Clemson Fan- My Thoughts

[DownTheField]

So, I've obviously never seen a game in the dome, but seen Clemson play in the UGA Dome quite often. I get that it is closed in, etc, and it isn't the same as other venues, but I also think it needs to be kept in perspective. I've never seen the Carrier Dome at the top of lists on toughest places to play (where Clemson is a fixture).

I'd be interested to see your take on where the Carrier Dome ranks compared to some other home fields that I have been to and/or are more familar with.

Here is the list:
FSU
Auburn
SC
UGA
GT
NC State
VT
UNC
MD

It hasn't been on any lists of toughest places to play recently because the crowds have been small due to some pretty bad football being played. Now that the team is finally getting better, the crowds will start to return and we'll get that intimidation factor back. Clemson isn't going to see any of those small apathetic crowds.

http://www.oregongridiron.com/facilities_pages/autzen_quotes.html

"I can assure you that the stories are not overblown. In my travels, I've been to at least 90 different stadiums for college football games, the two loudest places I've ever been to are Autzen Stadium and at Syracuse in the (Carrier) Dome. It is extremely loud." - Dirk Koetter, Former ASU Head Coach

 

[TexanMark]

Got ya. FWIW, and what I know about Syracuse, I would certainly put the Carrier dome over BC, UVA, and MD. No doubt about that...

Back in the 90s...the Carrier Dome used be be in the Top 10 on most of those lists for toughest/loudest places to play. We used to fill the stadium at 90-100% capacity too.

Tulane @ Cuse 50% capacity the crowd was meh, HFA not much
Clemson@Cuse 95-100% capacity will give us a huge HFA

The Carrier Dome's interior volume of space is much smaller than the Georgia Dome. So the sound is intensified.

 

[Palmer103]

So would yall place the Carrier Dome in the same tier as VT, Clemson, and FSU? I gave a list earlier, and nobody has responded with where they would put it? Just looking for honest opinions.

 

[CUSU]

So would yall place the Carrier Dome in the same tier as VT, Clemson, and FSU? I gave a list earlier, and nobody has responded with where they would put it? Just looking for honest opinions.

Yes, when it is full.

 

[Orangeyes]

I've never seen the Carrier Dome at the top of lists on toughest places to play (where Clemson is a fixture).

All you need do is look down about 10-14 spots spots or so from where your stadium is listed. Our program was down for a decade or more and in that time frame we weren't getting the crowds that would get us a higher rating. The Scott Shafer era has just begun, Marrone got us headed in the right direction. Once the Carrier Dome gets rocking and rolling for football again we will be listed higher.

Here are some comments and articles about the Dome when there are big crowds

With 34,616 in attendance at the SU-Villanova basketball game in February of 2010 this is the kind of noise it generated

HOW MUCH NOISE CAN FANS GENERATE? The crowd was loud from the moment people settled into their seats. A noise meter recorded regular decibels of 100 throughout the first half. When Kris Joseph flushed a dunk with 4:34 left in the first half to give Syracuse a 31-30 lead, the decibel level struck 115. That’s as loud as sandblasting or a rock concert. A military jet or a drag-racing car has decibel levels of 140.

It gets better

Built to keep the weather out, the Dome serves to
keep the sound in. To dispel any doubt that the Dome has
earned its nickname, "The Loud House," ESPN sound engineers
ran tests at the 2005 Syracuse-Notre Dame basketball
game. The record-breaking crowd of 33, 199-largest ever
to see a basketball game on a college campus-registered
a decibel level of 120, three ticks above the ESPN record.
If you would like to learn the history of our venerable facility here it is
http://surface.syr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2036&context=sumagazine

January 26, 2010

The Syracuse student section came alive Monday Night as students lined up for the game against their rival Georgetown beginning Saturday as soon as the previous home game against Marquette ended.

By the time doors opened, approximately 325 students were on a list for the best seats in the student section, while several hundred more waited outside the Carrier Dome.

The student section which is now known as Otto's Army came prepared for battle. Nike supplied the first 200 students with Otto's Army "army helmets," 200 track jackets, and t-shirts to anyone who didn't get a jacket or helmet.

At one point, my colleague, Doug Whitehorn, got his I-Phone, downloaded an app to measure the decibel level in the Carrier Dome. It hit 105 decibels which was louder than the Saints' SuperDome on Sunday and the equivalent to standing next to a lawn mower.

Here's the highlights of the Syracuse University student section:

The Florida Gators can tell Miami a thing or two about Syracuse's Dome-field advantage.

"It's the loudest place we've ever played," says Florida offensive guard Jim Watson, remembering back to last year's 38-21 loss to the Orangemen. "It's not like anyplace else. It's like playing in a closet. The fans are right on top of you."

