Several Clemson players objected to the team’s trip to the White House to celebrate their national championship due to President Trump’s politics.
It was a strange affair when the Clemson Tigers accepted President Trump’s invitation to the White House earlier this month.
The event was designed to celebrate the Tigers’ latest National Championship title, but it was overshadowed by the government shutdown. With the White House short-staffed, the President decided to get food from McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s with his own money to satisfy his hungry guests. The scene went viral on social media.
Even without the fast food fiasco, a new report by The Root states that many players had no interest in making the trip in the first place. While the University has suggested that students didn’t make the trip because they had previous obligations on campus, players interviewed by the Root said that was never a problem.
“They told us it was up to us,” one player said. “Folks just didn’t want to go.”
The players confirmed that players did not feel pressured by coaches, staff, or administration to attend the event. But one player interviewed stated that he knew some players who only made the trip because they were worried about a threat to their scholarship or were looking to earn more playing time.
“Not saying anything against the players who went,” one player said. “But if you look at who went– freshman and people fighting for playing time– you’ll see what I’m talking about.”
Overall, only 15 black players listed on the school’s official roster attended the White House visit, 11 of which are freshman or sophomores with limited playing time. There are 57 black players on the official roster, which means that 74 percent of Clemson’s black players did not attend. 76 players, or two-thirds of the team, were in attendance.
Despite the apparent divide, the Clemson players interviewed by The Root said that they respected their teammates’ decisions and had no resentment for players who chose to make the trip.
“This team is a family,” one player said to The Root. “You don’t always agree with your family on everything, but still… that’s my brother no matter what.”