|
Replies: 45
| visibility 802
|
Game Changer [1628]
TigerPulse: 97%
31
|
My letter to the GA AD....very truthful
Aug 31, 2014, 10:25 AM
|
|
Mr. McGarity
Congratulations on UGA's big win last night. Clearly the best team won and I wish you well the rest of the season.
As a lifelong Clemson fan and alumni, I have traveled to watch the Tigers play at Death Valley, bowl games, neutral sites, and numerous opponent sites since I was a child. I have traveled to various hostile sites, none more hostile than the University of South Carolina (given our history and rivalry). But I have to say that my experience yesterday was by far the worst experience I have had in an opponents stadium.
Traveling with my teenage son as I often do, I was embarrassed for the University of Georgia. Living in the state of Georgia for the past decade has enabled me to appreciate the university and what it stands for, but many UGA fans embarrassed your institution and made our experience horrible. Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of welcoming fans, but the Clemson shirts that my son and I proudly wore clearly were targets starting the moment we arrived at 11am.
The majority of what I'm describing occurred prior to kickoff. Fans throughout the day were getting up in our face and saying some no-so-pleasant things, many cursed, one slapped his trash on my chest and told me to take care of it since I was a Clemson fan, several were extremely arrogant and told us to leave, etc. I am a huge college football fan and I know the difference between good "jabs at opponent", and behavior that crosses the line. One or two "bad" fans would have been expected (we all have them), but yesterday crossed the line for me. Fans were getting in my face everywhere, throughout the day. We were not welcome by far more folks that I would have expected. I promise you there was no instigation on our part unless you consider wearing a Clemson shirt is instigating. I also took the high road with each and every one of them.
I've traveled to UGA-Clemson games since the early 80's. If we ever play again, yesterday was my last time traveling to Athens.
|
|
|
|
 |
Recruit [78]
TigerPulse: 39%
8
|
Re: My letter to the GA AD....very truthful
Aug 31, 2014, 10:27 AM
|
|
hahaha #### you're soft. i was there yesterday. lots of people commented on my #4 jersey. same as you. telling me to leave. You just have to know how to talk to people man. very easy stuff. our fans are exactly the same way
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Phenom [14441]
TigerPulse: 100%
49
|
Well I can assure you our fans DO NOT act that way and
Aug 31, 2014, 10:33 AM
|
|
you're right on one thing. My reaction would have sent one of them to the hospital.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Phenom [14441]
TigerPulse: 100%
49
|
and me to jail
Aug 31, 2014, 10:34 AM
|
|
nm
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rock Defender [72]
TigerPulse: 55%
8
|
There have been many Clemson and South Carolina fans
Sep 1, 2014, 1:01 PM
|
|
that have gone to jail down in Athens. I almost went myself back in 1984. Kevin Butler winning field goal and a UGA fan try to push my wife down. I did chase him a little ways. If I had caught him then I would have went to jail. When we were leaving the stadium there were 5 UGA fans jumping up and down on a car with a Clemson tag. I have never went back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [2537]
TigerPulse: 100%
32
|
There are some pretty horrendous stories here in this thread
Sep 1, 2014, 1:23 PM
|
|
And I honestly have to say that I pay attention to people everywhere I go. At UGA there were some welcoming people, usually in smaller groups or couples/single persons.
But many were rude senselessly, obnoxious & completely unprovoked.
Only one made an obviously threatening gesture & words to me, & he was "frustrated" to say the least just before halftime... 
I told him i wasn't intimidated, & if he couldn't control himself I would report him. So I had the ushers step in with the cops to talk to him & simmered him down, while all the rest of their fans around me continued to enjoy the game with me.....until I left late in the 4th to avoid more confrontation from "over-jubilant" fans.
I enjoyed it as much as possible for me, without taunting too much or trying instigate more d1cks into action, & in the 2nd half could only really cheer for the defense anyways.
I don't have to go back there, but I may... some were cool & some fans were like the guys from "deliverance" with more teeth, money, & hair gel...lots of hot girls there, and sadly some of them were pretty krass as well.
Probably as bad or a little better than Cootlumbia, but not alot, and I'm NEVER going back to that sh1thole...
Go Tigers!!!!
