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ONLINE POLL Did USC make the right decision not to go to a bowl game? Go to www.dailygamecock.com to vote. Results posted Friday. THBlfetAMECOCK EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR Adam Beam DESIGN DIRECTOR David Stagg NEWS EDITOR Michael LaForgia THE MIX EDITOR Meg Moore COPY DESK CHIEF Gabrielle Sinclair VIEWPOINTS EDITOR Wes Wolfe SENIOR WRITER Kevin Fellner ASST. NEWS EDITOR Jon Turner IN OUR OPINION NBA brawl shrouds US C- Clemson fight If it weren’t for Ron Artest and the Indiana Pacers’ brawl with the Detroit Pistons two nights before the Carolina-Clemson foot ball game, USC and Clemson would be practicing for upcoming bowl games. The Pistons-Pacers fight that spilled into the fans was a disgraceful example of sportsmanship and reflects poorly on not only the NBA but all pro sports. The media fallout fol lowing the unprecedented fight was predictable. After the general “this is what happened” story, media members unleashed Backing out of a bowl was the right decision. columns, editorials and articles on how this fight will change sports culture forever. The suspensions handed down by NBA commissioner uavid otern only added more tuel to the already blazing fire. Now we turn to the Carolina-Clemson fight, a fight between two heated rivals that had had just a little too much trash talk ing. No one was injured, with both schools left only with the embarrassing images of state troopers having to separate college students on a football field. But fighting in sports is a common theme. The Florida Florida State rivalry has seen its share of on-the-field fighting, as have numerous other college venue. Professional teams have shoving matches and fist fights all the time, and it usually is a blurb in the news story between the final score and quotes from the coach. But in a politically correct world, timing is everything, and the Carolina-Clemson fight came at just the right time for action. Because of the media attention surrounding the Pistons Pacers fight, USC President Andrew Sorensen and Clemson President James Barker had to act quickly or risk facing an embarrassing bowl ban forcefully handed down by the NCAA. So, the two schools voluntarily decided to back out of a bowl game to make a statement that this type of behavior would not be tolerated by either school. It was the right decision, and it sends the right message to the nation that millions of dollars and valuable exposure takes a back seat to standards of principle and fair play. But we can’t help but wonder if the outcome would have been different minus Artest and the Indiana Pacers. IT’S YOUR RIGHT | Exercise your right to voice your opinion Create message boards at www.dailygamecock.com or send letters to the editor to gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu GAMECOCK CORRECTIONS If you see an error in today’s paper, we want to know. E-mail us at gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu. ABOUT THE GAMECOCK Adam Beam DESIGN DIRECTOR David Stagg COPY DESK CHIEF Gabrielle Sinclair NEWS EDITOR Michael LaForgia ASST. NEWS EDITOR Jon Turner VIEWPOINTS EDITOR Wes Wolfe THE MIX EDITOR Meg Moore SPORTS EDITOR Jonathan Hillyard ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Daniel Kerr SENIOR WRITER Kevin Fellner PHOTO EDITOR Jason Steelman SPORTS PHOTO EDITOR Katie Kirkland PAGE DESIGNERS Erin Cline, Staci Jordan, Jennifer Logan, Chas McCarthy, Jessica Ann Nielsen COPY EDITORS Jennifer Freeman, Anna Huntley, Daniel Regenscheit, Jason Reynolds, Jennifer Sitkowski, Shana Till, Steven Van Haren, Joel Wallace ONLINE EDITOR E.B. Davis PUBLIC AFFAIRS Jane Fielden, Katie Miles CONTACT INFORMATION Offices on third floor of the Russell House. The Editor" s office hours are Monday and Wednesday from 3-5 p.m. Editor: gamecockeditor@gwm.sc.edu News.- garnecocknews@gwm.sc.edu Viewpoints: gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu The Mix: gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu Sports: gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu Public Affairs: gamecockPR@yahoo.com Online: www.dailygamecock.com Newsroom: 777-7726; Sports: 777-7182 Editor's Office: 777-3914 I STUDENT MEDIA DIRECTOR Scott Lindenberg FACULTY ADVISER Erik Collins CREATIVE DIRECTOR Susan King BUSINESS MANAGER Carolyn Griffin ADVERTISING MANAGER Sarah Scarborough CLASSIFIED MANAGER Sherry F. Holmes PRODUCTION MANAGER Garen Cansler CREATIVE SERVICES Burke Lauderdale, Chelsea Felder, Laura Gough, Joseph Dannelly, Kristen Williams ADVERTISING STAFF Robert Carli, Breanna Evans, Ryan Gorman, Caroline Love, Jesica Johnson, Katie Stephens _I The Gamecock is the editorially independent student newspaper of the University of South Carolina. It is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters and nine times during the summer, with the exception of university holidays and exam periods. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of the editors or author and not those of the University of South Carolina. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is the publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of Student Media is the newspaper's parent organization. The Gamecock is supported in part by student-activity fees. . One free copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 each from the Department of Student Media. TO PLACE AN AD The Gamecock Advertising: 777-3888 1400 Greene St. Classified: 777-1184 P Columbia, S.C. 29208 file 777-6482 I ISHTHISAr THE GAME, AND WWDGOTA BROKEN MDSE AND ASSAULT CHARGES CARTOON COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS Some Gamecocks come from Tigers ■ It s not always easy to live with a family full of Clemson fans I was fortunate enough to be born into a comfortable home with a nice family. They fed me, clothed me and made sure I had every “Jurassic Park” toy that was essential to my existence as a second-grader. Looking back, it’s almost