Kylee Harless
Online Editor
If any of the readers of the Branding Iron were excited to see the Cowboys play against the Clemson Tigers, then there is some bad news.
As of Feb 25,2020, the game is not going to happen.
The game was set to be played on Sept. 18, 2021 as the season opener for both teams.
Then the cold day of Feb. 25, 2020 came and the game was canceled. Why? Clemson saw the opportunity for a higher stakes power play game. Clemson dropped Wyoming to take on the Georgia Bulldogs. The game cost Clemson $1.1 million to buy out of their contract with Wyoming.
“I’m sad… we were going to go to that game. We have family in Clemson and it was going to be fun to cheer for both sides. But, it does make sense… Wyoming isn’t worth the risk of a Clemson player[s] getting hurt… not that they’d [play] their first string against Wyoming anyway. It positions Clemson better for the playoffs anyways,” said Shelli Smith-Stewart, a fan of Cowboy Football.
The Branding Iron reached out to the athletics department for comment and received an answer from Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations, Public Relations and Broadcasting Tim Harkins.
“We will be issuing a release in the next couple of weeks on the changes to our 2021 football schedule, involving a replacement for Clemson and the financial arrangements around that change. But we must wait until the contract gets completed on that change before Mr. Burman or anyone else can talk about that,” said Harkins.
So will this money help or hurt the teams?
Clemson will lose the $1.1 million, but will most likely make more money playing the Georgia Bulldogs, as they will be paid more in broadcasting. For Wyoming, the Cowboys gained $1.1 million that can be used to help the program, or find someone else to fill the spot.
“We’re only playing for the money anyway. This way, we do not take a loss and keep our players from going down there and getting injured (physically or ego) & demoralized!” said Matt Swanson, a community member and fan of the Cowboys.
Clemson and Georgia will meet in Charlotte, South Caroline for the game, and it is said Georgia is paying San Jose State $1.8 million to get out of their contract. For Wyoming, the Cowboys are looking to play a school like the University of Southern California (USC) for the possible game opener, according to a Sports Illustrated article by Tracy Ringolsby.
In addition to USC, the Cowboys were already scheduled to play Ball State, Montana State and Northern Illinois, so the schedule for 2021 was already packed with good teams. Clemson would have been the cherry on top.
Who will be the cherry on top for the 2021 season? Time will tell. Stay tuned to the Branding Iron to find out.