Keep your heads up, make corrections & improve!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Letterman [186]
TigerPulse: 40%
12
|
Re: There are some pretty horrendous stories here in this thread
Sep 1, 2014, 2:14 PM
|
|
UGA is by far the worst for this stuff. I know fans from many teams (CU, UT, SC, UF) that travel to Athens, only to come out with the same type of story. Everyone likes to write if off as "just a few bad eggs" but the truth is the truth. You can take a child to a UGA game, and end up having to fight because of some obnoxious drunk (usually a student) in your face within inches barking at you and slobbering on you using foul language. The people I am referencing with these kinds of stories are good people who are not instigators, just wearing another team's colors and walking in and out of the stadium. It's almost like this stuff is encouraged at UGA, cause you don't hear a UGA fan trying to stop it and they just keep on walking. I've been in Clemson and SC many times and heard some obnoxious drunk college student taunting an opposing fan, and saw fans from those schools jump in and put their own fan in his place. That's how it should be.
And for the "I would send them to the hospital" stuff, that sounds good except you know as soon as a fight breaks out, you're out numbered and the police are taking everyone to jail (it really won't matter who started it). Just curious, where does your 8 year old son stay while you're in jail for hours? (That's been my dilemma over the years and why I won't ever go to UGA for another game).
So it's easy for a SC fan to believe the OP since we get to experience this crappy behavior every two years. UGA is easy to hate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recruit [78]
TigerPulse: 39%
8
|
Re: Well I can assure you our fans DO NOT act that way and
Aug 31, 2014, 10:41 AM
[ in reply to Well I can assure you our fans DO NOT act that way and ] |
|
I have seen our fans act that way with my own eyes. I have seen a tiger fan attack a south carolina band member. Don't be so naive to the fact that our fan base is very similar to every other fan base.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expert [1376]
TigerPulse: 84%
28
|
So why is it fans and admins from other schools repeatedly
Sep 1, 2014, 1:10 PM
|
|
comment on the positive experiences they have when when attending games at Clemson? You don't EVER see these types of negatives letters being written to our AD. I'll tell you why - because Clemson IS different than places like Athens and Columbia, which have some of the lowest class fans in America.
|
|
|
|
|
|
CU Medallion [20745]
TigerPulse: 100%
52
Posts: 17338
Joined: 2008
|
Unfortunately, some of our fans were being ##### last
Aug 31, 2014, 10:41 AM
[ in reply to Well I can assure you our fans DO NOT act that way and ] |
|
night. They were a cussing and shooting the bird like there was no tomorrow. Pretty embarrassing. I had no problem with UGA fans last night.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Valley Protector [1463]
TigerPulse: 94%
29
|
Re: Well I can assure you our fans DO NOT act that way and
Aug 31, 2014, 10:42 AM
[ in reply to Well I can assure you our fans DO NOT act that way and ] |
|
Actually, we do have some fans that act that way. You can witness it almost every big game. I do believe that we have fewer fans like that than most schools, but we definitely have them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Elite [5179]
TigerPulse: 42%
38
Posts: 17167
Joined: 2005
|
Well you've never been to Clemson
Aug 31, 2014, 11:22 AM
[ in reply to Well I can assure you our fans DO NOT act that way and ] |
|
As a visiting fan.
It's sad what football and sports in general are turning into. I wish we could cut the stadiums in half and get rid of all the people who go there expecting to watch a play.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trainer [45]
TigerPulse: 63%
5
|
Re: Well I can assure you our fans DO NOT act that way and
Sep 1, 2014, 12:14 PM
[ in reply to Well I can assure you our fans DO NOT act that way and ] |
|
Well I see things have not changed in Athens since the 60's-80's. Last time I went to a game there was the Labor Day game in 1982. It was the same type of behavior some things never change I guess.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Varsity [231]
TigerPulse: 98%
13
|
Re: My letter to the GA AD....very truthful
Aug 31, 2014, 10:38 AM
[ in reply to Re: My letter to the GA AD....very truthful ] |
|
Calling someone "soft" speaks of your immaturity and arrogance. As adults and parents, we teach by example. "Know"ing how to talk to people won't set the right example for this guys child. Get a clue man, and grow up while you're at it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hall of Famer [22966]
TigerPulse: 100%
53
Posts: 25003
Joined: 1999
|
"our fans are exactly the same way..."
