I vividly remember October 18, 2008

Jan 6, 2016, 7:01 PM

It was a pretty fall Saturday in Clemson, and it was the first time a guy named Dabo would lead my alma mater into Death Valley. The week before, he was a wide receivers coach.

I remember tailgating with friends the game. The tailgate host had on a Yabba Dabo Doo! shirt on from Tigertown Graphics. We felt some measure of relief that the mediocrity of the Bowden years was over, but there were no guarantees for a rookie head coach. None of us really knew what to think, but we hoped for the best. We had become numb to so many 7, 8, or 9 win seasons. For being good but never good enough. For beating ranked teams one week only to lose to three-win foes another week.

I remember getting to the stadium and having a good view of the Hill. I remember the cannon going off and seeing our interim head coach sprinting down the Hill; faster than I've ever seen anyone do it before, and far ahead of the team. That afternoon he ran all alone and was jacked up. I remember how refreshing that was to see the coach have any measure of emotion. Despite losing to Georgia Tech that day, I remember pulling for Dabo the rest of the year, hoping the good-natured guy would get a chance to win the permanent gig. He may have never been a head coach before, but his passion was infectious and his recruiting prowess backed that up.

In those seven years since that game, there have been some lean times: Losing five in a row to That Team, going 6-7 in 2010, some recruiting misfires, losing to the Jackets and the Noles in excruciating and embarrassing fashions, getting shredded by West Virginia in the Orange Bowl (and flipping off the game in the 3rd quarter). But through it all was the continued phrase from Dabo: The Best is Yet to Come.

And did it come. An ACC title in 2011. Consecutive top 10 recruiting classes. A top 5 player graduation rate. Securing the best coordinators in the country. Recruiting our first ever Heisman finalist. Opening an indoor practice facility. A win over Auburn. Then LSU. Then Georgia. Then Ohio State and a BCS bowl win. Then ending that streak. Then Oklahoma. Then Notre Dame. A number one ranking. Three SI covers. Another ACC title. Five straight 10+ win seasons. A pizza party. Post-game dancing beyond description. Oklahoma again.

And now, we are sixty minutes away from a national title in Arizona.

That fall day in 2008, I don't know how many of the 70,000 or so fans (yes, there were empty seats) knew what to make of the young coach with the funny name charging down the Hill all alone. Yes, he was leading the team, but on that day the fans were divided and team was far back, almost in disbelief of Dabo. But they followed him nonetheless.

Little did they know--and little did we as the Clemson Family know--that on that day, Dabo Swinney was leading Clemson on a steady journey to the Promised Land.

THESE are the good old days.

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I remember those times and that game as well. I had come to the conclusion, around that time, Dabo would be head coach as long as the team didnt fall apart. This was primarily due to the fact that he was our recruiting coord and I didnt get the feeling that the admin wanted to start from scratch with the obvious talent we had and the talent we had coming. I thought, more from a business standpoint, CDS had a little leverage on the program from that aspect and probably knew it. There were a lot of "dumpers" in those days! But my gut told me, like it or not, Dabo was going to get the reins... and he did.

Look at this now... Could you imagine in your wildest dreams that the cheer-leading Wr coach would lead us to the TOP of the mountain!?!?!

What a great ride we've been on- Thanks to Dabo!

GO TIGERS!!!

I vividly remember October 18, 2008

Go Tigers AND Tiger Nation!***

Re: Go Tigers AND Tiger Nation!***

Re: Go Tigers AND Tiger Nation!***

The good ole days indeed!

Bravo, my Friend...Bravo!***

Re: I vividly remember October 18, 2008

Re: I vividly remember October 18, 2008

Re: I vividly remember October 18, 2008

Very well said! To be honest,

Re: I vividly remember October 18, 2008

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