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110%er [5014]
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Spoiled short timers, flame if you want to
Oct 21, 2021, 10:56 AM
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For all of you Clemson fans that seem to believe the sky is falling, here are a few tidbits.
1. I started going to Clemson games in 1960's as a youngster.
2. I slid down the hills in all four corners of the end zone, and pretty much had the run of the stadium.
3. Tailgated in approximately the same spot on the grass near the tiger as long as I can remember.
4. Made tons of friends, heard great stories of great comebacks, big wins, fights with the chickens, "Coots" had not been created as a moniker at that time.
5. Mom and Dad sat in the same seats as long as I can remember, and they were not great seats. They knew everyone with 4 or 5 rows of them in the lower corner of the south stands. Just visualize the punt rooskie. By the time of that game dad had 4 seats, 2 right in front of where they sat. Punt Rooskie was tackled right in front of us, We were row L , so I guess we were about 17 rows up from the field.
6. Dad played at Clemson, finished after the 1959 season. He coached my little league football team. Once per year he would take the entire team to a clemson game and we would get the 2.00 end zone seats. We always wore our team jersey's so we could be found. We would fight over extra point catches , slide the hills etc.
7. WE would walk straight on the field after the game and those "giant" football players were always good enough to talk with us , sometimes one of us would get a chin strap or an autograph.
Man did everyone enjoy a day at Clemson.There are so many more reasons I could write about why I love Clemson. Great stories of walking across campus for a milkshake, getting to go in pregame in Fike to see the team getting knees taped and pads on, hearing coach Howard in there yell over "Hey Smith, who ya got there?" when he saw dad walking in. Howard spending about 15-20 seconds talking to Dad, and seeing dad stand straighter and seem to walk out of there with his feet not touching the ground.
When I think about Clemson, I really do also remember the Big wins, bowl games (familes could afford to go to them), National championships , I have been to two of them and one that we lost. They were exciting and fun.
I remember disappointment, when we lost. Celebrations when we won. But I never remember a time where we had a team and staff that were as "all in" to what Clemson is about than is in place now. We are not going be on top of the football world every year, but there is a LOT to love about Clemson Football if you look around you.
If you are a Clemson fan only when we are winning huge, you are missing so much. I would rank winning the three national championships in my top 20 favorite moments , but I have at least 15 or 20 moments that rank higher in my Clemson journey.
In the words of a former commercial real estate salesman, "it is all about the journey". This kids are trying , these coaches are trying, and they don't need a bunch of "Johnny come lately's" screaming fire to recruits and other tigers. At least you can find something positive to talk about, to go along with your we are doomed crap. You could start with the NUMBER ONE DEFENSE against the score in the country.
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Orange Blooded [2081]
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Re: Spoiled short timers, flame if you want to
Oct 21, 2021, 11:14 AM
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I am approximately the same age. I agree.
Great post.
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All-TigerNet [10480]
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Re: Spoiled short timers, flame if you want to
Oct 21, 2021, 11:36 AM
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I’d guess I’m 10 years younger and I agree. The largest accomplishments are the cherry on top, but the 10 years of work that it took to reach that singular moment…..that’s the whole cake. Make no mistake, every single player that gets the honor of wearing Clemson gear was making sacrifices years before they they ever got to Clemson. Once you’ve attained the trinket, you don’t really care about the trinket, it’s the work that it represents that you’re proud of.
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Legend [19881]
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All-TigerNet [11065]
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spot on!
Oct 21, 2021, 11:22 AM
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These 'witch hunts' epitomize the fair-weather fan.
(Yes, the coaches are paid millions, likely none of us here have much money going into their pockets)
I doubt there are any here more competitive or have more interest than the coaches do in seeing the team succeed. But...we do have the internet so witch-hunt is our 'right'!
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CU Guru [1998]
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Can still be a fan
Oct 21, 2021, 11:23 AM
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And point out the issues. They're not mutually exclusive
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110%er [5372]
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Nicely said but....
Oct 21, 2021, 11:28 AM
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.. sounds like you and I are probably the same age, with a similar Clemson history. I've invested a lot of time and money into that place... I give through the good times and the bad times, and at one point went 7 years without missing a home game. My son and daughter WILL attend there 
So for those of us like you and I... whose loyalty is apparent, I think it's ok to read and hear opinions of the super fanatics who are unstable and sway with whatever way the win blows. But I also think it is IMPERATIVE that ALL of us, demand better than what we currently have in place. And I would HOPE that we all can see that we have NFL dudes on the field that are being put in situations that are causing them to look inept. And we all have the right and obligation to stand up and voice our displeasure.
As for me (and apparently you) my family and I will continue to support our team. And yes, we will continue to let our joy AND our disappointments be heard - as should every fan. People like you who scream "stop complaining" does nothing more than show our age It's like "get off my lawn!!" I'm cool with people voicing their opinions however they see fit to do so. It doesn't affect this team. The coaches yell and scream to their face every day. They can handle it.
