‘We’re not just football players.’ Why Clemson team had display of unity vs. Citadel
The Clemson football team put on an impressive display during the first half of Saturday’s game against The Citadel, scoring 49 points and setting a record for the most points scored in a half under Dabo Swinney along the way.
During the middle of Clemson’s onslaught, the Tigers took a break from scoring points for a different kind of display — a display of unity.
In between the first quarter and second quarter, Clemson’s entire football team — players and staff members — joined arms and stood on the sideline facing the south stands as a video promoting unity played on the video board.
The crowd cheered the demonstration, with Clemson coach Dabo Swinney encouraging the fans to grow louder as his team stood arm-in-arm. Many of the fans stood and applauded.
“It was a cool moment. It really was,” Swinney said. “It is is just a message of we just want to be together. It starts with all of us, being that change. Be the change that we want to see in other people. Showing kindness and respect and grace and forgiveness and tolerance of other people that maybe don’t think the way you do.”
Clemson is promoting social justice in several different ways throughout the 2020 season, with the latest example being the display of unity on Saturday. The Tigers also had “unity” and “equality” painted on the sidelines during the game, and players are also wearing helmet stickers with social justice messages on them throughout the year.
“Obviously the ultimate goal is to see change in what we’re doing. I feel like it was definitely a goal to use our platforms for more than just football. We’re also people too,” junior defensive lineman Jordan Williams said. “We’re not just athletes. We’re not just football players. We’re not just Clemson football players. But we definitely, in ways, want to use our platforms to express things that matter most to us.”
While most fans in the stands cheered the display on Saturday, there has been some backlash on social media and message boards as the Clemson team has mixed football with social justice issues.
Williams is aware that some fans are not on board with Clemson’s stand for social justice, but he said the Tigers will continue to push to try to make a difference in the world.
“It’s very disappointing but you can’t really just take it as a negative and not work, not still try to get your message across,” Williams said. “There’s always going to be backlash and people that don’t agree with you. But you can’t let that affect how you think or how you feel about what you believe.”
