Sports

Howard’s Rock Update

According to WYFF TV 4 (NBC – Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.), an out-of-state minor has been named as a person of interest in the recent attack on Howard’s Rock – the icon of the Clemson University football program. Micah Rogers, 18, of Pisgah Forest, N.C. was arrested and charged with one felony…

According to WYFF TV 4 (NBC – Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.), an out-of-state minor has been named as a person of interest in the recent attack on Howard’s Rock – the icon of the Clemson University football program.

Micah Rogers, 18, of Pisgah Forest, N.C. was arrested and charged with one felony count of malicious injury to personal property valued at more than $2,000. He was also charged with a misdemeanor trespassing violation.

The vandalism occurred at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium (a.k.a. Death Valley) in early June but wasn’t made public until nearly two weeks later.

This week, Clemson University cops released surveillance video and images of a white pick-up truck arriving at – and then leaving – the east side of Death Valley on June 2, around the time the rock was believed to have been damaged. The truck is reportedly registered to Rogers’ father.

No word yet regarding Rogers’ alleged motive – assuming he had one. According to police, his home was full of Clemson memorabilia and social media posts would seem to indicate he is a fan of the Clemson football team.

The rock – named after legendary coach Frank Howard – is an integral part of the Tiger football team’s pre-game ritual. Clemson players and coaches rub it for good luck before running down the hill into Death Valley, the team’s 82,000-seat stadium. In fact they’ve done so ever since 1966, when Howard’s team came back from an 18-point deficit to beat Virginia 40-35 in that year’s season opener.

“If you can’t give me a 110 percent than keep your filthy hands off my rock,” Howard is said to have told his players.

A gift from Howard’s longtime friend, Samuel C. Jones, the rock was initially used as a doorstop in the head coach’s office. It was later placed on a pedastal inside Memorial Stadium by Clemson booster Gene Willimon.

***

 

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92 comments

NotBigT June 28, 2013 at 2:16 pm

Any word if his nickname is Little T?

Reply
Curious June 28, 2013 at 3:42 pm

Well, the truck he was driving was registered to his father…

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Squishy123 June 28, 2013 at 8:48 pm

Don’t use fancy words like that, this is SC… it’s “daddy”.

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NotBigT June 28, 2013 at 2:16 pm

Any word if his nickname is Little T?

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Curious June 28, 2013 at 3:42 pm

Well, the truck he was driving was registered to his father…

Reply
Squishy123 June 28, 2013 at 8:48 pm

Don’t use fancy words like that, this is SC… it’s “daddy”.

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GreenvilleLwyr June 28, 2013 at 2:36 pm

Turns out it is a Clemson fan. Some of you Tigers might want to start eating crow right about now.

Also, fuck you.

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GrandTango June 28, 2013 at 2:38 pm

FITS did not say it was a Clemson fan…
Which should tell you a lot about (typical) FITS and the chances that it was a Clemson fan……

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GreenvilleLwyr June 28, 2013 at 2:40 pm

You truly are a fucking idiot. Go to the linked website for the full story. They arrested someone with a Clemson decal on his truck.

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CNSYD June 28, 2013 at 2:45 pm

Fine “lawyer” you are. How do you know it was his truck vs the truck he drove to the scene? I suppose in court you count on news stories and websites to get the “full story”.

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demarke June 28, 2013 at 3:50 pm

The post says the truck was registered to his father

come on..... June 28, 2013 at 7:08 pm

and OJ was innocent too huh? its all about how a lawyer can bend the truth isnt it?. it was his family car, and he was driving, there was a Clemson sticker on it. As much as you want to act like that was a rouse, no real “non tater” would ever put that crap on a car.

RTZSC July 7, 2013 at 10:11 pm

Yeah, that proves you went to a Tier III law school. Wow, making a judgment like that only because someone has a sticker on their car? I guess when we see a rainbow sticker on your car that will prove you are gay, right?

GrandTango June 28, 2013 at 3:54 pm

Wow: GL: Aren’t we are testy testy. Looks like the prosecution has gotten to the defense, and you melted down on the stand..Judge rules FOR BigT…

All I said is: FITS did not say it is a Clemson fan.
That said: FITS is as prone to being generous TOWARD Tater fans as he is at jumping to negative conclusions when it’s SC.

He is like almost all lame and Punch-Drunk state-based sports media in that regard. They have a tendency to protect Clemson, but pounce on SC. It’s part of their inability to think for themselves. If the Clemson PR Dept. tells them what to do, they do it…

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Spurrier's Boyfriend June 28, 2013 at 2:50 pm

Eat shit fuckwad. Lwyr…loser,whinning, yapping retard.