West Virginia coach Don Nehlen can tell the Hurricanes a thing or two about the deaf dome, too.
"Everybody's so close in there," Nehlen says. "I'm on the sideline, and I feel I can turn around and shake hands with the guy in the front row. If I get hungry, I can get a candy bar from him."

Everybody who has ever played there can tell the Miami Hurricanes a story about the decibel level in the Carrier Dome. But warnings would just fall on deaf ears.

Read more
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19921121&id=FMRPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pQYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5359,6670806
With 30,000 screaming fans, the Dome mirrors the sound of a jet ...

 

[CuseCactus]

If Syracuse scores first - especially a TD - watch out. Hard to describe what it's like. If I had to use 1 word to describe what it CAN be like for an opponent, it would be - claustrophobic. And it's louder than Autzen. I've been to Autzen.

 

[Palmer103]

Yes, when it is full.

OK, I'm gonna drop this argument and will respectfully agree to disagree. Even if it is, it won't really effect Boyd and our offense. We went down to FSU and hung 28 on them (they actually have a defense as well) before the half. This is a veteran team, and if your hanging your hopes on having 48k in there instead of 40k, your in for a long Saturday afternoon.

I'd rather discuss the actual football aspects of this game anyways, so let's do that if this thread is to continue on. Otherwise, thanks for letting me stop by. Hope it is a great, injury free game, and best of luck this year and moving forward in the ACC. We're glad to have you...

 

[TheCusian]

On second thought - your players should think it's exactly like the Georgia Dome.

 

[xc84]

Back in the 90s...the Carrier Dome used be be in the Top 10 on most of those lists for toughest/loudest places to play. We used to fill the stadium at 90-100% capacity too.

Tulane @ Cuse 50% capacity the crowd was meh, HFA not much
Clemson@Cuse 95-100% capacity will give us a huge HFA

The Carrier Dome's interior volume of space is much smaller than the Georgia Dome. So the sound is intensified.

This is what the dome can do to you:

 

[jekelish]

Whenever someone wants to know how loud the Carrier Dome gets, I just say "ask Michael Vick" and think back fondly to the way Dwight Freeney planted him in the ground 4.5 times. Yes, I know we ended up losing that game, but that was the most dominant performance by a defensive player I've ever seen in person, considering the QB he was chasing around.

That was without question the loudest I've ever heard the Dome. The whole building was shaking almost from start to finish.

EDIT: My freshman year was the season after McNabb, so I missed the McNabb to Brominski game, and the Tennessee game, etc, so my frame of reference starts with the Troy Nunes/Madei Williams season.

 

[xc84]

OK, I'm gonna drop this argument and will respectfully agree to disagree. Even if it is, it won't really effect Boyd and our offense. We went down to FSU and hung 28 on them (they actually have a defense as well) before the half. This is a veteran team, and if your hanging your hopes on having 48k in there instead of 40k, your in for a long Saturday afternoon.

I'd rather discuss the actual football aspects of this game anyways, so let's do that if this thread is to continue on. Otherwise, thanks for letting me stop by. Hope it is a great, injury free game, and best of luck this year and moving forward in the ACC. We're glad to have you...

I think we are all happy to discuss the football aspects but you created the thread and focused on the crowd, the heat and how cocky you perceived members of the US squad to be. Sure, let's talk football if you prefer. No one is hanging their hopes on the crowd . If SU does not get the job done on the field, it does not matter. But if they do, the crowd will be a factor.

 

[CuseCactus]

Deep, deep down in the Clemson psyche, there's some doubt. Momentum is a funny thing. How else did silly little WVU drop 70 on the ACC champs?

A couple of bad breaks. An insane crowd. A stifling environment. The longest road trip they've probably ever had up to Yankee land. Not all that comfortable a situation for the L'il Orange (gotta smack a bit). We're talking about 22 year-olds here. The team from the south is quite serene about things. Not saying it's going to happen, but funnier things have occurred.

 

[dollarbill44]

I've been to football games at VaTech, UVa, MD, Rutgers, MetLife as well as sold-out NFL games at RFK, Giants Stadium and MetLife. The Carrier Dome, when full and loud is louder than any of those places, and it isn't close. The concrete, roof and small size make it extremely loud. Anyone who has not been there to experience it just can't get an idea of how loud.

It's also the best crowd for hoops when sold out, but Clemson will likely never experience a sold-out Dome for hoops.

 

[jkm54]

OK, I'm gonna drop this argument and will respectfully agree to disagree. Even if it is, it won't really effect Boyd and our offense. We went down to FSU and hung 28 on them (they actually have a defense as well) before the half. This is a veteran team, and if your hanging your hopes on having 48k in there instead of 40k, your in for a long Saturday afternoon.

