North Carolina State offensive lineman Anthony Belton found himself ejected from Saturday’s game against Clemson after spitting on a Tigers player in a moment of frustration. The incident occurred late in the second quarter, with the Wolfpack trailing 42-7. Belton, a highly regarded NFL prospect, lost his cool after giving up a sack, which led to quarterback C.J. Bailey being tackled for an 11-yard loss. In a fit of frustration, Belton walked over to Clemson defensive tackle Tré Williams and spit at him, an action that was quickly flagged by ACC officials.
The unsportsmanlike conduct resulted in multiple penalty flags and an immediate ejection for Belton, as spitting on an opponent is strictly prohibited. As the 6-foot-6, 336-pound offensive lineman made his way off the field, ESPN sideline reporter Molly McGrath provided an on-air account of the situation, offering a defense that soon came under heavy scrutiny.
McGrath suggested that Belton’s actions were in retaliation for a prior incident involving his quarterback, C.J. Bailey. She confidently stated that a Clemson player had stomped on Bailey’s helmet moments before Belton spit at Williams. McGrath’s implication was that Belton’s spit, while inexcusable, was in defense of his teammate, implying that Belton acted in response to a dirty play by Clemson.
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However, upon further review, the alleged helmet stomp never occurred. While Bailey was indeed shoved hard by Clemson players during the play, there was no evidence of anyone stepping on or near his head.
The replay made it clear that the contact was legal and did not involve any foul play. This rendered McGrath’s defense of Belton entirely inaccurate, as her narrative of retaliation was based on an event that simply didn’t happen.
To her credit, McGrath did not outright excuse Belton’s behavior or suggest that his ejection was unwarranted. She simply implied that his actions were spurred by what she believed to be a dangerous play against his quarterback. Unfortunately, the mistaken information painted Clemson in a poor light, implying that they had engaged in unsportsmanlike conduct that never took place.
Sideline reporters often have to make quick observations in real time, which can be a difficult task. Mistakes can and do happen, but in this instance, McGrath’s misrepresentation of the situation led to significant backlash. While her job is challenging, this error created a false narrative about the Clemson players involved, and fans were quick to call out the inaccuracy.
As the game unfolded, McGrath’s comments became a talking point, highlighting the importance of verifying key details in such heated moments. Despite her efforts to provide context, the inaccurate claim added an unnecessary layer of controversy to an already tense situation on the field.
Belton’s ejection will likely be remembered as a moment of poor judgment, but McGrath’s mistaken report only served to fuel the post-game discourse, leaving her open to criticism for unintentionally perpetuating a false account of events.
