While I’m not surprised there was some reluctance on the part of Clemson players to attend the White House celebration, this side note did catch my eye.
Another defensive standout noted that coaches didn’t pressure players to accompany the team to Washington, D.C., but said that almost every black player he knew didn’t want to take the trip. However, he noted that he knew that some players only attended because they worried that refusing to attend the traditional White House visit might affect their scholarships or playing time.
“Not saying anything against the players who went,” the junior explained, “but if you look at who went—freshman and people fighting for playing time—you’ll see what I’m talking about.” [Emphasis added.]
That’s a little strange. As the article goes on to note, “Clemson’s coaches, staff or administration did not pressure them to attend”. So from where did that perception come?
The whole thing comes off as very bi-polar. One the one hand, there’s this “This team is a family” vibe, but on the other, you’ve got some family members worried about retaliation for not wanting to attend. Weird.
[Ed. note: If you want to go off on a lunch with Trump rant, save it for today’s Playpen. This post is solely about life at Clemson. Thanks.]
Get The Picture 
Give them credit for making it optional and keeping it quiet. Over two weeks with no news on this has to be some sort of record. It will be interesting to see if the story gets any oxygen from here.
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Dear Lord… Go to the White House. Enjoy your moment in the sun. You’ll look back in your later years and be able to say to your kids you visited the White House on a NCS Team.
Your 21 years old or younger. Leave the politics for an older age. It only gets worse…
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You know, I’m as political as anyone but I have to agree. Go see the place already.
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Well said.
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You do realize who you are talking to here. Impressible 20 year-olds.
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As opposed to unimpressible older folks?
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That may have been Clemson but it would have been the same if Alabama had won.
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I question whether it would have been equally quiet tho. I suspect some auburn connected politician would have been lying in wait to stir shit.
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Does a race baiting journalist count?
“Michael Harriot
World-renowned wypipologist. Getter and doer of “it.” Never reneged, never will. Last real negus alive.”
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In terms of impact? Not even close.
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Truth. However, the overtones of the article struck me as unnecessarily divisive and that’s what prompted my comment.
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I was kind of surprised to see Lindsey Graham, a University of South Carolina grad, at the White House for the celebration.
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“Yeah he runs a 4.2 forty, but remember he wouldn’t go to the White House. Scratch him from the playing list.”
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“if you look at who went—freshman and people fighting for playing time—you’ll see what I’m talking about.”
Not sure how many of the guys running 4.2 forty yard dashes are going to be the guys struggling and fighting to play…
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Yeah. I took that to mean only “the butt kissers” went.
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I long for the days when UGA fans are bitching about players skipping White House visits after winning a national title.
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Not to delve into playpen-esque territory, but….
Giving a voice to this type of speculation, whether through a “news” article or social media, is a big problem! Almost everyone is suspicious, thinks there’s a hidden agenda or ulterior motive (but only from the other side, never their own), perceive “innocent’ behavior as being aggressive or pushy, misread others, etc.
Obviously, these sorts of feelings have always been around, but I think social media (and alternative media itself by writing a “story” like this) have amplified it.
If you’re interested, I recommend Michael Crichton’s essay, “Why Speculate?” – its easy to find on the web!
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Go or your IPTAY payment will be withheld.
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I would go to the White House – it’s a huge honor – even if _______ was President.
Put whoever one wants in the blank – Trump, Obama, Hoover, Nixon, etc.
I would still go.
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I think it’s easy to say this, but if you feel personally offended or you feel persecuted in some way by the sitting POTUS it certainly has an impact.
The place itself being special doesn’t always make up for the person housed in said place.
My thoughts are… go, don’t go, but I’m fine with whatever decision is made as it’s not mine to make.
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44 times out of 45 you’d be absolutely right. I’m not aware of any of this being an issue for 44 straight presidents in a row.
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Did Bama’s players not go last year? How about Clemson’s players the year before? Same President.
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No, same situation under Obama with the Ryder Cup group, and certain athletes on other championship teams. The low we have reached in our society is very disconcerting, everyone should put the country over their narrow perspective. I don’t like how Clinton, Obama or Trump has treated our traditions, and the office of President, but citizens shouldn’t trash what it stands for, I would go regardless. I had that opportunity once, and took it, and didn’t care much for the POTUS at that time. Special place, sad what we have allowed to happen to it. Clemson was right, imo, to downplay the political card about attendance.
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It’s happened but not to this degree:
https://theweek.com/articles/460872/18-athletes-who-refused-visit-white-house
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The Root??? Does it cover Clemson football regularly or was this too good to pass up?
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It’s really sad that any person would make such a thing about a person rather than the office. They just weren’t taught what is truly important.
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With having to go meet the president at the white house and only being served Big Macs, it sounds like new grounds for a hardship waiver.
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To the degree McDonalds is the worst fast food hamburger ever, I agree. Hard to believe they anchored their business on a product that lousy and not only didn’t go under, they prospered. Even Europe has better hamburgers than that! Still, as a cheeseburger lover, it isn’t the worst food decision the WH could have chosen.
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McD’s is no great shakes (see what I did there?), but the product isn’t the food. The product is the speed (well, used to be), the convenience, the consistency and the relative cost. When we went to Europe we were happy enough to find a McD or BK just because we knew what we were getting in advance and we could get ice in a drink. Not to include continental dining, but sometimes, on the road…
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There is always some peer pressure…both ways. Don’t wanna disrespect on one side….don’t wanna be called a Trumper on the other. I do not for a second believe that a coach at that level risks not winning over not attending or attending. If he does it will eventually catch up to him in performance. Seems like a passive aggressive way for that player to make his political statement. Move on…..
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Jalopnik is bad enough at times, hard to believe you can stomach The Root.
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It doesn’t matter who the president is, go to the White House.
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I would go no matter who the president was – just to go to the White House. I would probably have asked if we could go other places in D.C. as well. If I was a Clemson player, the thing I would have been disappointed about would have been the food. You can get all that fast food crap anywhere. I would have been looking for some next-level catered food at the White House. And it’s not like Trump couldn’t have afforded a good caterer for that one event.
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