Clemson Fan Est. 2004

Sep 5, 2023, 3:27 PM

This may be too long of a post for most. However, I do not share often.

I have been a Clemson "fan" since 2004, as the subject implies. "Fan" is in quotations for now as in 2004 is when I admittedly first learned of Clemson University from a video game (I am from the Midwest). I was searching for a mediocre team to start a dynasty with so I could build them up into national prominence. Honestly, picked Clemson as they fit the bill of a middle of the pack team, plus their cool uniforms caught my eye.

So, I was about 13 years old when I started following Clemson Football. I remember watching guys like Charlie Whitehurst, Reggie Merriweather, Chansi Stuckey and kicker Jad Dean play for Tommy Bowden. I remember when Clemson upset #11 Miami @ Miami on national TV in 2004. Something about that game is what drew me further in. Then the brawl against South Carolina a couple weeks later. Clemson finished with a record of 6-5 and a bowl ban.

After that year and to occupy the college football off-season, I played season after season in the NCAA Football video game with Clemson and subsequently started following Clemson Football Recruiting in real-life. It is the beginning of the 2005 season and now I am a Fan, no quotations. I remember when Aaron Kelly and James Davis arrived on campus. Spiller the following year. A 7-6 season and a bowl birth was about the normal record/season in those early years for me. I remember multiple seasons of waiting for the polls to release each week to see if Clemson would finally crack the Top 25 as a nationally ranked team and following to see how far they would climb.

Fast forward a bit when Bowden was fired and Dabo took the reins as Interim Head Coach. I thought to myself, "who the heck is this guy?" Expectations were not high from me, but I was already hooked on Clemson. I was now watching Clemson Basketball and Baseball. Bought numerous apparel items and memorabilia. Religiously following recruiting.

Dabo got off to a slow start and probably saved his job by beating the Gamecocks in his interim year, 2008. He then proceeded to lose five years in a row to ranked Spurrier led Gamecock teams, but fielded a few Top 20 teams himself. Again, being ranked consistently was considered a success as far as I was concerned in my short amount of time as a Clemson fan. I'll never forget my first visit to Clemson's Campus and Death Valley. I watched Andre Ellington run all over Georgia Tech to victory in 2010 (took me long enough to get on campus I know, but I was still a teenager and lived far away). Clemson finished 6-7 that year, but I was still hooked. Been to a few other games since, as well as multiple Spring games.

In 2011 Clemson had its first double-digit win season that I ever experienced. It was awesome, even with the disastrous Orange Bowl debacle to finish the year. As we all know, Clemson has gone on to win at least 10+ games per season for 12 years straight! Only Alabama can say the same. It really is remarkable when you take a moment to think about that. Included in that stretch are obviously two National Championships and a perfect 15-0 season. When that Watson led Clemson team drove down the field as the clock was ticking away to beat Bama 35-31 for the National Title, I cried. Tears of joy and I'll never forget that almost indescribable feeling. Two years later a Lawrence led Clemson destroyed an Alabama team that many "experts" believed was the best college football team ever. The final was 44-16 in Clemson's favor for yet another National Title. No tears of joy that year but back on top of the mountain Clemson was.

Last nights embarrassing loss to Duke was full of mistakes and misfortune. It reminded of the halcyon days of my early Clemson fan years, happy to crack the Top 25 and make a bowl appearance. However, I do not believe that is where Clemson is headed. It is easy to forget how far Clemson Football has come. Of course a loss like last night and losing three out of the last four games played is concerning, to say the least. Clemson Football and the landscape of College Football are changed. The latter, drastically. As of now, Clemson is no longer elite but I am grateful that they are not back to a 6-7 or 8-5 type year. I can see them winning 10 games again this year but corrections need made.

I do not like where College Football in general is headed with NIL, transfer portal and realignment, etc, but I do still enjoy counting down the days each week to game-day. Sure I get frustrated during games, especially watching games like last night, but overall it is still an experience that I enjoy. I am going to try to enjoy each game and savor each moment as I fear there are not many years left of College Football as we know and enjoy it currently. Clemson Football may be in decline but I am not going to stop watching because of that, as some on here have stated. Don't forget that the decline mentioned is from the very top, National Champions. Clemson could not have been any better than they were, pinnacle reached. Most programs will never be able to say that, past or future. Anyway, I'd like to garner as many Clemson memories as possible before College Football is potentially ruined in the years to come.

Five years ago, a loss like last night would have ruined my entire week, affected my job and family, etc. (I know, ridiculous) But as I have aged and matured, it is much easier to see that there are way more important things in life than your favorite college football team being perfect, like it was in 2018. Don't get me wrong, today sucks, but move forward. After just one game, Clemson is 0-1 and no longer has an opportunity to be perfect this year. But, not many teams ever have had perfect/undefeated seasons like Clemson has. Not many ever will.

I will be back in Death Valley on September 9th for my 32nd birthday to watch Clemson play Charleston Southern. Looking forward to experiencing the new Tiger Walk and hope to see some excitement/adjustments on offense for once (it's been a while). If you are a Clemson fan, try to find some type of joy in it and don't stress about things in life you cannot control. Sorry for the long post.

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Clemson Fan Est. 2004

Re: Clemson Fan Est. 2004

Re: Clemson Fan Est. 2004

Re: Clemson Fan Est. 2004

Greetings 32roons24!

Yes, well said! We will win 10+ this year.

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