Aug 31, 2014, 10:42 AM
[ in reply to Re: My letter to the GA AD....very truthful ] |
|
Hardly....and if you're behaving in this fashion at any Clemson game, home or away, I hope you're invited to exit the stadium by the police
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Phenom [14441]
TigerPulse: 100%
49
|
Exactly and I might add other Tiger fans will step in
Aug 31, 2014, 10:55 AM
|
|
and take up for the fan from the other school. Big difference from other places.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rock Defender [71]
TigerPulse: 94%
8
|
Re: Exactly and I might add other Tiger fans will step in
Sep 1, 2014, 10:07 AM
|
|
If I EVER saw an opposing fan take abuse at Sanford Stadium, I would take up for them. It shouldn't be tolerated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fan [91]
TigerPulse: 18%
10
|
Re: Exactly and I might add other Tiger fans will step in
Sep 1, 2014, 10:37 AM
|
|
> If I EVER saw an opposing fan take abuse at Sanford
> Stadium, I would take up for them. It shouldn't be
> tolerated.
In the many times I've been to Athens (and Jax when I lived there) I have NEVER seen an UGA fan take up for an opposing fan being abused by (usually in packs) Georgia fans. It just doesn't happen - ever.
As for visiting DV (Oh, Lord this hurts to say it), I have NEVER had any issues with Clemson fans - ever. I hate to say it - dadgum, I hate it, but it's true.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Campus Hero [13649]
TigerPulse: 100%
48
Posts: 10053
Joined: 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Elite [5280]
TigerPulse: 100%
38
|
They don't want you or any other team's
Aug 31, 2014, 10:33 AM
|
|
fans to come there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
All-Time Great [97778]
TigerPulse: 100%
63
Posts: 47706
Joined: 2009
|
I too have seen way too many rude UGA fans & I disagree that Clemson shows same fan rudeness at DV.
Aug 31, 2014, 10:42 AM
|
|
Hey...even my Doctor's head nurse (UGa fan who wears her Dawg pin on outfit all year long) is rude to me when I visit (even when we won & I was gracious). Seems to be a mentality of Southern red-neck pride mixed with arrogance from winning.
GoTiGERs....keep plugging Men!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rock Defender [71]
TigerPulse: 94%
8
|
Re: They don't want you or any other team's
Sep 1, 2014, 10:19 AM
[ in reply to They don't want you or any other team's ] |
|
Untrue, talking to visitors is a lot more fun. I see it like someone visiting my home, and treat them BETTER than family, but that's just me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
CU Medallion [20745]
TigerPulse: 100%
52
Posts: 17338
Joined: 2008
|
Sorry. But it was the best trip to Athens I ever had.
Aug 31, 2014, 10:42 AM
|
|
We were treated well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Varsity [100]
TigerPulse: 93%
11
|
I had the exact opposite experience
Aug 31, 2014, 10:43 AM
|
|
I was there all day and I never had any hatred come my way. In fact, except for 1 incident, the UGA fans were extremely friendly and welcoming. 1 UGA started swearing at us during the game, and all the other UGA fans gave him so much crap for it he left the game and didnt come back. To be honest, I've never felt more welcome to be at an opposing teams stadium. Before and after the game UGA fans were telling me how glad they were for Clemson to be there and to have the rivalry back. In fact a big group of students came up to the band and offered to help us load up our gear, and later they helped clear some crowds out of the way to let our busses through. Very nice people at UGA in my experience.
|
|
|
|
|
|
All-American [576]
TigerPulse: 24%
20
|
Re: My letter to the GA AD....very truthful
Aug 31, 2014, 11:00 AM
|
|
my interactions with clemson fans yesterday were nothing but positive. i did not encounter a single unruly fan....in fact as i was approaching the gate i was surrounded by tiger fans all of which told me what a great time they've had on their road trip to the classic city. Without a doubt your experience was in the minority.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Standout [336]
TigerPulse: 100%
15
|
I have to admit, I went to Athens expecting the worse based
Aug 31, 2014, 11:07 AM
|
|
On past experiences. We had absolutely zero problems, not exactly welcoming fans but nobody in our face. I was pleasantly surprised.
