Nation’s top 2016 recruit received ‘KKK’ influenced voicemail
By Nick Cole
Published:
It is not unusual for top level recruits to have to deal with crazy college football fans trying to persuade them to pick one team over another.
That process can sometimes lead to hateful speech, particularly on social media.
But it was a newly reported voicemail left for Michigan five-star signee Rashan Gary that has raised some eyebrows.
According to a report from NorthJersey.com, a supposed Clemson fan called Gary’s high school to leave a threatening message just days before National Signing Day.
“Yes, this here is ‘Clemson Dan,’ and this message is for Mr. Rashan Gary,” the man said on the voice mail. “We just wantin’ to know if you’re coming down here for a visit, you better be serious about it, ’cause there’s only two things we love and that’s Clemson football and the KKK.”
“So you better not be fooling around, if you’re gonna get a visit, you better be commitin’,” “Clemson Dan” said on the voice mail.
“So, just be aware, this ain’t no fooling thing. We Clemson. We big-time football down here.”
The sentiment of those comments is obviously deplorable.
The real question is– are they real?
This reeks of a Michigan fan, or perhaps a supporter of another school that was in contention for Gary’s commitment, putting on a fake accent to leave a spoof message in an attempt to persuade Gary that Clemson was not the place for him.
The high school administrators themselves indicated that they were not sure the phone call was authentic, but they took the proper steps to notify authorities of the message.
Attempts to track down the elusive “Clemson Dan” have not been successful:
The phone number did not appear on the school’s caller ID system. There is no suspect at this time, but the Paramus police issued search warrants to the phone company in an attempt to find the number, it said. But it is unlikely they will lead to “Clemson Dan.”
“This wasn’t a death threat,” Det. Thomas Schroeder said, “but it can be unnerving when you don’t know who it is.”
Gary and his family did not comment on the story.
Nick Cole is a former print journalist with several years of experience covering the SEC. Born and raised in SEC country, he has taken in the game-day experience at all 14 stadiums.
