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Internet Demands Apology For DJ Uiagalelei After Clemson’s Blowout Loss

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DJ Uiagalelei scrambles during the Oregon State spring game.

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College football fans online are asking for an apology from Clemson fans to quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. The former starting signal caller for the Tigers was brutally criticized for his poor play last year, leading to a transfer to Oregon State.

After just one week of the 2023 season, however, many of those fans might be reconsidering their original takes of situation. A number of folks on social media now believe Clemson to be the problem, not the other way around.

DJ Uiagalelei came to the ACC as a five-star recruit expected to follow in the national championship footsteps of Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence. While he showed flashes of potential, he never seemed to put it all together for a full season.

Clemson went 21-6 in Uiagalelei’s two full seasons at the helm but missed out of the playoffs in each. The quarterback got somewhat of a pass in 2021 after the Tigers started 4-3 as they’d go on to win their final six games.

He then got the team off to an 8-0 start last year before the wheels came off late. The Tigers dropped three of their last six contests and Uiagalelei was benched in the ACC title game.

That benching came following a few extremely disappointing performances, including a 99-yard dud on 8-of-29 passing against South Carolina. He topped 200 yards just once in his final six games.

Incoming freshman Cade Klubnik claimed the starting job for the Tigers’ bowl game against Tennessee, showing Uiagalelei the writing on the wall.

Fans were harsh to the signal caller, going as far as to post derogatory remarks on his grandmother’s Facebook page about his on-field struggles.

The change of scenery seems to have worked out great for Uiagalelei as he went off in his Oregon State debut. Unfortunately for Clemson fans, not much seemed to change for the Tigers.

Internet demands apology for DJ Uiagalelei.

When Uiagalelei transferred, he made a comment about being held back by the Clemson offensive scheme. At the time, most chastised him using the line as an excuse for his poor play.

“I didn’t want to do what I was doing at Clemson,” he said. “I didn’t really like what we did there scheme-wise. I didn’t think we did very much. I thought it was very basic. It didn’t help me out as a quarterback and play to my strengths. I wanted to go somewhere that would play to my strengths and go somewhere that would develop me for the NFL.”

Fast forward a few months, and it seems he might’ve had a point.

Uiagalelei erupted in a 42-17 season opening win with the Beavers, throwing for 239 yards and three scores on 20-of-25 passing while also adding a pair of touchdowns on the ground.

The performance ended the second half funk that the passer experienced last year and showed the immense potential he has under center.

Clemson, meanwhile, saw its offensive struggles continue.

Despite having a new quarterback on the field and a new offensive coordinator on the sidelines, much of the offense looked the same. The Tigers couldn’t push the ball down the field, relying on quick screens instead of taking shots.

Duke’s bend but don’t break defense let the Tigers have the short yardage plays and capitalized on two fumbles in the red zone as well as a missed field goal.

The frustrating offensive performance had many Clemson fans reacting online.

The disappointing outcome also had many demanding an apology for Uiagalelei, who faced verbal attacks from Tigers fans throughout his career.

Maybe it wasn’t his fault…

“Can’t wait to see how Clemson fans figure out how to blame DJ Uiagalelei for this one,” PAC 12 writer John Canzano said.

Any chance he’d return to Clemson? Asking for a friend.

Uiagalelei probably wasn’t too upset with the outcome.

College football comes at you quick.