|
|
|
|
|
|
CU Medallion [18535]
TigerPulse: 100%
52
Posts: 11848
Joined: 2001
|
The experience was actually pretty good for us. We arrived
Aug 31, 2014, 11:18 AM
|
|
at about 11am and really only ran into one "unruly" group that were sitting at the outside tables of a bar as we walked past. The other Ga folks that were walking around us were apologetic and embarrassed by their brethren. The others we talked with during the day were pleasant and positive. Good trip all in all, outside of the score of course!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paw Master [17358]
TigerPulse: 100%
51
Posts: 15338
Joined: 1999
|
Could have written the same letter 20 years ago
Aug 31, 2014, 11:14 AM
|
|
I will never go back there
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paw Warrior [4916]
TigerPulse: 100%
37
|
Maybe they thought it was their duty to replace Terp fans.***
Aug 31, 2014, 11:17 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rival Killer [2990]
TigerPulse: 100%
33
|
Re: My letter to the GA AD....very truthful
Aug 31, 2014, 11:24 AM
|
|
Amen. Most foul and openly hostile fan base I have ever witnessed. Post game there were thrown glass beer bottles at us, and various threats made to both my son and I. True safety issues getting out of stadium and Athens. Will NEVER go back. UGA academic community should be ashamed. CUAD should never agree to another home and home with Georgia.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ring of Honor [23485]
TigerPulse: 100%
53
Posts: 24236
Joined: 2003
|
Oddly enough, our group had a good experience.
Aug 31, 2014, 11:27 AM
|
|
We were treated well and welcomed to Athens by half a dozen strangers. I'm sure had we stayed downtown after the game alcohol would have changed the story. Just stay away from students. Young people are irreverent trash unless otherwise trained by their parents.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rookie [11]
TigerPulse: 35%
2
|
Re: My letter to the GA AD....very truthful
Aug 31, 2014, 11:46 AM
|
|
I am just throwing the bull shet flag on this thread.
If this really happened you should be a man about the situation and go public by making a phone call, contacting a reporter and get the facts out. Almost everyone has smart phones today where's the video & pictures of this happening?
Sour Grapes:
This is what BrazzyB would do and that's probably who you are.
|
|
|
|
|
|
CU Guru [1825]
TigerPulse: 100%
31
|
Other than losing, we had a great time.
Aug 31, 2014, 11:54 AM
|
|
Welcoming UGA fans .
Easy (and free) parking on their East Campus.
Shuttle buses to and from parking.
Sanford Stadium is very nice.
Great traffic flow onto the loop after the game.
4th quarter sucked.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paw Warrior [4916]
TigerPulse: 100%
37
|
When the question was asked and answered here several
Aug 31, 2014, 11:57 AM
|
|
years ago as to who the worst behaved fans we had to deal with, it was mostly Maryland. Got me thinking and asking every Coot I met who was the worst they encountered. Was a unanimous verdict that it was Georgia.
|
|
|
|
|
|
All-Conference [418]
TigerPulse: 45%
17
|
Re: My letter to the GA AD....very truthful
Aug 31, 2014, 12:00 PM
|
|
Ha. Welcome to a day in the life of college football. Happens everywhere in every stadium.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addict [441]
TigerPulse: 34%
17
|
I would work on your spelling.***
Aug 31, 2014, 12:21 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rock Defender [71]
TigerPulse: 94%
8
|
Re: My letter to the GA AD....very truthful
Sep 1, 2014, 10:06 AM
|
|
First off, sorry to hear you had such a bad experience.,especially with your son being with you. You're obviously not making this stuff up. I've been going to Sanford Stadium since 1979, and did not go to this game, but will be at two and maybe three home games this season.
My thoughts:
1. It's an 80-20 rule. I find 80% to be nice or at least, ignore you. I go out of my way to actually find visiting fans, especially when I know they've travelled a long way. Two years ago, Buffalo came here, and I was so impressed that some of them drove here from NY. I said "thanks" for visiting our campus, and asked them if they needed advice on where to eat and hang out at night.