It is every fans right to demand more, yell, voice disappointment and complain when things aren't right. But you and I have no right to tell them to shut up. As long as I donate at the level I do, I will be extremely vocal. But only an ignorant fool would assume it means I'm not a fan. In our family, there is only one college team in existence. The Fighting Clemson Tigers. Go Tigers. But for God's sake, WIN!!!!
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Hall of Famer [22445]
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Re: Nicely said but....
Oct 21, 2021, 12:07 PM
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I’ve also been “all orange, all the time” since the 1970’s. If your children haven’t yet attended Clemson I’m probably a little older but that doesn’t mean anything. You are correct you have the right to voice your displeasure and complain as loudly as you like. It is also my right to remain positive and hopeful even in the most dire situations. I remember lowering my head and saying if there’s really something in these hills there’s no better time to see it than now right before NC ST missed that short game winning FG in The Valley in 2016 putting us in OT where we won and a bunch of my Tiger “fan” friends texting “it’s over” when Amari muffed the punt against Syracuse in 2018. I sent them the Bluto Blutarski video from Animal House and told them it’s not over ‘til WE say it’s over. And we won. My point is I am an optimist until I can’t be and we shouldn’t be called “sunshine pumpers” or “stoopid” by people on this site who would rather complain and show their displeasure. I’m just someone who tries to find the good in any situation instead of dwelling on the bad and reducing the negativity around me. Hope is a great thing. So you fan your way and I’ll fan mine. Go Tigers!! Beat Pitt!
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110%er [5667]
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Re: Spoiled short timers, flame if you want to
Oct 21, 2021, 11:28 AM
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Amen, good post.
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Legend [17751]
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New money problems/fans***
Oct 21, 2021, 11:39 AM
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Scout Team [186]
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Re: Spoiled short timers, flame if you want to
Oct 21, 2021, 11:47 AM
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Great post and I agree. Went to my first in 77 and have ticket stubs for hill for $5. Anyone who has been pulling and going to games for only 10 years or so have no clue how far it has come.
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All-Conference [427]
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Great post!!***
Oct 21, 2021, 11:47 AM
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110%er [6692]
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Re: Spoiled short timers, flame if you want to
Oct 21, 2021, 12:01 PM
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I have only been going to Clemson games and following Clemson since the early 90's, That's still 30 years. This season still sucks and there are issues. The sky is not falling, because everything will be fixed within 2 to 3 years max, but that's a timeframe that seems like an eternity as great as we have been for a bit. Life goes by fast, so people don't want to see any wasted years. The sky isn't falling though and we are in good hands with Dabo.
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Hall of Famer [22445]
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Re: Spoiled short timers, flame if you want to
Oct 21, 2021, 12:10 PM
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IMO the only year that was wasted was 2020 and that’s because a lot of us didn’t get to attend games and the players did not get to play in front of packed stadiums. I’m not wasting any other years if I can help it including this one.
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Team Captain [475]
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I agree! I started going to games in the early 60's as
Oct 21, 2021, 12:03 PM
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a kid and have tons of great memories before we got to this level. Lining up on the field for the players to run through before the game, talking to Bear Bryant and Kenny Stabler on the field and getting their autographs before the 1967 game, walking into the North Carolina dressing room and a player letting me try on his helmet, tailgating and not having to pay for a parking spot right behind the west stands, Homecoming games where the floats actually were driven across the field at halftime with the beauties on them, 1977 lost to Notre Dame but dang we showed we could compete with the best, 1988 Rodney's revenge game, getting excited about the game program because that was the only thing we had to study about the team back then, 2014 Carolina game where we stopped the 5 game streak with freshmen Deshaun Watson, Wayne Gallman and Artavis Scott, and the list could go on!
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Orange Blooded [4745]
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Great post. Your post is how most of our fanbase feels.
Oct 21, 2021, 1:14 PM
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I attended all three of our title games; the win over Nebraska in 1981, the 2016 title game with the last play to Renfrow, and Bama losing to Clemson by 28 points, providing Bama's worst defeat with Saban as their coach.
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All-TigerNet [11122]
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Enjoyed your post...
Oct 21, 2021, 2:15 PM
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Seems I am about 10 years younger than you. My first game in attendance was in Red Parker days.
I too was sitting in your section when Leroy Butler was tackled right in front of me. I don’t normally sit there I just happened to have those seats that day because it was raining and the person who gave them to me didn’t want to go.
I used to slide down the grass hills on a piece of cardboard or the seat of my pants.
I have only missed one home game since 1986
I fully agree with everything you said.
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Legend [19328]
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Re: Spoiled short timers, flame if you want to
Oct 21, 2021, 2:50 PM
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Thank you and Go Tigers! Beat Pitt!
