too) is really going to hurt the little guy (in this case school) that fits is always saying he is out fighting for. this is going to hurt recruiting for practically every single small school in the state, the citadel immediatly comes to mind

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sweepin February 11, 2013 at 4:13 pm

Messages travel in multiple directions too. There’s more than just a few Clemson Tigers in the SC General Assembly. Backslapping and backstabbing are done with the same hand and arm motion but the end results are not the same. Vote swapping is the official currency of the GA, not “pissing contests” among Tigers and Gamecocks.

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sweepin February 11, 2013 at 3:13 pm

Messages travel in multiple directions too. There’s more than just a few Clemson Tigers in the SC General Assembly. Backslapping and backstabbing are done with the same hand and arm motion but the end results are not the same. Vote swapping is the official currency of the GA, not “pissing contests” among Tigers and Gamecocks.

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Ctigermae February 11, 2013 at 4:53 pm

Easy to see what color the governor and author of this article are wearing. If the state plane has to stop for Clemson than it has to stop for USC as well. I would love to see the driving record of the Asshole that wrote this article. “Oh my God a Speeding Ticket, Stop the Press” how many people that posted on here has gotten a speeding ticket before, probably all and probably more than 1. Some probably have something much worse on their record. cough cough mangus cough.

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Ctigermae February 11, 2013 at 3:53 pm

Easy to see what color the governor and author of this article are wearing. If the state plane has to stop for Clemson than it has to stop for USC as well. I would love to see the driving record of the Asshole that wrote this article. “Oh my God a Speeding Ticket, Stop the Press” how many people that posted on here has gotten a speeding ticket before, probably all and probably more than 1. Some probably have something much worse on their record. cough cough mangus cough.

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Vanguard16 February 11, 2013 at 5:07 pm

So, how much does it cost for the State plane to sit in a hangar not being used, dumbass??!!

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Bob February 11, 2013 at 5:20 pm

Less than it does for the plane to be airborne, dumb ass.

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Charlemagne, King of France February 11, 2013 at 5:32 pm

not when the school using it is footing the bill, which is cheaper than maintaining the state plan in addition to the one the university would be using instead….dumb ass

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Bubbas Brother February 11, 2013 at 6:42 pm

Has anyone detected a certian uncivility on the site now that this atrocious new format has been unleashed?

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Charlemagne, King of France February 12, 2013 at 11:08 am

you forgot to call me a dumb ass

Squishy123 February 11, 2013 at 6:34 pm

Not if Clemson is paying for it’s useage.

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Vanguard16 February 11, 2013 at 4:07 pm

So, how much does it cost for the State plane to sit in a hangar not being used, dumbass??!!

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Bob February 11, 2013 at 4:20 pm

Less than it does for the plane to be airborne, dumb ass.

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Charlemagne, King of France February 11, 2013 at 4:32 pm

not when the school using it is footing the bill, which is cheaper than maintaining the state plan in addition to the one the university would be using instead….dumb ass

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The Colonel (R) February 11, 2013 at 5:42 pm

Has anyone detected a certian uncivility on the site now that this atrocious new format has been unleashed?

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Charlemagne, King of France February 12, 2013 at 10:08 am

you forgot to call me a dumb ass

Squishy123 February 11, 2013 at 5:34 pm

Not if Clemson is paying for it’s useage.

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shaun February 11, 2013 at 5:17 pm

Clemson has to play the state to use the plane. The state makes money on letting them use it. If they voted to not let Clemson use the Plane its because they are not informed about the Process

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shaun February 11, 2013 at 4:17 pm

Clemson has to play the state to use the plane. The state makes money on letting them use it. If they voted to not let Clemson use the Plane its because they are not informed about the Process

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shaun February 11, 2013 at 5:18 pm

Clemson Has to pay the State to use the Plane. The state makes money on it.

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shaun February 11, 2013 at 4:18 pm

Clemson Has to pay the State to use the Plane. The state makes money on it.

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shaun February 11, 2013 at 5:29 pm Reply
shaun February 11, 2013 at 4:29 pm Reply
RHood2 February 11, 2013 at 5:43 pm

Umm. I have heard that USC used the plane, on occasion, for recruiting. But now I am thinking it cannot. The Governor is an ex oficio member of the USC board of trustees, and that might be a problem.

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Jaybird February 11, 2013 at 5:43 pm

Big whoop. USC has 2 planes with 1 used exclusively for athletics. Both are state supported schools that are funded by not only tuition funds but tax dollars as well. As always, the politicians in cola giving clemson a hard time. Doesn’t matter though. We have plenty of donors to fork over the money for a new plane. Nice try USC.

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RHood2 February 11, 2013 at 4:43 pm

Umm. I have heard that USC used the plane, on occasion, for recruiting. But now I am thinking it cannot. The Governor is an ex oficio member of the USC board of trustees, and that might be a problem.

