Something happened yesterday that quite frankly surprised me. And, yes, it was a little upsetting too.

Saturday night was a successful night at Clemson. In case you don’t know, the popular Savannah Bananas put on quite the show at Memorial Stadium.

In only the way the Bananas can, they entertained and amused more than 81,000 people in what was the largest crowd to watch them entertain.

They were on ESPN2. It was great exposure for Clemson University, it was great for the community and the city of Clemson. The Bananas and Clemson probably made a lot of money, too.

It was a fun and great night for all, I am sure.

However, before the entertainment got going, the Bananas did something that I thought I would never see – another team running down Clemson’s famed hill. Like I said above, that was a little upsetting to me.

Why?

Well, I thought running down the hill was just for Clemson. At least that is what I was taught when I was young boy.

Clemson has run down the hill 449 times since 1942. You know how many times another team has?

Zero.

Well, I guess it is one, now.

I know they did not touch Howard’s Rock, but Howard’s Rock is just a part of running down the hill, it’s not the tradition. The tradition is running down the hill.

Watching the Savannah Bananas run down the hill inside Death Valley looked weird to me. Actually, it looked wrong.

It’s like Clemson tainted what is without a doubt its most sacred football tradition. They even let the Bananas get on the bus on the west side of the stadium and go around the stadium like the football team does on fall Saturdays.

Of all the teams that have played in Death Valley, from high school teams to the Carolina Panthers of the NFL, Clemson let the Savannah Bananas run down the hill.

I am not blaming the Bananas. They were just doing what they were allowed to do, and they did include Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney.

However, I am disappointed in Clemson.

I am disappointed that Clemson gave the Bananas the “okay” to do it.

Don’t you think the Carolina Panthers wanted to run down the hill when they played all eight of their home games in Death Valley during their inaugural season in 1995?

I know for a fact they did. Do you know what Clemson said to them when they asked if they could?

“No.”

I know of several high schools that asked if they could run down the hill when they played in Death Valley for Upper State and State Championship Games.

Do you know what Clemson said to them after they asked?

“No.”

Do you want to know what Clemson told the Panthers and high school teams, as to why they could not run down the hill?

“Because that’s Clemson’s Tradition, not yours.”

The first time Clemson breaks tradition is for a baseball team, that is not really a baseball team.

Really?!

I know there are some out there who do not care what I think or think I am making much about nothing.

However, I know from talking with others, there are people out there who do care. There are people who are not mad, but like me, are surprised Clemson said “yes” to the idea.

Some will say, “What about Lucas Glover, Brianna Rollins and Radio? They ran down the hill.”

True, they did. But they ran down the hill on game day and with the entire Clemson football team for a football game.

Some will say, “What about the movie ‘The Safety?’ The actors ran down the hill. They weren’t the Clemson football team.”

True, but they were wearing Clemson uniforms, and they were representing the Clemson football team in a movie. They also filmed that part of the movie at halftime of a Clemson football game.

Some will say, “What about the UCF Baseball team? They ran down the hill. What about South Carolina’s football team? A couple of them ran down the hill.”

True, they did. But they did it without permission and out of disrespect. They also did it to mock and make fun of Clemson’s tradition.

The Bananas did not mock Clemson’s tradition. In a way, it was a compliment they wanted to do it.

However, Clemson, like it has done several times before, should have told the Bananas “No.”

Because it was Clemson’s tradition, not theirs.

— photo by Ken Ruinard / USA TODAY NETWORK