Is it ever okay to root for the rival?

With the South Carolina men’s basketball team reaching the NCAA Final Four for the first time in school history, Clemson fans are pondering this question “Is it ever okay to root for the rival”?

Lately, Clemson fans have been on the other side of that question because of the back-to-back natty appearances in college football and the men’s soccer team loss to Stanford last year in the final game.

Does “the state rivalry” reign over “state pride” when one of the schools is making a national championship run?

The state of South Carolina sports teams on the college level will have the trifecta with a Gamecocks’ basketball title. Three straight titles, three major sports and by three different schools-impressive!!

Former Tigers Ben Boulware, Shaq Lawson and Brandon Thomas are all South Carolina natives who let everyone know if “state pride” matters to them.

Clemson fans are definitely watching the basketball games closely.

Meanwhile, this happened over the weekend. Could the state get consecutive baseball championships?

I’ve heard this one from both sides. It’s cliché. See any rivalry.

Several Tigers showed this Gamecocks fan some love.

So is it ever okay to root for the rival?

No answers here either.

It’s debatable and debating plus bantering are hallmarks of any rivalry.

But I can assure you that the debate and banter will continue well after March Madness is over and the fans of each team will have it no other way.