NC State police investigating fan behavior, ACC 'satisfied' with Clemson's laptop explanation
NC State coach Dave Doeren had a few gripes after his team’s 38-31 home loss to Clemson over the weekend.
For one, Doeren said he wished the officiating in Saturday’s game “was better.” He wasn’t the only one. A bunch of NC State fans let the officials have it as they left the field at Carter-Finley Stadium.
It got pretty ugly with some fans throwing objects and apparently spitting on the officials, and now university police is investigating the matter.
NC State fans throwing objects and spitting on refs leaving the field. #fansnothappy #acc pic.twitter.com/NZw7I5L7bu
— billy weaver (@billyweaver14) November 4, 2017
University police issued the following statement Monday:
“The NC State University Police Department is seeking information about an incident which occurred at the November 4, 2017 home football game at Carter-Finley Stadium. If anyone has information about the identities of persons shown in the video who are throwing objects at the referees as they departed the playing surface, please call the NC State University Police Department by calling 919-515-3000. Thank you for your assistance.”
On top of that, after speaking about the officiating, Doeren, unprompted, brought up a laptop being used on Clemson’s sideline.
“I’d like to know why there was a laptop on Clemson’s sideline that people were looking at,” Doeren said. “I’d like that to be investigated. Maybe they weren’t doing anything, but I was told it’s illegal to have technology on the sideline. So I’d like to know that as well.”
Here’s what Doeren may have referred to in regards to his comments about Clemson having a laptop on the sideline. pic.twitter.com/fvQqydIDCK
— Inside Pack Sports (@InsidePackSport) November 5, 2017
According to the Raleigh News & Observer, Clemson said the laptop belonged to its social media team and was not used for coaching purposes, which would have been illegal. The laptop was removed in the second half after the ACC was made aware of its presence on the sideline.
According to the NCAA rulebook, motion pictures, any type of film, facsimile machines, videotapes, photographs, writing-transmission machines and computers may not be used by coaches for coaching purposes any time during the game or between periods.
Clemson spokesman Joe Galbraith said the team’s video staff has used a laptop on the sideline during road games for at least the last two and a half years without any complaints prior to Saturday. Its purpose is to quickly transmit still photographs and video highlights for use on the school’s social media platforms.
“That individual has no contact with coaches or student-athletes during the game,” Galbraith said Saturday night.
On Sunday, an ACC spokesman told the Associated Press that the league was “satisfied” with Clemson’s explanation.
The Wolfpack led 21-17 at halftime but Clemson came back and won 38-31. NC State looked like it was poised to tie the game late in regulation after advancing to the Clemson four-yard-line on a fourth-down conversion in the final minute, but the play was called back because of a (correct) illegal motion penalty.
As you can see below, a few NC State receivers were not set at the snap.
On NC State’s second fourth-down try, quarterback Ryan Finley was intercepted and Clemson subsequently held on for the win.
The loss dropped NC State to 6-3 on the season and gave the Tigers a commanding lead in the ACC Atlantic Division. A win over Florida State will clinch a division title and another trip to the ACC title game for Clemson.
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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
