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Lesson number one as you make your way down the rural highways and byways
towards Clemson, South Carolina – the paw prints. That distinctive logo of the
Clemson Tigers is painted everywhere on the road pavement, directing the path
towards Death Valley.
Then there’s lesson number two – spotting the rubber chickens tied to car bumpers
here and there, a derisive swipe towards their hated rivals, the South Carolina
Gamecocks. If there’s one thing Clemson fan is VERY opinionated about, it’s USC and
their Gamecocks.
Clemson and the Tigers have a football program steeped in excellence and tradition –
they boast a national title, claimed in 1981, and a host of ACC league championships.
Their stadium, Memorial Stadium, sits amidst a bucolic campus of rolling hills in the
tiny town of Clemson. The venue was nicknamed “Death Valley” decades ago by a
visiting coach from Presbyterian College whose team got thumped there on a regular
basis.
The college pretty much IS the Town of Clemson, and College Avenue, just north of the
stadium, is the place to hang our before and after the game. The tightly wound streets
around College have plenty of restaurants, taverns, merchandise stores and other
retail outlets. Tailgating is abundant across the campus, with plenty of parking lots
(many free admission if you don’t mind the walk), intertwined among the campus
buildings and halls..
The stadium itself was erected in the mid 40s, and was expanded on numerous
occasions to bring capacity to just over 80,000. The most recent improvement added a
700 seat club deck to the west end zone. Despite the stadium’s age, the facility is
sleek, modern and comfortable.. Concourses are sparkling, with brick and iron gate
accents, modern concessions, Tiger orange and purple splashes of color, and a
series of murals along the ceiling arches depicting great moments in Clemson
football history.
The seating bowl sports a very steep upper deck, adding to the intimacy of the place.
Across the north balcony is a ring of honor showcasing the best of the best, including
WR Jerry Butler, who went on to a Pro Bowl NFL career with our Buffalo Bills for eight
seasons in the 80s.
The most distinctive part of the show here at Clemson occurs at the east end zone, for
here is “Howard’s Rock”, a rock placed on a pedestal back in the 60s by their
legendary coach, Frank Howard. The rock is supposed to have mystical powers, and it
is at this point where the hometown Tigers enter the stadium at the beginning of the
game. At the appointed time, the cannons boom, the Clemson flag leads the rush and
the players run down the hill from Howard’s Rock and onto the field. It is described as
“the 25 most exciting seconds in college football.” Who are we to argue?
Game report – On this day, the Tigers were all over the hapless Louisiana Tech
Bulldogs, 51-0. Three Clemson players rushed for over 100 yards, and two Bulldogs
forays into the red zone were thwarted for no points.
Special thanks!!! Props go out to Clemson alum Steve Johnson and his brother Tim
Johnson, both now living in Virginia and die-hard Clemson fans. Steve and Tim spent
the day with us showing us the campus, we did dinner and drinks along the strip, and
they generally showed us a great time. Thanks guys!
towards Clemson, South Carolina – the paw prints. That distinctive logo of the
Clemson Tigers is painted everywhere on the road pavement, directing the path
towards Death Valley.
Then there’s lesson number two – spotting the rubber chickens tied to car bumpers
here and there, a derisive swipe towards their hated rivals, the South Carolina
Gamecocks. If there’s one thing Clemson fan is VERY opinionated about, it’s USC and
their Gamecocks.
Clemson and the Tigers have a football program steeped in excellence and tradition –
they boast a national title, claimed in 1981, and a host of ACC league championships.
Their stadium, Memorial Stadium, sits amidst a bucolic campus of rolling hills in the
tiny town of Clemson. The venue was nicknamed “Death Valley” decades ago by a
visiting coach from Presbyterian College whose team got thumped there on a regular
basis.
The college pretty much IS the Town of Clemson, and College Avenue, just north of the
stadium, is the place to hang our before and after the game. The tightly wound streets
around College have plenty of restaurants, taverns, merchandise stores and other
retail outlets. Tailgating is abundant across the campus, with plenty of parking lots
(many free admission if you don’t mind the walk), intertwined among the campus
buildings and halls..
The stadium itself was erected in the mid 40s, and was expanded on numerous
occasions to bring capacity to just over 80,000. The most recent improvement added a
700 seat club deck to the west end zone. Despite the stadium’s age, the facility is
sleek, modern and comfortable.. Concourses are sparkling, with brick and iron gate
accents, modern concessions, Tiger orange and purple splashes of color, and a
series of murals along the ceiling arches depicting great moments in Clemson
football history.
The seating bowl sports a very steep upper deck, adding to the intimacy of the place.
Across the north balcony is a ring of honor showcasing the best of the best, including
WR Jerry Butler, who went on to a Pro Bowl NFL career with our Buffalo Bills for eight
seasons in the 80s.
The most distinctive part of the show here at Clemson occurs at the east end zone, for
here is “Howard’s Rock”, a rock placed on a pedestal back in the 60s by their
legendary coach, Frank Howard. The rock is supposed to have mystical powers, and it
is at this point where the hometown Tigers enter the stadium at the beginning of the
game. At the appointed time, the cannons boom, the Clemson flag leads the rush and
the players run down the hill from Howard’s Rock and onto the field. It is described as
“the 25 most exciting seconds in college football.” Who are we to argue?
Game report – On this day, the Tigers were all over the hapless Louisiana Tech
Bulldogs, 51-0. Three Clemson players rushed for over 100 yards, and two Bulldogs
forays into the red zone were thwarted for no points.
Special thanks!!! Props go out to Clemson alum Steve Johnson and his brother Tim
Johnson, both now living in Virginia and die-hard Clemson fans. Steve and Tim spent
the day with us showing us the campus, we did dinner and drinks along the strip, and
they generally showed us a great time. Thanks guys!
MEMORIAL
STADIUM
Clemson,
South
Carolina
USRT VISIT:
September
30, 2006
Louisiana
Tech
Bulldogs
at
Clemson
Tigers
STADIUM
Clemson,
South
Carolina
USRT VISIT:
September
30, 2006
Louisiana
Tech
Bulldogs
at
Clemson
Tigers
| Clemson, South Carolina |
Memorial Stadium "Death Valley"