Outrage as ex-NFL star Roddy White claims Clemson lost to Georgia as team has 'too many White dudes'

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Former NFL wide receiver Roddy White is facing a lot of backlash after he lashed out at Clemson University’s football recruitment strategy, with many deeming his comments racist.

The Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor inductee launched into a rant on social media following Clemson’s heavy defeat to the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, August 31. His comments, however, sparked outrage among football fans.

Roddy White’s reaction to Clemson’s loss and social media backlash

The game between Clemson and Georgia started with promise for the Tigers as they managed to stay within six points of the Bulldogs by halftime.

However, the second half was a different story. Georgia’s quarterback Carson Beck took control, throwing two critical touchdown passes—one to Nate Frazier and another to Crash Jones—securing a 34-3 victory for the Bulldogs.

Following the game, White, 42, voiced his disappointment with Clemson’s performance on social media. “Clemson got way too many White dudes on the field on offense this ain’t them. U mean to tell me u only got one Black dude out there making plays that’s a recruiting problem,” White wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

It's worth noting that White’s critique carries weight not just because of his NFL accolades but also due to his college success. He played for the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Blazers for three seasons, where he amassed 3,112 receiving yards on 163 receptions. His stellar college career paved the way for his successful tenure in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons.

However, the former NFL star's remarks immediately sparked a backlash on social media, with many condemning his remarks as racially charged and inappropriate.

"Imagine the inverse of this tweet and how it would be received," one social media user posted on X.

"London Humphreys who is white, just caught a 40-yard touchdown for Georgia," another user pointed out.

"Why is it Black people can get away with being racist these days? We all know football teams put the best that they can on the field. It has nothing to do with color. So tired [of] all these race-baiting pieces of s---," one person wrote.

"Most people try to hide their racism, Roddy just throws it out there for all to see. Good thing the only white thing about him is his name, otherwise he would be finished and bankrupt. But he will probably get a promotion," someone else chimed in.

"What an overtly racist comment to make. In fact you are obsessed with race! I bet you vote Democrat don't you Roddy? That's because Democrats and Racism go hand in hand. Roddy's is making the Democrat party proud!" one individual said.

"If we want true equality in this country then approx. 58% of all teams should be made up of white people and about 13% of black people. We have a ways to go to fix this injustice. Will you help, Roddy?" another asked.

Clemson’s success under Dabo Swinney and recent struggles

Dabo Swinney, who took over as Clemson’s head coach in the middle of the 2008 season, has played a crucial role in building the program into a national powerhouse. Under his leadership, Clemson reached the Gator Bowl in his first season and later won two national championships with star quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence.

Swinney has coached numerous players who became Consensus All-Americans, including Watson, Dwayne Allen, Vic Beasley, Da’Quan Bowers, Travis Etienne, Clelin Ferrell, Mitch Hyatt, Shaq Lawson, Isaiah Simmons, John Simpson, CJ Spiller, and Christian Wilkins.

Despite Swinney’s earlier successes, Clemson has struggled in recent years, particularly against Georgia. The Tigers haven’t beaten the Bulldogs since 2013, and their recent 31-point loss in Atlanta only highlighted this trend, Fox News reported.

Addressing the loss, Swinney took full responsibility. “When you get beat like that, that’s on the head coach. Complete ownership of an absolute c*** second half. Sometimes you get your butt kicked, and we did today," he said.

Meanwhile, Georgia has become the gold standard in college football—boasting an impressive 43-2 record and two national titles since the start of the 2021 season. Although Michigan currently holds the title of defending champions, Georgia’s consistency has set them apart.

The dominant streak began with a victory over Clemson in the 2021 season opener, where the Bulldogs won 10-3 without even scoring an offensive touchdown. Since that game, the rivalry has been one-sided.

The Clemson-Georgia rivalry has a long history, with Georgia currently leading the series 44-18-4. The lopsided record has only been reinforced in recent years as Clemson has struggled to keep up with Georgia’s level of play.

“People say whatever they are going to say. Doesn’t matter what I say. We do what’s best for Clemson. When you lose like this, they’ve got every right to say whatever they want and write whatever you want," Swinney added.

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