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Elfego June 28, 2013 at 5:06 pm

It may be worth $2000 if sold by the pound.We got rocks like that all over Clemson.

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tater June 28, 2013 at 6:12 pm

hahahahahaha cry baby loser there dipshit. one of your own and you cant handle it. hahahahaha. or as a cry baby little tiger like you would say “whaawhaawhaa, Eat shit fuckwad booohooo booohooo” lmfao hahahha

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Squishy123 June 28, 2013 at 7:20 pm

Let me guess, you’re one of those Tier III law school (ie. University of South Carolina) graduates. Might as well have saved some money and just ordered your diploma off the internet.

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GreenvilleLwyr June 28, 2013 at 8:51 pm

So Squishy is a reference to your brain?

Reply
Squishy123 June 29, 2013 at 10:08 pm

The bottom dropping out of the Law School’s ranking always stirs up it’s unfortunate graduates.

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RTZSC July 7, 2013 at 10:09 pm

What do Clemson students and Carolina students have in common? They were both accepted to Carolina. A fact you wannabes cant avoid. Yeah, I would hate us and have an inferiority complex, too, if I was a Carolina grad.

Upstate June 29, 2013 at 8:37 am

I saw the guy’s photo in the Greenville paper, he had too many teeth to be a Clemson fan or graduate!

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Nölff July 1, 2013 at 9:53 am

You Carolina fans always keep it classy like that.

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whatever July 2, 2013 at 8:09 am

We just follow the same examples you Tiger fans set.

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GreenvilleLwyr June 28, 2013 at 2:36 pm

Turns out it is a Clemson fan. Some of you Tigers might want to start eating crow right about now.

Also, fuck you.

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Spurrier's Boyfriend June 28, 2013 at 2:50 pm

Eat shit fuckwad. Lwyr…loser,whinning, yapping retard.

Reply
Elfego June 28, 2013 at 5:06 pm

It may be worth $2000 if sold by the pound.We got rocks like that all over Clemson.

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tater June 28, 2013 at 6:12 pm

hahahahahaha cry baby loser there dipshit. one of your own and you cant handle it. hahahahaha. or as a cry baby little tiger like you would say “whaawhaawhaa, Eat shit fuckwad booohooo booohooo” lmfao hahahha

Reply
Squishy123 June 28, 2013 at 7:20 pm

Let me guess, you’re one of those Tier III law school (ie. University of South Carolina) graduates. Might as well have saved some money and just ordered your diploma off the internet.

Reply
GreenvilleLwyr June 28, 2013 at 8:51 pm

So Squishy is a reference to your brain?

Reply
Squishy123 June 29, 2013 at 10:08 pm

The bottom dropping out of the Law School’s ranking always stirs up it’s unfortunate graduates.

Reply
RTZSC July 7, 2013 at 10:09 pm

What do Clemson students and Carolina students have in common? They were both accepted to Carolina. A fact you wannabes cant avoid. Yeah, I would hate us and have an inferiority complex, too, if I was a Carolina grad.

Upstate June 29, 2013 at 8:37 am

I saw the guy’s photo in the Greenville paper, he had too many teeth to be a Clemson fan or graduate!

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Nölff July 1, 2013 at 9:53 am

You Carolina fans always keep it classy like that.

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whatever July 2, 2013 at 8:09 am

We just follow the same examples you Tiger fans set.

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Smirks June 28, 2013 at 2:48 pm

Valued at more than $2,000? Who determines the value? It’s a rock. I get sentimental value and all that, just wondering how one quantifies such a thing. Or did they really pay more than $2,000 to put a rock there?

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TontoBubbaGoldstein June 28, 2013 at 2:51 pm

It was in a display case which was destroyed.

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Clemson Gradtwat June 28, 2013 at 3:08 pm

fine pc of engineering that whole thing was.

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Curious June 28, 2013 at 3:43 pm

The valuation likely reflects how much they had it insured for…

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CNSYD June 28, 2013 at 6:21 pm

DeBeers will sell you rocks priced higher than that.

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Smirks June 28, 2013 at 2:48 pm

Valued at more than $2,000? Who determines the value? It’s a rock. I get sentimental value and all that, just wondering how one quantifies such a thing. Or did they really pay more than $2,000 to put a rock there?

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TontoBubbaGoldstein June 28, 2013 at 2:51 pm

It was in a display case which was destroyed.