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Jaybird February 11, 2013 at 4:43 pm

Big whoop. USC has 2 planes with 1 used exclusively for athletics. Both are state supported schools that are funded by not only tuition funds but tax dollars as well. As always, the politicians in cola giving clemson a hard time. Doesn’t matter though. We have plenty of donors to fork over the money for a new plane. Nice try USC.

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UGAalumni February 11, 2013 at 5:52 pm

This is a whole lot about nothing.

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Old Bike Dude February 11, 2013 at 5:52 pm

Nim strikes again.

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UGAalumni February 11, 2013 at 4:52 pm

This is a whole lot about nothing.

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Old Bike Dude February 11, 2013 at 4:52 pm

Nim strikes again.

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Patrick Jean February 11, 2013 at 6:11 pm

Before they stop using the plane for recruiting, I’d like to see it used once — just ONCE — to recruit a student for his or her academics instead of athletics.

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Anon0042 February 12, 2013 at 11:00 am

I think that people seriously underestimate how much money is spent to recruit the academic student to both USC and CU. The general public seems to think that no money goes toward the academic half on the institutions. I am not sure about the Clemson use of planes, but I know the USC has used the university plane to recruit students more than just ONCE.

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Patrick Jean March 1, 2013 at 1:21 pm

I know academic students are recruited, silly. But I’m fairly certain the plane wasn’t used for academic recruiting by either school.

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Patrick Jean February 11, 2013 at 5:11 pm

Before they stop using the plane for recruiting, I’d like to see it used once — just ONCE — to recruit a student for his or her academics instead of athletics.

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Anon0042 February 12, 2013 at 10:00 am

I think that people seriously underestimate how much money is spent to recruit the academic student to both USC and CU. The general public seems to think that no money goes toward the academic half on the institutions. I am not sure about the Clemson use of planes, but I know the USC has used the university plane to recruit students more than just ONCE.

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Patrick Jean March 1, 2013 at 1:21 pm

I know academic students are recruited, silly. But I’m fairly certain the plane wasn’t used for academic recruiting by either school.

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Really! February 11, 2013 at 6:16 pm

Will keeps dancing around the fact that USC has (2) aircraft. The state of SC owns those planes. Clemson sold their plane. you paint this picture like that plane sits at the governors beck and call. It does not, any member of the house or senate can use it for “official state business” if the governor does not have it scheduled for use. Quit with your penny anti BS!

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Really! February 11, 2013 at 5:16 pm

Will keeps dancing around the fact that USC has (2) aircraft. The state of SC owns those planes. Clemson sold their plane. you paint this picture like that plane sits at the governors beck and call. It does not, any member of the house or senate can use it for “official state business” if the governor does not have it scheduled for use. Quit with your penny anti BS!

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Billy K Mulligan February 11, 2013 at 7:16 pm

Non-story from this Gamecock. Other than klempsun was stupid for selling their own plane.

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CNSYD February 11, 2013 at 7:52 pm

It was a 1977 model. Sounds like it needed to be replaced and it was cheaper to “rent” than buy.

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Billy K Mulligan February 11, 2013 at 6:16 pm

Non-story from this Gamecock. Other than klempsun was stupid for selling their own plane.

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CNSYD February 11, 2013 at 6:52 pm

It was a 1977 model. Sounds like it needed to be replaced and it was cheaper to “rent” than buy.

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Jim Tom February 11, 2013 at 8:22 pm

This isn’t a violation because Clemson pays for the plane and is a state university. It isn’t like Nikki Haley just tossed Dabo the keys and said “Go crazy!” You’re just grasping at straws because there haven’t been any coots arrested this offseason so there’s nothing to report.

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Jim Tom February 11, 2013 at 7:22 pm

This isn’t a violation because Clemson pays for the plane and is a state university. It isn’t like Nikki Haley just tossed Dabo the keys and said “Go crazy!” You’re just grasping at straws because there haven’t been any coots arrested this offseason so there’s nothing to report.

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Guts February 11, 2013 at 8:33 pm

These two teams make a fortune off of their own revenue, they can afford their own planes. The non football tax payor people of SC should not be footing the bill here.

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Charlemagne, King of France February 12, 2013 at 10:13 am

They do have their own planes, and the accountants for the state and for clemson both came to the conclusion that it was in the best interest of all parties that the state plane be used and the uni planes be sold

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Guts February 11, 2013 at 7:33 pm

These two teams make a fortune off of their own revenue, they can afford their own planes. The non football tax payor people of SC should not be footing the bill here.

