‘Those are Gamecocks fans’ Clemson baseball coach addresses doubters
Coach Bakich responds to criticism about lack of recent success
CLEMSON, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Clemson baseball has heard the noise about its lack of recent success, having not reached the College World Series since 2010, but Head Coach Erik Bakich said that criticism doesn’t come from the team’s supporters.
“The people who bring that up over, and over, and over, and over, and over again, those are called Gamecocks. Those aren’t Clemson fans,” Bakich said. “That’s South Carolina’s fanbase that loves to troll. So, whatever. They’ve got bragging rights because of what they accomplished a decade ago, and that’s fine.”
Gamecocks baseball won back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2010 and 2011.
During the NCAA Tournament Selection Show Monday afternoon, Tigers players were visibly disappointed when they heard the announcement that South Carolina would not be in the Clemson regional.
The Tigers beat the Gamecocks in both Palmetto Series matchups this season and will host the NCAA Regional for the second consecutive year.
“If you’re going start looking in the history books, then go back to the mid-90s and the early 2000s in the coach (Jack) Leggett heyday, go back to coach (Bill) Wilhelm’s days,” Bakich said. “This is a blue-blood program with plenty of rich history and tradition. If Clemson baseball truly is back, then we’ve got to go out and earn it on the field.”
In Columbia Monday, Gamecocks players cheered when news broke that SEC power Vanderbilt will be in Clemson’s regional, which could provide a tough future matchup for the Tigers.
South Carolina baseball is headed to the Raleigh Regional and will play James Madison University in its first NCAA Tournament game Friday on the campus of North Carolina State.
The Tigers will begin their regional by hosting High Point University on Friday.
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