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National Champion [7543]
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I'm So Glad To Be an Older Fan...Perspective
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Nov 15, 2025, 5:34 PM
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I was born in the early 1960s, and I’ve lived through the full arc of Clemson football; collapse, restoration, and dominance. Younger fans today are griping about things they have no practical idea about.
A typical college student graduates around 22 years old. That means the absolute worst season they’ve lived through was 2010 (6–7). And even that was followed by a decade of dominance:
10 straight 10‑win seasons
6 straight CFP appearances
2 national championships
For them, Clemson football has always been elite. A single snakebite season feels catastrophic because they’ve never tasted fragility.
What Older Fans Remember
Those of us who’ve carried the program longer know collapse firsthand:
1970 (3–8) and 1975 (2–9) — true collapse years.
1998 (3–8) — the last time Death Valley saw four home losses before 2025.
The long slog of the 1980s–90s post‑Danny Ford era, when bowl eligibility was never guaranteed.
Probation years (1982–1983, 1989–1990) — NCAA sanctions stripped away bowls and titles, testing the program’s resilience off the field as much as on it.
If you’re 22 years old, the worst season you’ve lived through was 2010. Since then, you’ve had nothing but playoff runs, double‑digit wins, and national titles. You’ve lived high on the hog.
So when 2025 feels like a collapse, remember this: Clemson football has survived far worse. We’ve endured 2–9 seasons, NCAA probations, and decades where bowl eligibility wasn’t guaranteed.
This isn’t the end of the world. It’s a reminder that resilience is the real Clemson doctrine. Programs stumble, then rise again. Chill out, take the long view, and understand that collapse seasons are part of the rhythm that makes restoration possible.
We have a long way to go before we push the panic button.
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Valley Protector [1449]
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Re: I'm So Glad To Be an Older Fan...Perspective
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Nov 15, 2025, 5:42 PM
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Yes
Somewhat like the stock market.
Even Apple has a down day.
Just make sure to buy the right stock. I’m all in for Clemson stock long term.
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Solid Orange [1343]
TigerPulse: 93%
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Re: I'm So Glad To Be an Older Fan...Perspective
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Nov 15, 2025, 5:43 PM
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You're a babe.
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Ultimate Tiger [35932]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: I'm So Glad To Be an Older Fan...Perspective
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Nov 15, 2025, 5:44 PM
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First off, great post. The one comment I would make is that we are now in a NEW era of college football with the portal, NIL, etc. So very hard to compare where we are now, with where we were say 20 years ago.
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Oculus Spirit [40931]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 2011
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Re: I'm So Glad To Be an Older Fan...Perspective
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Nov 15, 2025, 5:45 PM
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Well I am 56 ...and I member . 😉
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National Champion [7162]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Im 62 and agree. Our current dismay is a result of our recent success.
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Nov 15, 2025, 5:49 PM
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But the game HAS changed and the comparisons are apples to apples.
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National Champion [7543]
TigerPulse: 100%
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True..But to add on
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Nov 15, 2025, 6:01 PM
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I remember when an 8 win team didn't guarantee a bowl. In the 70's I believe there were only 15 bowls and even through 1990 is was something like 19 bowls which made it a big deal.
Then there was a time when not every game was on TV. There was a time when the major networks had a lock on college games which mean a health dose of USC, Michigan, OSU, Alabama, Notre Dame to name a very few. I spent a many Saturday listening to Jim Phillips on radio...
The game is always changing and we'll figure it out
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Orange Phenom [14961]
TigerPulse: 100%
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but but but we should be able to get a championship on Amazon!!
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Nov 15, 2025, 5:52 PM
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it's not difficult!
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Game Changer [1776]
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Re: I'm So Glad To Be an Older Fan...Perspective
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Nov 15, 2025, 6:07 PM
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I remember faxing the peach bowl to pick us. I remember donnavan McNabb in the gator bowl ... glad they sold beer. I remember visiting belks in Jacksonville looking for gloves prior to va Tech (non conference game) gator bowl. And I remember standing behind the team when woody Hayes threw his punch. Didn't know what happened until hours later just glad we won. I was in Japan when Duke cut the tigers tail off and the band played in the middle of a teenage concert. Lots of good CLEMSON memories! In Dabo I trust! Go Tigers!
Message was edited by: tdr1991®
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Valley Legend [12192]
TigerPulse: 64%
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Re: I'm So Glad To Be an Older Fan...Perspective
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Nov 15, 2025, 6:11 PM
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Great post Tigers4life. I am about 10 years older than you and grew up in the Frank Howard days and any win was a good win. Games were not on television so getting to go to games was fun whether we won or not. There was no internet, no cell phone, 3 tv channels and of course no social media, even though most media is not social. Times change, wins matter but just like in the Frank Howard days of my youth, a loss is not the end of the world.
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National Champion [7543]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: I'm So Glad To Be an Older Fan...Perspective
Nov 16, 2025, 10:49 AM
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Great post Tigers4life. I am about 10 years older than you and grew up in the Frank Howard days and any win was a good win. Games were not on television so getting to go to games was fun whether we won or not. There was no internet, no cell phone, 3 tv channels and of course no social media, even though most media is not social. Times change, wins matter but just like in the Frank Howard days of my youth, a loss is not the end of the world.
I couldn't have said it better. The fellowship was so special. We want to win but people treat not being a top 5 program like it's life or death. One thing I'll give the Coots credit for, they know they aren't going to be elite and support there team through thick and thin. We have too many fair weathered fans and perhaps a snake bit season like this will filled some of those out.
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CU Medallion [19044]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Losing games is not the issue.
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Nov 15, 2025, 6:24 PM
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Post after post on here talking about “back in my day” blah blah blah. I know some loosing since I was a student in the early 90’s and again in the late 90’s. Went to my first game in the late 70’s. And my most recent game last week.
Losing isn’t the issue. The issues are:
Getting out coached by coaches at Troy.
Getting out muscled by Duke.
Floundering around getting friends and family touches on the field.
Looking like we’ve never played the game of football.
Back in the 80’s and 90’s Clemson talent was on par with other teams in the ACC; for the past 5 years we’ve had far superior talent and have gotten our ##### kicked.
That’s unacceptable no matter how much you had to play kick the can in your life.
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Heisman Winner [83112]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 1998
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Re: I'm So Glad To Be an Older Fan...Perspective
Nov 15, 2025, 6:27 PM
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It is better to be in your 20's in the 70's than in your 70's in the 20's. I know. I had heart surgery in the summer.
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