1,000th post on Hoopla

Ballboy534 · 12-09-2011, 01:17 PM

I've been thinking a lot about what to post for my 1,000th here on Hoopla. I finally decided on a brief commentary about the end of the college football season, so here goes.

Since the end of the regular season and conference championship games, a lot of shit-talking and comparing apples to oranges have ensued. If you think I'm talking about the BCS fiasco, you're wrong; we have enough threads on the butt-hurtedness of 'Bama fans being attacked by other butt-hurt fans. I'm referring more to a local phenomenon that many don't get the aggravation of experiencing; SCar fans claiming their second ACC championship. Whoop de doo SCar, you beat us for the third time in a row (for only the second time in school history) and have now narrowed the gap to a mere 25 games. In fact, as an alumni of Clemson that grew up a Clemson fan outside the state of South Carolina, I can tell you how intimately familiar I am with the rivalry but that should go without standing if you're a fan of any college football team that hates their in-state rival.

What I don't (and may never) understand is why such big importance is placed on a rivalry that frankly, outside South Carolina is just another game. Shouldn't our programs focus instead on winning their respective conferences and bowl games to bring national recognition to not only the universities, but the state itself? The game is meaningless outside of bragging rights and the occasional recruiting coup. Trophies won through bowl games and conferences will be what elevate our programs, not beating each other. I will never profess to have anything but pure, unadultered hatred for the Gamecock athletic teams, but I would much rather see them 11-0 when they play Clemson than the alternative. If we as fans want this rivalry to matter on a national stage, then we both need to win championships. That starts in our conferences, and SCar fans can claim the ACC 2011 title for eternity, but it doesn't change the fact that they have one conference trophy in the case from 1969. Sure, SCar was a football independent from 1971 to 1991, but in the 18 year span they were in the ACC Duke won the conference 6 times. I'm sure my Gamecock brethren will reference the fact that these are ancient history in today's society, but as I stated previously, until both teams are perennial contenders for their respective conferences, this rivalry will be relegated to bragging rights and the occasional recruiting coup.

Forty_Sixand2 · 12-13-2011, 03:47 PM

Congrats!

Rep...if I can

ckhokie · 12-13-2011, 03:58 PM

And I the only one who thinks it's hilarious that USCe has '1969 ACC Champions' posted on the inside of their stadium like they won the national title.

Congrats ballboy

hunzworth · 12-13-2011, 04:11 PM

congrats on the 1k. REP!

JTEGGER · 12-13-2011, 04:33 PM

Congrats Ballboy. Rep

12-09-2011, 01:17 PM	#1
Ballboy534 Resident Rehabilitator Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: SC Posts: 3,378 Rep Power: 12015	1,000th post on Hoopla I've been thinking a lot about what to post for my 1,000th here on Hoopla. I finally decided on a brief commentary about the end of the college football season, so here goes. Since the end of the regular season and conference championship games, a lot of shit-talking and comparing apples to oranges have ensued. If you think I'm talking about the BCS fiasco, you're wrong; we have enough threads on the butt-hurtedness of 'Bama fans being attacked by other butt-hurt fans. I'm referring more to a local phenomenon that many don't get the aggravation of experiencing; SCar fans claiming their second ACC championship. Whoop de doo SCar, you beat us for the third time in a row (for only the second time in school history) and have now narrowed the gap to a mere 25 games. In fact, as an alumni of Clemson that grew up a Clemson fan outside the state of South Carolina, I can tell you how intimately familiar I am with the rivalry but that should go without standing if you're a fan of any college football team that hates their in-state rival. What I don't (and may never) understand is why such big importance is placed on a rivalry that frankly, outside South Carolina is just another game. Shouldn't our programs focus instead on winning their respective conferences and bowl games to bring national recognition to not only the universities, but the state itself? The game is meaningless outside of bragging rights and the occasional recruiting coup. Trophies won through bowl games and conferences will be what elevate our programs, not beating each other. I will never profess to have anything but pure, unadultered hatred for the Gamecock athletic teams, but I would much rather see them 11-0 when they play Clemson than the alternative. If we as fans want this rivalry to matter on a national stage, then we both need to win championships. That starts in our conferences, and SCar fans can claim the ACC 2011 title for eternity, but it doesn't change the fact that they have one conference trophy in the case from 1969. Sure, SCar was a football independent from 1971 to 1991, but in the 18 year span they were in the ACC Duke won the conference 6 times. I'm sure my Gamecock brethren will reference the fact that these are ancient history in today's society, but as I stated previously, until both teams are perennial contenders for their respective conferences, this rivalry will be relegated to bragging rights and the occasional recruiting coup. __________________ "Yes, I saw Dear John. He was good in that movie and in fact that movie is not that bad" - OregonDucks

12-13-2011, 03:47 PM	#2
Forty_Sixand2 Sleeper Pick Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsbugh, PA Posts: 23,534 Rep Power: 126380	Congrats! Rep...if I can __________________ *This is blood for blood and by the gallon. These are the old days, the bad days, the all-or-nothing days. They're back! There's no choice left. And I'm ready for war.*

12-13-2011, 04:11 PM	#4
hunzworth Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: virginia Posts: 2,790 Rep Power: 23210	congrats on the 1k. REP! __________________ GO MAN GO!

12-13-2011, 04:33 PM	#5
JTEGGER T-Bird Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: BAMA Posts: 1,062 Rep Power: 3905	Congrats Ballboy. Rep __________________ Make his ass quit!

12-13-2011, 03:58 PM	#3
ckhokie 1Man 1Plane 64MillerLites Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: DC Posts: 1,150 Rep Power: 9283	And I the only one who thinks it's hilarious that USCe has '1969 ACC Champions' posted on the inside of their stadium like they won the national title. Congrats ballboy