Reply
Clemson Gradtwat June 28, 2013 at 3:08 pm

fine pc of engineering that whole thing was.

Reply
Curious June 28, 2013 at 3:43 pm

The valuation likely reflects how much they had it insured for…

Reply
CNSYD June 28, 2013 at 6:21 pm

DeBeers will sell you rocks priced higher than that.

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jurisdoc June 28, 2013 at 3:04 pm

Yep, appears it was a Clemson “fan.” Facebook pics show him with Clemson apparel on – hat, tshirt, etc. Sad. Guess he wanted a souvenir. That will be the most expensive rock this kid ever saw – both monetarily and in terms of personal humiliation.

Never figured one way or the other why someone would do this – whether they were a Clemson, South Carolina, Georgia, etc. fan. Vandalism stupefies me every time, as I just don’t get tearing up other people’s shit for no reason. A joke or prank (i.e. painting a Gamecock logo on the field that is easily removed or repaired) is one thing, but this (and painting on personal Cockabooses) is another.

Stupidity, drunkenness or both is the only thing to explain it. Don’t care who you pull for.

And for the record, I never imagined it was a Clemson fan, SC fan, or any other fan. Just an idiot, whomever he pulls for. Not much of a fan either.

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jurisdoc June 28, 2013 at 3:04 pm

Yep, appears it was a Clemson “fan.” Facebook pics show him with Clemson apparel on – hat, tshirt, etc. Sad. Guess he wanted a souvenir. That will be the most expensive rock this kid ever saw – both monetarily and in terms of personal humiliation.

Never figured one way or the other why someone would do this – whether they were a Clemson, South Carolina, Georgia, etc. fan. Vandalism stupefies me every time, as I just don’t get tearing up other people’s shit for no reason. A joke or prank (i.e. painting a Gamecock logo on the field that is easily removed or repaired) is one thing, but this (and painting on personal Cockabooses) is another.

Stupidity, drunkenness or both is the only thing to explain it. Don’t care who you pull for.

And for the record, I never imagined it was a Clemson fan, SC fan, or any other fan. Just an idiot, whomever he pulls for. Not much of a fan either.

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Chain Gang June 28, 2013 at 3:06 pm

He wanted a piece of the rock. So, he got’s it.

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Chain Gang June 28, 2013 at 3:06 pm

He wanted a piece of the rock. So, he got’s it.

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southmauldin June 28, 2013 at 3:09 pm

If you look at the rock long enough, it kinda looks like UGA VII or VIII.

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jimlewisowb June 28, 2013 at 3:19 pm

Kinda looks like what I dropped in the Porcelain Garbage Truck this morning

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southmauldin June 28, 2013 at 3:09 pm

If you look at the rock long enough, it kinda looks like UGA VII or VIII.

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jimlewisowb June 28, 2013 at 3:19 pm

Kinda looks like what I dropped in the Porcelain Garbage Truck this morning

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CL June 28, 2013 at 3:45 pm

He is not a minor if he is 18.

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CL June 28, 2013 at 3:45 pm

He is not a minor if he is 18.

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demarke June 28, 2013 at 3:51 pm

Called it! Thanks again to Ron Morris for jumping to such wild,
speculative conclusions that it was a USC fan. Morris – “More likely,
it was executed by someone who knows of the rock’s history and saw a way to take a sadistic shot at the school and its football
program.” Ha! It’s great to have a writer for our hometown paper refer to our fans as “sadistic.”
http://www.thestate.com/2013/06/22/2830751/morris-vandalism-is-fandom-for.html

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2013/06/28/2839163/clemson-to-hold-2-pm-howards-rock.html#storylink=cpy

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GrandTango June 28, 2013 at 3:56 pm

Thanks for reminding us. FITS is a big defender of MoRon.
Does anybody have FITS’ recounting of the event when it happened? Wonder if FITS acccused an SC fan???…or has he finally learned his lesson…???

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demarke June 28, 2013 at 3:51 pm

Called it! Thanks again to Ron Morris for jumping to such wild,
speculative conclusions that it was a USC fan. Morris – “More likely,
it was executed by someone who knows of the rock’s history and saw a way to take a sadistic shot at the school and its football
program.” Ha! It’s great to have a writer for our hometown paper refer to our fans as “sadistic.”
http://www.thestate.com/2013/06/22/2830751/morris-vandalism-is-fandom-for.html

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2013/06/28/2839163/clemson-to-hold-2-pm-howards-rock.html#storylink=cpy

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Corky Thacther June 28, 2013 at 4:13 pm

Isn’t a Clemson fan damaging the precious rock akin to one eating their own shit?

