Clemson’s cheerleading team was endangered by fans of the school’s football team during the fourth quarter of Saturday’s loss to Louisville due to debris thrown from the stands.
The Tigers fan base was upset with Atlantic Coast Conference officials after a replay review determined that Louisville had recovered an onside kick and not Clemson, despite some video angles showing a possible possession for the home team.
Boos were immediately heard from ‘Death Valley’ after the referee’s decision was announced, quickly followed by dozens of water bottles and other debris thrown onto the field.
The cheerleaders ran from their position near the end zone to avoid being hit by debris and also to clear the grass to continue the game.
Some Clemson staff members can also be seen trying to pick up debris from the field.
The Clemson cheerleaders were put in danger by Tigers fans who threw debris onto the field.
It was the second such incident in college football within a few weeks after it occurred in Texas.
To make matters worse, on the Cardinals’ first play from scrimmage on the field without trash, running back Isaac Brown went almost untouched for a touchdown that put the game out of reach for the Tigers.
It was a frustrating call for Clemson fans, who have enjoyed a resurgent season for their team after a few seasons outside of college football’s elite.
With their second loss of the season, the Tigers will now likely need to win for a chance to make the College Football Playoff.
Clemson fans may have gotten the idea to throw debris onto the field from a game last month between Texas and Georgia, where Longhorns fans also threw objects onto the field after a call didn’t go their way.
Unlike Louisville-Clemson, officials complied with Texas and reversed the decision after trash was dumped on the grass.
It’s almost as if the bullying of the Longhorns crowd didn’t set a good precedent for college football, even if it was denounced by Texas’ most famous fan, Matthew McConaughey.
Texas was fined $250,000 for the debris-throwing incident, while Clemson will likely face a similar punishment from the ACC.
Miami and SMU are in the driver’s seats to appear in the conference championship game, with the winner likely automatically earning a spot in the CFP’s top four.
Clemson needs either the Hurricanes or Mustangs to stumble over the next four weeks to have a chance to control their own destiny.
That frustration led to another nasty debris-throwing incident in college football.