From a Scar Kid to a Clemson Adult

Nov 12, 2013, 11:35 AM

As a young kid, who knew no better at the time, I grew up attending Scar games with my Godfather who donated at the highest level. We ate and sat in the President's box; we were often guests on the sidelines, and attended more than our fair share games of every sport. At the age of 10 and younger it made no difference who was playing on the field. I was just having fun. Then, after my 12th birthday, my next door neighbor, who just enrolled for his sophomore year, took me to Clemson with him for one day - move-in day. While there, he took me to the top of the hill, walked me around campus and introduced me to some tennis, soccer and football players. Later that year, he took me to a game (UNC) and I was hooked. I never went back to another Scar game. And I didn't attended another Clemson game for over 3 years. Then, when I got my drivers license, the first trip I took was to the Clemson game against Furman, which we won 21 to 0.

I can still hear that crowd. I can still see the players coming down the hill. I can still feel the roar of the crowd as we sat near the student section. I still remember the 3 hour drive up there feeling like 6 hours and the drive home feeling like 5 minutes. Or maybe I flew home... it's a blur. There certainly was something in those hills. Still is. I had feelings from that one day that I never experienced while attending all those games all those years in Cola town.

Thinking about these upcoming last two trips to Tiger Town this year made me realize just how much my family and I love that place. How much we miss it outside of football season. We love how there's no other venue in the world that can change a wild-eyed kid into a super fan adult so quickly, so deeply, so permanently.

I am forever grateful to my Godfather for introducing me to College sports. When I see him in Heaven I'll thank him for sure. But I can't begin to thank or repay my neighbor who introduced me to the most exciting 25 seconds of college football and the most interesting and inspiring place on the planet. I'll see you Thursday, and once again, drive home on cloud nine, looking forward to the next time I get to experience Clemson, SC.

GO TIGERS!

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..:: ru4god2 ::..

substitute the Chickens part with Notre Dame and the first game for me was '77 Clemson/ND game with my Pop who was an ND lifelong fanatic. It was my Uncle who was a Clemson grad who took me to the Hill along with my Pop for the ND game and it it was over for me after that. My Pop took me to my first college game: ND/Chickens in Columbia in '76. I still remember the gold helmets in the tunnel and my father standing and yelling. My father was disappointed that my Uncle turned me into a Tiger fan but i still remember him saying to me the next day, "so it's Fuller to Butler for you, huh?" and he patted me on the back and he accepted that. He was ND to the day he died but he was a closet Clemson fan also. He'd tell me, "goodness son, they play defense....there's 8 orange hats on the ball every play..." But he'd also point out the "gold helmets" and "they go to class in South Bend" so i couldn't get it all out of him....LOL. Thanks for sharing this. A lot of us remember our lost family members through football and i enjoyed reading yours.

From a Scar Kid to a Clemson Adult

Re: From a Scar Kid to a Clemson Adult

Good Story..imagine how much more hooked you would have been

great story.....almost exactly like mine except you can

Re: great story.....almost exactly like mine except you can

my father was ready to put Ara's face on the side

Me too, except GT

HOF Post !!!***

I did the exact opposite

How does this even happen?***

That's a matter of opinion....

No one cares. Get out.***

Post could be titled "Confessions of a hen-pecked coot"

Re: From a Scar Kid to a Clemson Adult

Re: From a Scar Kid to a Clemson Adult

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