2. There are drunk or just moronic "fans". Many did not even attend the school, and unfortunately, one bad incident from them ruins 20 people being nice to you. They are an embarrassment.
3. Half the stadium is filled with middle-aged parents or alumni with bad hips and knees. They don't want to bother anyone.
Again, hate to hear this. A Tiger fan also wrote about how gracious the fans were, and I think there are a lot more of them. I think that if I went to DV, and hope to some day, most fans would be nice but there's a good chance I'd have to take some abuse from a couple. It's just the way it is when you mix college football, passionate fans, and alcohol, oh, and stupidity.
4. UGA is hardly the only school like this.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Freshman [8]
TigerPulse: 80%
1
|
Re: My letter to the GA AD....very truthful
Sep 1, 2014, 10:32 AM
|
|
As the Good Dawg said, I also am sorry to hear of your bad experience.
I have been to multiple UGA-Clemson games in both stadiums, going back to 1980 in Athens. I think the minority of obnoxious fans make the whole fanbase look bad.
I'm not a fan of the UGA fanbase. Our fans are fickle and our fans wrongly expect a national championship each year. They take it as a personal assault when a group of 18-22 year olds actually lose a game. But there are a lot of great UGA fans too.
I've had great experience with Clemson fans, and I've had horrible experiences with Clemson fans. Every school has obnoxious fans. And I'm sorry the original poster ran into several of the latter. It has been refreshing though to read about the good experiences several of you had in Athens.
Clemson has a great tradition, a great program, and incredible fans. I wish you guys all the best during the rest of the season.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ultimate Clemson Legend [98565]
TigerPulse: 100%
64
Posts: 97863
Joined: 2009
|
You think he can read?
Sep 1, 2014, 12:41 PM
|
|
Should have left a voice mail.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Game Changer [1925]
TigerPulse: 100%
31
|
sorry this happened...
Sep 1, 2014, 1:03 PM
|
|
some people just are cursed by this sort of thing as the project a nerdly persona, kind of like Waldo. if that happened to me I would have reacted. you cannot let your son see you slink away or get picked on. no one kid deserves to see his dad bullied.
if you were in my tailgate I would have protected you and put a stop to it. sorry that happened
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amateur [37]
TigerPulse: 93%
4
|
Sorry to hear about your experience.
Sep 1, 2014, 1:13 PM
|
|
That said, you have to expect a little grief from the opposing fans, especially in their place. Believe me, I had a run in with a Colorado fan in Boulder back in 2010 when the Dawgs played out there. I was actually appreciative that they had folks with enough sand to get a little rude. As long as folks aren't getting physical or cursing too much, it simply part of the game.
Heck, if a Tech fan isn't in my face at Bobby Dodd every other year, I'm disappointed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rock Defender [72]
TigerPulse: 55%
8
|
BS your fans push and pick on women and children.
Sep 1, 2014, 1:17 PM
|
|
That is what #### cowards do. Read my post about many Clemson and South Carolina fans have gone to jail in Athens.
|
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [14090]
TigerPulse: 78%
48
Posts: 25447
Joined: 2005
|
You bulldogs are a trillion times more crooked than a coot..
Sep 1, 2014, 2:24 PM
|
|
Anybody who has been through Georgia, knows that local Georgia police like to harass out of staters.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Head Coach [970]
TigerPulse: 100%
24
|
I had a very good fan experience.
Sep 1, 2014, 1:19 PM
|
|
What did your shirts say ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fan [64]
TigerPulse: 95%
7
|
Re: My letter to the GA AD....very truthful
Sep 1, 2014, 2:46 PM
|
|
Sorry to hear that...that's embarrassing (to me) as a Georgian and as a Southerner.
Understand not wanting to return, but when we play again, contact me and you and your crew are welcome at our tailgate and I promise your experience will be different.
Go Dawgs!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Team Captain [484]
TigerPulse: 72%
18
|
Re: My letter to the GA AD....very truthful
Sep 1, 2014, 3:06 PM
|
|
You showed him!!! Maybe he'll send you a few vouchers for some of those topless water bottles at Sanford
|
|
|
|
|
|
Replies: 45
| visibility 802
|
|
|
50
