Clemson–South Carolina football brawl | |||||||||||||||||||
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Date | November 20, 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||
Season | 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stadium | Memorial Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||
Location | Clemson, SC | ||||||||||||||||||
Referee | Doyle Jackson | ||||||||||||||||||
Attendance | 82,500 | ||||||||||||||||||
United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||
Network | Jefferson Pilot Sports |
The Clemson–South Carolina football brawl was an on-field altercation during an NCAA game between football players from the University of South Carolina and Clemson University. The incident took place on November 20, 2004 at the Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. This disturbance led to serious repercussions handed down for those involved from the SEC (South Carolina's conference) and the ACC (Clemson's conference). This took place the day after a notable brawl at an NBA game in Detroit," the "Malice at the Palace".
Prior to the contest, some South Carolina players congregated at the corner of the endzone near the bottom of "the Hill" at Memorial Stadium as Clemson made their traditional entrance to the field. Brief shoving ensued between Gamecock and Tiger players, but was broken up quickly.
The brawl resulted late in the game after USC quarterback Syvelle Newton was knocked to the ground after a shot to the helmet following an incomplete pass on 4th and 11 with 5:48 left to go in the fourth quarter, and Clemson players lay on top of him preventing him from getting up. Players on the field from both teams engaged in shoving and punching and both benches practically cleared as chaos erupted. The iconic image of the brawl was of Clemson's Yusef Kelly kicking a helmetless South Carolina player in the head as he lay face down, attempting to protect his head with his hands.State Troopers, as well as other local law enforcement officers, entered the field to restore order. No fans ever entered the field. Play was suspended for six minutes.
The fight overshadowed the last game Lou Holtz participated in as South Carolina's head coach, as he retired at the end of the season. Holtz quoted that he "is going to be remembered along with former Ohio State coach Woody Hayes for having a fight at the Clemson game," alluding to the 1978 Gator Bowl. Holtz then handed the coaching reins to Steve Spurrier. Clemson won the game 29–7.