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Squishy123 June 28, 2013 at 7:23 pm

“one eating their own shit”

You mean like chickens do?

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Corky Thacther June 28, 2013 at 4:13 pm

Isn’t a Clemson fan damaging the precious rock akin to one eating their own shit?

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Squishy123 June 28, 2013 at 7:23 pm

“one eating their own shit”

You mean like chickens do?

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Jeffy01 June 28, 2013 at 6:50 pm

No way a tater did it? Next thing you guys will telle mighty Clempsim has lost to the Gamecocks 4 years in a row. Amazing

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Jeffy01 June 28, 2013 at 6:50 pm

No way a tater did it? Next thing you guys will telle mighty Clempsim has lost to the Gamecocks 4 years in a row. Amazing

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Onebigdude June 28, 2013 at 7:39 pm

For whatever reason, clemmons people just do not have ANY respect for the law. They’re animals!

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Onebigdude June 28, 2013 at 7:39 pm

For whatever reason, clemmons people just do not have ANY respect for the law. They’re animals!

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Rusty Shackleford June 29, 2013 at 12:29 am

The Timbisha Shoshone Tribe has submitted a formal request to the administration of Clemson University through the Bureau of Indian Affairs to have “Howard’s Rock” returned to them as a tribal cultural artifact stolen and shown to be currently in the hands of poor stewardship of a national cultural resource.

Timbisha Shoshone Tribe
PO Box 206
900 Indian Village Rd.
Death Valley, CA. 92328
Phone: 1.760.786.2374
Fax: 1.760.786.2376

Death Valley is home to the Timbisha tribe of Native Americans, formerly known as the Panamint Shoshone, who have inhabited the valley for at least the past 1000 years…some families still live in the valley at Furnace Creek…The valley received its English name in 1849 during the California Gold Rush. It was called Death Valley by prospectors…although only one death in the area was recorded…Death Valley National Monument was proclaimed on February 11, 1933 by President Hoover, placing the area under federal protection…In the early 1960s, Howard’s Rock was given to then head coach Frank Howard by a friend, Samuel Columbus Jones (Clemson Class of 1919). It was presented to Howard by Jones, saying “Here’s a rock from Death Valley, California, to Death Valley, South Carolina.” Howard didn’t think anything else about the rock and it was used as a door stop in his office for several years. In September 1966, while cleaning out his office, Howard noticed the rock and told IPTAY executive director Gene Willimon, “Take this rock and throw it over the fence or out in the ditch…do something with it, but get it out of my office…In 1994 Death Valley Monument was redesignated as Death Valley National Park.

Reply
Rusty Shackleford June 29, 2013 at 12:29 am

The Timbisha Shoshone Tribe has submitted a formal request to the administration of Clemson University through the Bureau of Indian Affairs to have “Howard’s Rock” returned to them as a tribal cultural artifact stolen and shown to be currently in the hands of poor stewardship of a national cultural resource.

Timbisha Shoshone Tribe
PO Box 206
900 Indian Village Rd.
Death Valley, CA. 92328
Phone: 1.760.786.2374
Fax: 1.760.786.2376

Death Valley is home to the Timbisha tribe of Native Americans, formerly known as the Panamint Shoshone, who have inhabited the valley for at least the past 1000 years…some families still live in the valley at Furnace Creek…The valley received its English name in 1849 during the California Gold Rush. It was called Death Valley by prospectors…although only one death in the area was recorded…Death Valley National Monument was proclaimed on February 11, 1933 by President Hoover, placing the area under federal protection…In the early 1960s, Howard’s Rock was given to then head coach Frank Howard by a friend, Samuel Columbus Jones (Clemson Class of 1919). It was presented to Howard by Jones, saying “Here’s a rock from Death Valley, California, to Death Valley, South Carolina.” Howard didn’t think anything else about the rock and it was used as a door stop in his office for several years. In September 1966, while cleaning out his office, Howard noticed the rock and told IPTAY executive director Gene Willimon, “Take this rock and throw it over the fence or out in the ditch…do something with it, but get it out of my office…In 1994 Death Valley Monument was redesignated as Death Valley National Park.

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xx June 29, 2013 at 10:12 am

Best of luck to him with the Clemson fans he meets in jail!

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xx June 29, 2013 at 10:12 am

Best of luck to him with the Clemson fans he meets in jail!

