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Clemson, SC
It was a perfect day for football, a Nationally Televised game, Labor Day, the start of a new season and the end of Week 1 with a marquee ACC battle between Florida State and Clemson. When I arrived at Clemson I took a drive around campus, it was approximately 11am and the Tiger faithful along with some Seminole die hards where already hard at work setting up their camps for an entire day of tailgating.
As I parked my vehicle in the free public parking about a mile from the Stadium I was greeted by a herd of Seminoles fans so I appropriately parked next to this posse of students who made the 8 hour trek from Tally to route for their beloved team.
The afternoon festivities included beer pong, catch, name that tune, (rock paper scissors) and the game of the millennium Tailgate Toss
The Tiger band practiced in the hot sun for a good 1 ½ hours as the fans began to feel game time coming on, the War Chant was played from the car stereo and the Seminole faithful began to chant in unison. In a show of great southern hospitality a few Tiger fans sitting next to us opened up their tent and their barbeque to us as we sat and discussed football, politics, my space, Sterger, football, cowgirls, girls passing by, football, best foods to grill, football, best cheese steaks in Philly (that’s for you Swartz!!!!!). You get the idea!
As 6:30 pm approached many fans began walking to a special place in college football. My favorite color happens to be orange so the streets were glowing as I made my way with my new friends to the valley of death. As you get closer to Memorial Stadium you can start to feel the electricity that’s been building up this entire trip, the bigger donors park closer to the stadium and of course we have satellite dishes painted in Clemson orange, you see the caviar, sushi, the pulled pork sandwiches, the linens, you get the idea. In a last second decision I swap tickets down lo so that I can sit where the real fans sit!!!! I’m up in the Bob Uecker seats with the rest of the Seminole nation.
Gate 20 is a haul to get to and then when you think you’re done after getting your soda and boiled peanuts (4 bucks), there is the arduous task of climbing vertically the steps to your seat. Row double L doesn’t seem like it’s to far. 37 long rows later and the view is great because I’m sitting in a sea of garnet and gold. Everyone in the building is pumped up and the crowd begins to go into a rabid frenzy as the motorcade makes it to the top of the South end zone. Then the team runs off the bus onto the top of the hill in front of Howard’s rock. The flashbulbs are flickering all over the stadium, the student body is going bananas, the Noles fans are booing, the sun is setting into the dark night and it’s game time. Just imagine seeing 85,000 fans as your about to run down that hill.
The upper stands I’m in are bouncing up and down, earthquake like conditions ensued as the cannon goes off and the Tigers touch the rock, run down the hill and take the field.
It is one of those things you have to witness in person as a college football fan along with 9 other pre game rituals that set the stage for the game that is about to take place.
I’ll elaborate on those 9 other venues in a future post some time this week.
Drew Wetherford sets off the game with a 22 yard run which was the only first down of the first half for FSU as they went into the locker room down 21-3.
Clemson was clicking on all cylinders as the crowd really gave the Tigers a needed boost.
The early second half was no different as Clemson kicked a field goal to go up 24-3 and FSU just couldn’t find an answer offensively. A bad snap on Clemson’s next possession which turned into a safety as the kicker ran out the end zone and a good return set up the first touchdown of the season by FSU, they went for 2 on what seemed like a botched quarterback keeper and the score was now 24-11. a fumble recovery by the defense set up another score and now the noles were in striking distance with over 9 minutes to play in the contest at 24-18. The score ended up that way and as I made my way down from the top of Memorial Stadium I made my way to Howard’s rock.
The fans were on the field reveling in a win over a ranked opponent and their 3rd straight win over Florida State. The new poll just came out and Clemson Is ranked #25. As I took one last look at the field, I thought to myself, this is truly Death Valley and this is what college football is all about.
As Always
Safe Journey
Miguel “Offthemeter” Rodriguez