In the latest example of people down South taking football a bit too seriously, Alabama linebacker recruit Rashaan Evans revealed to TideSports.com on Monday that, among other things, his family’s business has been targeted by Auburn fans angry that the Auburn, Ala., 5-star didn’t sign with the Tigers.
Evans also had words for those fans slamming his decision on social media.
Such infantile behavior is, unfortunately, encouraged by the anonymity of the internet, where people venture to say things they would never say in person. Recruiting is a fertile breeding ground for this, especially in the SEC, where a player’s decision on where to attend college is regarded with the utmost importance.
“It’s getting worse,” Evans said on Monday evening. “Someone actually put out an article about my family’s business telling all Auburn fans not to go there. We are going to eventually start losing money. People are telling restaurants in the town not to serve us.
“It’s hard for me to go out and chill with my friends like I have always done because people keep coming up to me telling me I made a bad decision. It’s grown men. They are asking me why I did this to them. I told them I had to do what is best for me.
Evans also had words for those fans slamming his decision on social media.
“Social media has definitely been the worst. People on Instagram are telling me how they hope I tear my ACL in game one. They will laugh when I do. They are saying my family is horrible and how they didn’t raise me right. It’s just crazy.”
Such infantile behavior is, unfortunately, encouraged by the anonymity of the internet, where people venture to say things they would never say in person. Recruiting is a fertile breeding ground for this, especially in the SEC, where a player’s decision on where to attend college is regarded with the utmost importance.
In this case, let’s hope cooler and more mature minds prevail before someone’s livelihood is affected.