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Brent June 29, 2013 at 10:47 am

In the same way that USC fans assumed the spray painting incident at Williams Brice was done by a Clemson fan, many Clemson fans incorrectly assumed this was done by a USC fan. I guess everyone should learn to not make assumptions without all the facts. Like that will really happen. I hope they prosecute him for as much as they can, and that they eventually catch whomever did the spray painting at USC. Someone may profess to be a fan, but a fan would not act in this way to the team they support. Both cases are reprehensible and un-sportsman like.

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Zig July 1, 2013 at 8:50 am

Well, the assumptions here are very different from the
spray painting incident. In the earlier incident, it’s highly unlikely that a Carolina fan would spray paint tiger paws. However, as seen here, destruction of the rock provided two separate motives: 1) destruction of property as retaliation or 2) taking a piece of the rock as a collectible. I do agree with you, however, that both incidents have no place in this rivalry.

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Tig July 1, 2013 at 1:44 pm

It’s also very unlikely that a Clemson fan would put a “4”, along with the rest, on one of the train cars…

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that assumes that.... July 2, 2013 at 10:12 am

Just as there is no proof it was a Clemson fan, there is nothing to prove that the 4 put in under the tiger paw was nothing more than an accidental line the can of spray released. Or it could just be a way to act like he wasn’t a Clemson fan at all even though he/she really is. Perhaps we will never know.

Reply
Brent June 29, 2013 at 10:47 am

In the same way that USC fans assumed the spray painting incident at Williams Brice was done by a Clemson fan, many Clemson fans incorrectly assumed this was done by a USC fan. I guess everyone should learn to not make assumptions without all the facts. Like that will really happen. I hope they prosecute him for as much as they can, and that they eventually catch whomever did the spray painting at USC. Someone may profess to be a fan, but a fan would not act in this way to the team they support. Both cases are reprehensible and un-sportsman like.

Reply
Zig July 1, 2013 at 8:50 am

Well, the assumptions here are very different from the
spray painting incident. In the earlier incident, it’s highly unlikely that a Carolina fan would spray paint tiger paws. However, as seen here, destruction of the rock provided two separate motives: 1) destruction of property as retaliation or 2) taking a piece of the rock as a collectible. I do agree with you, however, that both incidents have no place in this rivalry.

Reply
Tig July 1, 2013 at 1:44 pm

It’s also very unlikely that a Clemson fan would put a “4”, along with the rest, on one of the train cars…

Reply
oh my old bones..... July 2, 2013 at 10:12 am

Just as there is no proof it was a Clemson fan, there is nothing to prove that the 4 put in under the tiger paw was nothing more than an accidental line the can of spray released. Or it could just be a way to act like he wasn’t a Clemson fan at all even though he/she really is. Perhaps we will never know.

Reply
CNSYD June 29, 2013 at 12:41 pm

“Clemson booster Gene Willimon” Will do some research. Yes I guess saying Gene was a Clemson booster is technically correct. However it would be more correct to say that Gene was a long time employee of the athletic department. He served as business manager and executive secretary of IPTAY.

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CNSYD June 29, 2013 at 12:41 pm

“Clemson booster Gene Willimon” Will do some research. Yes I guess saying Gene was a Clemson booster is technically correct. However it would be more correct to say that Gene was a long time employee of the athletic department. He served as business manager and executive secretary of IPTAY.

Reply
Soft Sigh from Hell June 29, 2013 at 2:12 pm

A Klan truck-dragging would get less media attention than the cracking of this two-bit trinket.
First things first in our SC.

Reply
GrandTango June 29, 2013 at 7:58 pm

I don’t recall there EVER being a Klan dragging in my lifetime. The Klan is dead as far as I can tell. But ACORN, the NAACP and New Black Panthers are as strong, RACIST and Hateful as ever…even empowered by the vengeful Obama and Holder…

The Klan mentality is more an era kept alive and exploited by leftwing NAZIs….who use race-hate to beat others down to feed greed and get power…

I have seen voter intimidation, voter fraud and blacks beating whites, racially motivated, IGNORED…you Dumb@$$….

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Soft Sigh from Hell June 30, 2013 at 5:06 pm

GlansTangle is as poor of a reader as he is a thinker it seems.

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Soft Sigh from Hell June 29, 2013 at 2:12 pm

A Klan truck-dragging would get less media attention than the cracking of this two-bit trinket.
First things first in our SC.

Reply
9" June 29, 2013 at 3:45 pm

SC’s version of the attack on Michelangelo’s Pieta..

Reply
9" June 29, 2013 at 3:45 pm

SC’s version of the attack on Michelangelo’s Pieta..

Reply

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