enough to forgive them for being Clemson fans. Everyone in my family, on both sides, owes their allegiance to Clemson. I suppose they were all born on top of the stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down. As a result, I am heavily outnumbered in any discussion regarding the merits of in state academic institutions anid major NCAA Division I football teams. But it wasn’t always like that. I was born and raised to be a Tiger. For one reason or another, I never quite developed a strong emotional bond with Clemson, much in the same way I never developed a strong emotional bond with walking on hot coals and locking myself in a room filled with hungry lions with raw meat stapled to myself. My grandpa worked for Clemson for more than 35 years. He is by far the most die-hard in the family. As soon as we were pld enough to be brainwashed, he trained us to ignore good taste and fashion sense and wear orange. I admit, I fell for it for a few years. But by the time I was a senior in high school, as I the fifth of five grandchildren, I was his last hope that one of us would become a Tiger. Much to his regret, and to my sick and CHASE twisted STOUDENMIRE Pleasure’ 1 was the one and FIRST-YEAR r. , POLITICAL ny that SCIENCE became a STUDENT n , Gamecock. Everyone has heard the same old jokes about Clemson and how human and farm animal are so closely related that the football team can be seen grazing on the field during practice. What surprised me was how much of this was fact and not fiction. While I was still in high school, I spent one weekend at Clemson visiting friends. While trying to find my way around campus and to their room, I finally made my way into one campus building to ask for directions and was shocked by wh& ! saw. As I walked down the halls and peered into the' rooms, I saw at least one or two cows sitting in every room! There was some serious bovine action going on. Upon closer inspection, I realized my mistake and discovered that it was actually a freshman girls’ dorm. I knew at that moment I could never survive at a school like Clemson. And sure enough, of the five ladies on my “potential wives” list, none of them are Tigers. Further, even if I were able to find a potential mate at Clemson, how would I ever be able to support her? Practically the only thing a Clemson degree is good for these days is that it qualifies you for handicapped parking if you display it on your windshield. Now, as a Gamecock, I am steadfastly securing my future, and torturing my good of Papa at the same time. Little did he know that the season tickets we have had to Clemson games forever and a day would this year be used to get four Carolina students into Death Valley. The look on his face was priceless when he discovered the “Proud USC Grandparent” sticker I plastered on his brand new SUV (which he refers to as “merlot,” even though we all know it’s really garnet). And as a man whose wardrobe consists of over 90 percent Clemson paraphernalia, it pains him to know that the orange blazer he gave me years ago has never been worn outside the context of an “Ugliest Outfit Ever” contest. Although the final score of the big1 game this year didn’t do much to quiet the family down, I’m still walking with my head high. We may have lost the game, but we certainly won the fight. I look forward to another year of constant bickering, and in the spirit of the holidays, would like to declare that I’m thankful to be a South Carolinian by birth, and a Gamecock by the grace of God and tuition payments. IN YOUR OPINION Stop wasting funds for USC football In the wake of the debacle at the Clemson game, I have two suggestions that I hope will help bring our football program in line with the priorities of a quality university. First, the head coach of the team should not be paid more than a full professor. Second, the football team, as an extracurricular activity, should be composed entirely of walk-ons who volunteer their time to play football because they like it. It is a shame that the legions of Gamecock fans who are willing to pony up vast sums of money to donate to the Gamecock Club to pay for scholarships and football costs are not willing to donate that money to a school or college at this university that actually educates someone. The $1.8 million a year this school is about to pay Steve Spurrier could hire more than 30 full professors at the School of Music, shave $100 off the fees of every undergraduate on this campus, or be put into lab equipment, library acquisitions, or maintenance and upkeep of facilities. Off-campus, it could provide the food budget for more than 300 needy families each year. The amount of money our school and our culture spends on college athletics is frankly embarrassing, as is the amount of money it brings in, and the spectacle we witnessed Nov. 20 proves the stupidity of the entire endeavor. ROGER KEANE Third-year music student Fight reflects poorly on Carolina faithful I have been a Gamecock fan for as far back as I can remember. Yet there has never once been a time I have felt disgusted and literally betrayed by the Gamecocks, until now. Not only did we just lose one of the nation’s all-time greatest coaches, our football team disgraced him. Granted, not the entire team is to blame, but those that are at fault cost our school a lot. A bowl game was lost, yes, but with it our pride. I viewed a post-game video featuring USC and Clemson players discussing the fight. Na’shan Goddard’s comment says it best: “It’s the Indiana Pacers’ fault." Attitudes like these hurt not only the college but the students. Lou Holtz accepted the blame for the small handful of idiots that fateful day. I hope, however, these football players do not continue to cower behind the media’s focus on the changing of the head coaches. This university is owed a very sincere apology for their sickening attitudes, lack of sportsmanship and ridiculous comments. JENNIFER SMITH Third-year