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Three years after the Auburn trees at Toomer's Corner were poisoned, another treasure of college football, Howard's Rock at Clemson, has been heavily damaged.
Reports Will Vandervort of The Clemson Insider: "I was told Howard's Rock had been vandalized so I went and checked for myself and it has indeed been vandalized. A big piece of the rock is missing on the side that faces the gates behind the Hill. We have learned Clemson knows about it and is working with local police to try and find who is responsible for this. From what we have been told the police are looking at videos to try and find the vandals.
"From what we understand, the case that protects the rock was shattered and it looks like the vandals tried to remove the rock from its pedestal before finally settling and taking a big part of the rock."
As you can see by comparing the pictures below, it looks like a huge chunk of the rock was torn out. Police believe it was done June 2 or 3. Police Chief Johnson Link said some finger prints were recovered from the pedestal, which was not damaged. But Link says a review of video from the cameras did not provide anything to help with the investigation.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney says it's disappointing that someone would disrespect the school's tradition. Swinney says the school will do what is necessary to protect it in the future.
Famed Clemson coach Frank Howard was given the rock as a gift from Death Valley, Calif., and it has been rubbed by players before home games since 1966. The image of Clemson players standing around the rock and touching it, then running down the hill to the field is one of the most iconic in college football. As legend has it, Howard used to tell his players, "Give me 110 percent or keep your filthy hands off of my rock."
We're all for college pranks, but when it comes to permanent damage to something as cherished by all college football fans as Toomer's Corner or Howard's Rock, people need to get a grip. [Clemson Insider]
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