Atmosphere

Nov 2, 2021, 3:55 PM

I have been reading several post on this site and TI about the gameday atmosphere and I agree things seem different. I have been going to games since 1974 (FSU was my 247th game) so I have seen a lot of changes but I think currently it is many factors coming together.

-I think students today are different.( I have college age kids) Their attention spans are so short to even sit somewhere for even 3 hours. Things like the 1977 Notre Dame game where the hill was packed hours before kickoff to mess with ND as the warmed up would not happen today. (cuts into party, my time, too hot, too cold)

-Students, just society in general is just not as tough (we are use to comfort). Many of us old time Clemson folks came from farm communities and where kids who group up outside, worked in the heat, etc. I never heard my dad (a forester) say anything about how hot the game might be. We played all home games at 1:00 and you just went no matter the weather. My dad also would not allow us to leave until game was over. Didn't matter if up by 30 or down by 30 if players on the field you were in the stands.

-Hate to say it but we are getting more wine and cheese like our ACC brethren. For much of Clemson's history they all viewed us as the "cow college" and I took that as a badge of honor. Yes, we were in many instances just hard-working blue collars kids, often from small town SC (Kingstree for me) but we lived and died for Clemson football. My sister lives on Lake Keowee and many of her neighbors are transplants from New York, Boston, etc. They go to the games for the social scene and could deep down careless about the game. (I appreciate there financial contributions but there are a lot more of those taking up seats than you think, and usually they are back at tailgate by halftime and never come back)

-It is great Clemson has risen to high in the academic rankings but many of these students come from the wine and cheese backgrounds like those in Chapel Hill, Charlottesville, etc.

-Traditions are also being lost that in isolation seem small but when combined are really taking away some special things: No balloons, no going on field after game (Covid is an excuse now, they are slowly trying to end it). The one tradition that has made us famous, running down the hill, is a shell of its former self. I hear so many visiting fans, say, "that is it".

I don't think all of this is just a reflection on just Clemson but also society in general. And many of you may see these changes as good things. For me not so much and I see some special traditions being lost.

But if judging by the reaction (loud boos) to the announcement that there would be no gathering at the Paw after the game......I think most of you are with me. Go Tigers, save our traditions.

flag link

military_tech

thumb_down

thumb_up

them as in past years. I can't speak to the numbers, but it's significantly less in the south stands.

The direction that the school has taken on out-of-state students is impacting it as well. Nice to have higher academic scores I guess, but what happened to being a State university? Certainly less life-long Clemson fans getting into school.

As far as toughness, the current yute in general is certainly softer. Society is different. Lawnmower parents don't help. And that's why they end up back home in your basement!

Likewise the drinking age has to impact the atmosphere of the student section. 18 was legal when I began at Clemson. There are kids now that will graduate without being "legal" for very long.

Atmosphere

Re: Atmosphere

Im indifferent about the balloons***

Re: Im indifferent about the balloons***

I’ve been tailgating since 1972

As far as students, there are not near as many seats for

TigerBoard POTD