economics student On-field brawl adds to embarrassment As a USC graduate who happens to live in California, 1 often find myself defending. Trying to explain why a rooster is USC’s mascot has always been the hardest. Until now, that is. How does one explain Nov. 20’s melee between the Carolina and Clemson football teams? You certainly do not dismiss the thug-like behavior by blaming professional basketball players’ similar actions, as did Tommy Bowden. And you definitely shouldn’t blame the emotions evoked by the long-standing rivalry between the two schools. I blame the lack of player self control both on and off the field, and USC’s inexplicable quest for mediocrity. It’s that simple. What a sad send-off for coach Lou Holtz, and an even sadder welcome - message for Steve Spurrier. He certainly has his work cut out for him. Thanks Carolina. You’ve managed to take my level of embarrassment to new heights. ALAN JAY HOUSE Class of '89 Submission Policy Letters to the editor should be less than 300 words and include name, phone number, professional title or year and major, if a student. E-mail letters, to gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu. Letters will be edited. Anonymous letters will not be published. Call the newsroom at 777 7726 for more information. Alabama refuses to give up on segregation ■ Progress, healing lose again after racism holds strong in state Alabama disgusts me. It is true that a lot of it has to do with the fact that living on the border of Georgia and Alabama, I deal with their ignorant E drivers on a much too frequent basis. And it is also true that it is par tially because adventuring to Alabama at night is like driving down a road with no lines, JUSTIN since fluor SIMMONS escent paint is a hit in the wallet it’s POLITICAL^ unwilling to take. SCIENCE But these things STUDENT aside, 1 still have a very obvious reason to nate AiaDama. Alabama gives the South a bad name. As I read the headlines Saturday night, I saw something that I desperately hoped was a misprint: “Alabama vote opens old racial wounds” was the headline of a story by Manuel Roig-Franzia of The Washington Post. I must admit that seeing a headline such as this referencing Alabama wasn’t exactly a shock, yet curiosity got the best of me so I read on. It seems that the citizens of Alabama, being the ardent supporters of civil rights that they are, decided not to amend their constitution to officially remove segregation from their schools. Oh, but it doesn’t end there. Not only did they, in essence, vote to keep segregation on the books, they came up with a really lame justification. The amendment included a section guaranteeing a public education for all children. Leading opponents, including the Alabama Christian Coalition and former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore (being the fountain of judicial wisdom that he is) claimed that guaranteeing a public education to all children would enable those evil activist federal judges to force the state to raise its taxes. That is quite possibly the worst argument I have heard since a Clemson student tried to convince me orange was an acceptable color tor overalls (as if overalls are acceptable in any color). I have several problems with this “stance” taken by the under-educated Alabama electorate. First of all, you’re either stupid or racist. If you bu^ into the argument that Roy Moore and the Alabama Christian Coalition (I will deal with the loose usage of the word Christian momentarily) put forth, you probably don’t deserve to vote. As a matter of fact, if you were given the same tests that your state used to administer to blacks before they could vote you would probably fail miserably. Now let’s move onto the Alabama “Christian” Coalition. As a Christian your argument regarding the Ten Commandments in a state courthouse tugged at my heartstrings just a bit, especially since the Ten Commandments are historically significant from a legal standpoint and they are depicted on the doors of the United States Supreme Court. But why in the world is the Alabama “Christian” Coalition siding with segregationist statutes? This is the kind of ridiculous stupidity that gives Christians a bad name. I have been to Alabama. Most of .L . _’ l_i__._L i -ri hungry people to feed, naked people to clothe, sick people to nurse. Why does a “Christian” organization feel the need to spend its resources fighting an amendment that would take segregation off of the books? This leads me into the second possible cause. Alabama is made up of more racists than I thought. This is scary not just because of the attitude that racists carry, but because my original estimation of the number of racists in Alabama wasn’t exactly a conservative one. You might wonder why I have picked such an obscure story to devote a column to. Well, there are several reasons. I am white. I am Southern. I am a Christian. I am a Republican. For too long people in each of these demographics have remained silent while trash like this continues to plague us. Not any more. COLLEGE QUOTE BOARD OKLAHOMA DAILY UNIJSSSITY OF OKLAHOMA We need to return to sportsmanship where we respect our opponents and sup port otir teams without trashing the other team and starting fights. The actions taking place demonstrate that people are taking sports far too seriously. You can cheer for your team very enthusiastically, but once you cross the line to harming fans or players from the other team, you are taking sports too seriously. Class should return to sports ^gain. ^ DAILY TEXAN UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS Last year. Congress approved an amendment to ban altering the federal need-anal . ysis formula; this year the amendment was thrown out. The spending bill also froze the maximum level for Pell Grants at $4,050 for the third year in a row. And Congress will continue to pass similar measures as long as they don’t hear any out cry from students. * ’ uJ*