SC STATE TROOPER Escort and 63-17

Aug 26, 2013, 9:27 PM

Nobody wants Clemson to win more and nobody hates it more if they lose so you can imagine my excitement as a SC State Trooper in 2003 when I was chosen to escort the team with another Trooper to Columbia for the game. I want to share a few of the memories with you all.

So we meet up in Clemson on that Friday to make the drive down to Cola. Friday night we went to a movie (cant remember which one) but once we got out at the theater, little kids were going nuts with excitement, "Mom there's Clemson".Once inside we were greeted with a whole counter of drinks and popcorn pre-made for us. I remember sitting next to John Leake, LB from Plano, TX inside the theater. The movie was so much fun because of all the players were constantly ribbing and joking with one another.

The next day at the hotel, there were lots of good food of course and I usually dined at one of the tables with asst coaches or trainers. I attended one prayer meeting in which the team was present. and of course we got a bag of Chick Fil A for a night cap.

Fast forward to the escort to the stadium. Pretty much what I expected- fans yelling obscenities at us the whole way in.

During the game, when Whitehurst threw the 3rd TD pass down the middle to Ben Hall to go up 21-0, then I knew this was going to be a beat down of epic proportions.

One of the highlights for me was during the game, former SC receiver Noah Whiteside from Greenville, lined up on the Clemson side. About that time a kid on the sideline, maybe 8 or 9 years old (maybe a coach's kid) yells to Noah and says, "Noah, man I tried to tell you not to come to SC, man I tried to tell you". Noah just looked over and had this look on his face as if he knew he made the biggest mistake of his life and couldn't do a #### thing about it. I swear that I will never forgot that as long as I live.

At halftime inside the locker room, Tommy Bowden was yelling at the team to finish the game and not take the foot off the petal. He yelled at me because I was at the locker room door and a referee tried to get in to say it was time to go and he yelled at me to shut the door. Tommy was on a mission.

After the game, the other Trooper stayed with Tommy and I was told to stay in the locker room until all the players came out. The last player inside was Whitehurst. He made a call to his Mother and afterward I got his autograph on a hat I brought. I felt like a little kid but I didn't care because I grew up a Clemson fanatic and had just witnessed history.

I got a box of Bernies chicken for the road and headed up I-26 West bound with a feeling like I had just won the lottery or something. (BTW- Bernies chicken is amazing even if it is in Cola).

That game has to be my most memorable not only due to the score and the opponent, but due to the fact that I was with the team and coaches in meetings, grub, locker room, etc.

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SC STATE TROOPER Escort and 63-17

Man, the days when Tommy actually cared about whipping

Re: SC STATE TROOPER Escort and 63-17

Re: SC STATE TROOPER Escort and 63-17

Re: SC STATE TROOPER Escort and 63-17

Great memory for you and us........45-0 in '89 wasn't bad!***

I was at that game as a freshman at Clemson. Awesome night!

Re: I was at that game as a freshman at Clemson. Awesome night!

Ye olde fart!

Excellent story. It's time for Dabo to go on a mission like that***

do I need to roll out the scoks to get this to HOF or what??

In general, I despise State Troopers, but for this, I will

You despise State Troopers cuz you like to pretend you're

Re: You despise State Troopers cuz you like to pretend you're

He buys the Jeff Gordon brand of satchels too***

Re: He buys the Jeff Gordon brand of satchels too***

Nice! satchelkrzy wants to know if he can take this into

First I need to know where to buy this!***

Re: First I need to know where to buy this!***

90mph isn't Jeff Gordon and is a reasonable speed on

Cool! dsp, my streak continues. Look out Cal Ripken!***

cal with a double off the wall in deep left center...

Yeah yeah tell it to the judge

would it be wrong to pull for enforcement in this one?***

Would be funny to hear soccerkrzy yelling,

i hope the po po got the dash cam rolling on the # 24

I was traveling from Florence on I-20 that game....

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