Clemson followers have done their best this week to ensure that University of Louisville fans are aware of the Tigers’ football traditions, as if that would somehow intimidate the Cardinal fans and, ultimately, the UofL players. Screenshot 2014-10-08 12.40.47

By now, UofL fans should be well aware that Clemson, according to Clemson fans, has the best defensive line in the conference. That freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson is among the most prolific passers in college football. That Clemson football fans are among the loudest anywhere. That they don’t know much about UofL football. They criticize Louisville’s schedule, the loss to Virginia, the predictable complaints of some opposing fans.

Some of them have even resorted to bringing up Bobby Petrino’s misadventures at Arkansas, one of the deepest valleys in his life. As if there are no limits as to how low they will go.

Others were offended that Petrino would dare say the Syracuse Carrier Dome was a loud place when asked about the noise level at Clemson. Resorting to the unprecedented step of backing a “Silent Out” during pre-game preparations, which should be interesting at a place that averages close to 80,000 fans per game.  But it’s obvious that it doesn’t take much to offend Clemson fans.

All the blather from the fans of a new conference foe is reminiscent of the reception UofL fans received from West Virginia fans during Louisville’s first season in the Big East Conference. Not a position in which any other fan base would want to be included.

The unintended consequences of the classless attacks is that they will serve to thicken the chip on the collective shoulder of UofL fans. Clemson may win the football game but the disruptive elements of the fan base will always be a burden.

Meet Clemson Tom, for example.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.

4 thoughts on “West Virginia not good company for Clemson fans”
  1. What a redneck. I bet he never got out of high school. You are what redneck
    rebels are. You team had their a– handed to them by our defense. Hey have you
    paid off your moto cycle? REDNECK. COME DOWN HERE TO FLORIDA, IF YOU CAN
    AFFORD THE GAS AS i WILL PERSONALLY WHIP YOUR SILLY, REDNECK A–. I THINK I SAW
    YOUR MOMMA AND SHE JUST GOT OUT OF PRISON. I NOTICED YOU AND HER HAVE NOT
    TEETH.

  2. I watched about 2 min of MrClemsonTom’s video and had to turn it off because it was hard to watch. I can understand a fan of an opposing team making a “slam video” but, DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST! Not only did this guy know we’re little about our actual team but seemed to have a man crush on our coach as well (knew his whole life story). I commented below on his YouTube page letting him know how I felt about the video to which he responded by calling me an idiot and disabled his comments not allowing anyone to comment. He’s gonna feel so silly when he wakes up on Sunday morning!! GO CARDS, BEAT CLEMSON!!

    1. You’re right, Craig. He was more enthralled about Bobby than the actual game itself, if our defense can rattle that freshman QB early ole clemson tom may be sick come Sat. evening GO CARDS

  3. All fan bases have these kind of people in them, some moreso than others. The rural small town-based schools seem to have more of them because much of people’s entire focus is on the local sports team. There aren’t many other distraction for them besides watching TV or playing video games all day. They don’t have the energy or the creativity to pursue many meaningful activies. Some are jobless, living on unemployment compensation. The good thing for Clemson is that they are far outnumbered by productive people. Unfortunately, the numbskulls are so loud they reflect on the other fans.

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