The Citadel is a grand and glorious institution of higher learning where young men and women are molded into noble warrior-attorneys, stalwart soldier-bankers, and fierce fighters on the field of real estate property development. It’s a place where honor and integrity is prized above all else, even if that means covering up a kiddie fucker or two.
So consider me a little bit confused over the hubbub concerning offensive lineman Victor Hill.
Maybe you’ve heard this, maybe you haven’t, but Hill had the audacity to leave a comment on a Post and Courier story in which Florida State Coach Jimbo Fisher criticized the Bulldogs’ use of cut-blocking in The Citadel’s 37-12 loss to the Seminoles.
Now, cut-blocking isn’t illegal per se — Fisher’s squad did some cut-blocking of their own — it’s just that in the high-stakes world of NCAA football, a series of ill-fated injuries could have disastrous consequences for a national champion contender like FSU. Which is why early-season Division I-AA teams like The Citadel are just supposed to roll over and take it like a Knob during Hell Week. They’re not supposed to try to win.
Evidently, somebody forgot to tell Hill.
Offended by Fisher’s comments, Hill wrote in the P&C comments: “i played in the game last night and also contributed to the injury list and that was just the mindset going into the game. Me and my offensive line brothers preached to each other all week that we would be going for knees from the first play to the last with the A- backs included. We saw it as if the want respect us blocking them then we’ll make them respect us cutting them! Thanks for all the support as well!”
Oh my. Can you believe it? A football player admits that he purposely hurt members of the opposing team. Why, that’s unheard of. And for his crimes, Hill will likely be suspended by Coach Mike Houston.
However, Houston appeared to be of two minds about the whole thing. Actually, scratch that. He evidently thinks the problem here is not with what Hill said, it’s how the masses interpreted it. Jeff Hartsell of the P&C reports:
After talking to Hill on Sunday, Houston said his original comment conveyed the exact opposite of what the player intended.
“He was trying to say, in his own way, things like, ‘Florida State didn’t respect us going into the game,'” and using cut blocks would force them to use their hands to defeat the block and slow them down in back-side pursuit,” Houston said. “That being said, it came across the opposite of what he meant.”
So there you have it folks, Hill didn’t mean what he so obviously said. Although he said he purposely injured Seminoles, he really meant the opposite: He made sure they stayed healthy and happy and in tip-top shape for their next game — and he accomplished that by specifically not going for their knees.
Evidently, Houston’s ideas about honor and integrity are radically different from the general public.
Stay cool. Support City Paper.
City Paper has been bringing the best news, food, arts, music and event coverage to the Holy City since 1997. Support our continued efforts to highlight the best of Charleston with a one-time donation or become a member of the City Paper Club.