110%er [5014]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 2672
Joined: 11/30/98
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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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