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Charlemagne, King of France February 12, 2013 at 9:13 am

They do have their own planes, and the accountants for the state and for clemson both came to the conclusion that it was in the best interest of all parties that the state plane be used and the uni planes be sold

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EvanRude February 11, 2013 at 9:56 pm

Nice (North) Carolina blue paint job.

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EvanRude February 11, 2013 at 8:56 pm

Nice (North) Carolina blue paint job.

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Budman February 11, 2013 at 10:11 pm

You do realize they pay for the plane!

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Budman February 11, 2013 at 9:11 pm

You do realize they pay for the plane!

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Frank Howard February 12, 2013 at 10:42 am

Clemson’s Athletic Department has it’s own plane funded by IPTAY, my legacy. SC1 or other planes would be rented/chartered when the CUAD is already booked or for “flying range” purposes.

This ain’t hard, peeps.

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Frank Howard February 12, 2013 at 9:42 am

Clemson’s Athletic Department has it’s own plane funded by IPTAY, my legacy. SC1 or other planes would be rented/chartered when the CUAD is already booked or for “flying range” purposes.

This ain’t hard, peeps.

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Observer February 12, 2013 at 1:09 pm

Probably need to study who is involved to get the big picture. David Wilkins is chairman of the Clemson Board of Trustees and was also in charge of Haley’s “transition team.” Part of the transition may have been to allow Clemson to use the state plane, no questions asked, in exchange for an acceptable fee. Had the press not picked up on this a couple of years ago, there may have been no fee in the equation.

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Observer February 12, 2013 at 12:09 pm

Probably need to study who is involved to get the big picture. David Wilkins is chairman of the Clemson Board of Trustees and was also in charge of Haley’s “transition team.” Part of the transition may have been to allow Clemson to use the state plane, no questions asked, in exchange for an acceptable fee. Had the press not picked up on this a couple of years ago, there may have been no fee in the equation.

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pawwed@yahoo.com February 12, 2013 at 3:15 pm

What this article does not mention is that Clemson reimburses the state for use of the plane and that USC has their own plane that they use. Both cost the Universities but both Universities get a lot more out of then investment than is put in. If they cut out use of the plane it will sit in a hanger costing taxi payers because no one is using it and paying the reimbursements. Sounds like it was a good deal for the state and Clemson. Oh well that government for you.

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pawwed@yahoo.com February 12, 2013 at 2:15 pm

What this article does not mention is that Clemson reimburses the state for use of the plane and that USC has their own plane that they use. Both cost the Universities but both Universities get a lot more out of then investment than is put in. If they cut out use of the plane it will sit in a hanger costing taxi payers because no one is using it and paying the reimbursements. Sounds like it was a good deal for the state and Clemson. Oh well that government for you.

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jch9596 February 12, 2013 at 3:49 pm

I hate Clemson and would love for this to come back and bite them on the butt….. but for the life of me, I can’t see what the big deal is IF Clemson pays for the use and IF the state doesn’t lose money in the process.

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jch9596 February 12, 2013 at 2:49 pm

I hate Clemson and would love for this to come back and bite them on the butt….. but for the life of me, I can’t see what the big deal is IF Clemson pays for the use and IF the state doesn’t lose money in the process.

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robertroberts February 12, 2013 at 3:54 pm

Fits sometimes runs out of things to complain about so he embellishes. All state colleges are funded by the state (that’s you and me paying taxes). Clemson chose to rent the State plane instead of purchasing new ones to replace old ones it was using. Yeah–that’s what a STATE plane is for. Clemson pays for the rental and there is. of course no laws broken. Just because his fantasy girl is a graduate of Clemson and the dejected, rejected fits is a former Carolina student in no way makes it a legitimate complaint–grow up.

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robertroberts February 12, 2013 at 2:54 pm

Fits sometimes runs out of things to complain about so he embellishes. All state colleges are funded by the state (that’s you and me paying taxes). Clemson chose to rent the State plane instead of purchasing new ones to replace old ones it was using. Yeah–that’s what a STATE plane is for. Clemson pays for the rental and there is. of course no laws broken. Just because his fantasy girl is a graduate of Clemson and the dejected, rejected fits is a former Carolina student in no way makes it a legitimate complaint–grow up.

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south mauldin February 12, 2013 at 5:31 pm

Imagine how expensive the flight would have been had Bobby Harrell been piloting the plane.

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south mauldin February 12, 2013 at 4:31 pm

Imagine how expensive the flight would have been had Bobby Harrell been piloting the plane.

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Tyna Graven Couch February 12, 2013 at 9:33 pm

All of the unfair advantages that Clemson receives over USC still won’t help them. Four-peat! Fear the THUMB!

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Tyna Graven Couch February 12, 2013 at 8:33 pm

All of the unfair advantages that Clemson receives over USC still won’t help them. Four-peat! Fear the THUMB!

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