Football brawl raises questions

In a necessary show of solidarity between the state’s two largest institutions of higher learning, the University of South Carolina and Clemson University have decided not to accept invitations to play in postseason college football bowl games. ...

A message must be sent that such behavior will not be representative of the schools. It has consequences. The conduct of the players should make them ineligible for the prestige of a bowl appearance. ...

Supporters of both schools are among people needing to ask questions in the face of the incident. Do fans put too much pressure on the players? Is there too much emphasis on the rivalry? When does it stop being fun and entertaining and start becoming ugly and confrontational?

Even the media must ask ourselves some tough questions. Are we contributing to a healthy on-the-field rivalry between two schools that are allied in so many ways, or is all the pregame publicity geared toward building a dangerous frenzy?

Let’s not forget that people die in confrontations at sporting events. ... In this state and nation, we simply must not allow our sports to reach that level.

Plus there’s an important need for perspective. While athletes from ages 19 to 22 were fighting on the football field and making headlines for their actions, others their age were fighting for real on battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan. There the stakes are much higher than bragging rights or bowl games — it’s a matter of life and death.

The (Orangebur) Times and Democrat

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