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Varsity [232]
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I agree 100%
Oct 21, 2021, 5:12 PM
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Most of your post applies to my childhood at Clemson games, though, my parents began carrying me to games in the early 70s and I looked so forward to those noon games in Death Valley. I loved putting the Original Tiger Rags in the windows of the station wagon and heading down 85 to the games, with anticipation of seeing the paws painted on the road. We would follow the band down Laundromat hill to the stadium. I graduated in '89 and spent a lifetime in the Army where I would have to search the bottomline for a Clemson score. These new "Tiger Fans" have big mouths, big expectations, and do NOT live up to the adage, " A Clemson Man needs no introduction." Ive seen us up, down and mediocre. I was at the only NC game that really mattered (the 1st one) where it took the media forever to even acknowledge that there was even a chance for little old Clemson of the ACC, to play the Big Red Thrashing Machine. I loved listening to Leonard's Losers on the way to every game and dreaded a loss because my Daddy, a Class of '60 Tiger, would be in a foul mood for the next 3 days. The current situation is as temporary as being at the top of the heap. I hate sore losers with big mouths and sharp tongues, especially when they wear the colors of my Alma mater.
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Hall of Famer [22445]
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Re: I agree 100%
Oct 21, 2021, 6:42 PM
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Totally agree. I was a sophomore at Clemson for the 1981 championship season. I wasn’t in the Army but moved around a lot during my career and couldn’t really keep up with anything Clemson until the advent of the internet and all the sports channels. About 8 years ago we moved to Asheville and in 2014 my daughter was a Clemson student and became the Tiger Cub mascot. She did that for 3 years and was in the suit for the first two recent NC games (Phoenix loss and Tampa win). We went to all of the playoff games until 2020. She went to Clemson because of hearing her mother and I talk about it all during her childhood even though she never lived anywhere near here and never even got to visit until her junior year in HS. There really is something in them hills and most of these bandwagon jumping fans have no idea what it’s like to really be a part of the Clemson Family. Go Tigers! Beat Pitt!
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110%er [5014]
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Re: I agree 100% Well said!
Oct 22, 2021, 10:53 PM
[ in reply to I agree 100% ] |
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Very well said.
Go Tigers
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All-In [37522]
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Re: Spoiled short timers, flame if you want to
Oct 21, 2021, 5:18 PM
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Awesome poast!!!!! Could be poast of the year!!! Truly sorry I can only give you 1 TU.
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All-In [38448]
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Thanks
Oct 21, 2021, 5:35 PM
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I am a short timer on Tnet as a poster. I have no cred like some guy here since '98.
It seems there is room here for all types of fans (even me).
By nature some are more this or that as to their posts and personality.
I like to read here. I learn a lot.
Many of us believe our self to be a "real fan" and any who are different --> a "coot".
No matter as we all rally together on game day.
EssoClub2®
This is a great post, thanks.
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CU Guru [1669]
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Re: Spoiled short timers, flame if you want to
Oct 21, 2021, 5:47 PM
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I attended games with my dad starting in the late fifties. We sat thru horrible rains and losses but he always stayed to the end. Great memories of parking along cemetery hill with great tailgating. I have gone to two National Championship games in 1981 and 2016. Those were great but my memories with my dad in section UG are the greatest.
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All-In [38448]
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Re: Spoiled short timers, flame if you want to
Oct 21, 2021, 6:02 PM
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My Dad was the best of Dads. He did not know much as to things like football. He was high IQ. Got through 7th grade and then it was more important working on the farm to feed the family. His many brothers and sisters were the same.
He had a good life and made all things possible for me by working in the cotton mill.
There was no money to travel to ball games, but he taught me to fish and hunt.
Like I said above, we are all very different.
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CU Medallion [51870]
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Re: Spoiled short timers, flame if you want to
Oct 21, 2021, 6:01 PM
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I'm not far behind you--my first games were in the '70s.
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Team Captain [492]
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Re: Spoiled short timers, flame if you want to
Oct 22, 2021, 6:46 PM
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Great post, I started in 74 and have seen it all over the years. Good , Great and ugly! I will be a fan forever if we never win another game ( not likely ) . Sure you can analyze and second guess always. Some people need a reality check on the criticism. That said Go Tigers forever!
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Orange Blooded [4150]
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Re: Spoiled short timers, flame if you want to
Oct 22, 2021, 8:16 PM
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My brother was a "kadet" at CU from 1949 - 1953. During that time frame I went to one game at CU. I was at CU from 1963-1967. Got to watch a few games during those years. Been to a lot of games thru the good and bad years. Never did I expect to see the success we have had under Coach "Dabo" these past 13 years. Life is good. Especially good if you are a Tiger fan which I am. The Good Lord has bless me.
Go Tigers.
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