I'd rather discuss the actual football aspects of this game anyways, so let's do that if this thread is to continue on. Otherwise, thanks for letting me stop by. Hope it is a great, injury free game, and best of luck this year and moving forward in the ACC. We're glad to have you...

I'm sorry...I think I find you a bit patronizing, but I'm not sure. I can't tell between the "we're pretty greats," the "glad to have you's/best of lucks" and the slights towards our stadium. You're very complex.

 

[cuseincincy]

Deep, deep down in the Clemson psyche, there's some doubt. Momentum is a funny thing. How else did silly little WVU drop 70 on the ACC champs?

This adds a little perspective. It was just 2 years ago when WVU beat Clemson 70-33 in the Orange Bowl and 2 months earlier SU beat WVU 49-23. We know we're the underdog and it could be ugly. But we've seen it before and know we'll see it again, hopefully this week.

 

[retro44]

Pretty good points. I think you may be underestimating how loud the Dome can be. I'm not saying our fans are any louder than anyone else, but the Dome is a unique stadium. The crowd is very close to the field (think Cameron Indoor), and the sound reverberates off the roof, making it louder than most open stadiums. Bnoro is right when he said the heat thing is also unique. It's why guys from Tennessee were cramping when they came in in '98. I'm not saying your players aren't in shape or that you don't have depth, it's just different. The scary thing for us is that our players may not have ever experienced it either.

I'm not exactly sure what to expect. Our offense has looked good the last two games but against the likes of Wagner and Tulane. Our d-line has not produced a consistent pass rush going back to last season, and I think that will be our biggest challenge. The one thing I'm confident of is that your players will leave the dome knowing they played a physical team.

lacrosse players would say it was a lack of air movement and it takes time for your body to adjust to it

 

[Palmer103]

I'm not here to convince you guys that Syracuse has no chance, or even that Clemson is going to win. It's just not going to be b/c of the crowd. That was the point of my OP.

I was honestly surprised by how convinced your fans are that the crowd is going to be some deciding factor. That's why I brought it up. I'm sorry, but IMO, this team has played in tougher environments and performed well. If you're here to try and convince me that 49k Syracuse fans can be louder than 85k FSU fans, I'm sorry, I'm just not going to agree with you. FSU, Clemson, and other southern schools don't have to use Groupons to convince only 49k fans to show up to watch their team play a top 5 team. We sell out for SC State. And before you tell me it's because you got to be good to get fans to come, SC (who I absolutely can't stand) had 80k in their stadium every game when they were in a 21 game losing streak. That's right, a 21 game losing streak.

People in different regions are passionate about different things. I'm never gonna try and convince you that our BBall crowd will be as good as yours. Please don't do the same to me. We're more passionate than you, and we have 35k more people that are right on top of you as well. Simply having a roof is not enough to put the Carrier Dome on Clemson's level. Sorry, but it's the truth.

 

[jekelish]

FSU, Clemson, and other southern schools don't have to use Groupons to convince only 49k fans to show up to watch their team play a top 5 team. We sell out for SC State. And before you tell me it's because you got to be good to get fans to come, SC (who I absolutely can't stand) had 80k in their stadium every game when they were in a 21 game losing streak. That's right, a 21 game losing streak.

People in different regions are passionate about different things.

You're absolutely right. It's a cultural thing. Some people still insist Syracuse is a football school, and during the 90s you could have still made that argument. In the past 10-12 years, however, it has shifted to a basketball school.

But it does get extremely loud in the Dome. The atmosphere in the Dome when it's packed and there's a good game going on is tremendous. Hopefully you guys get to experience that (to be totally honest, I think you guys cover the spread on Saturday, but I hope it's at least competitive for the vast majority of the game).

 

[CUSU]

I'm not here to convince you guys that Syracuse has no chance, or even that Clemson is going to win. It's just not going to be b/c of the crowd. That was the point of my OP.

I was honestly surprised by how convinced your fans are that the crowd is going to be some deciding factor. That's why I brought it up. I'm sorry, but IMO, this team has played in tougher environments and performed well. If you're here to try and convince me that 49k Syracuse fans can be louder than 85k FSU fans, I'm sorry, I'm just not going to agree with you. FSU, Clemson, and other southern schools don't have to use Groupons to convince only 49k fans to show up to watch their team play a top 5 team. We sell out for SC State. And before you tell me it's because you got to be good to get fans to come, SC (who I absolutely can't stand) had 80k in their stadium every game when they were in a 21 game losing streak. That's right, a 21 game losing streak.

People in different regions are passionate about different things. I'm never gonna try and convince you that our BBall crowd will be as good as yours. Please don't do the same to me. We're more passionate than you, and we have 35k more people that are right on top of you as well. Simply having a roof is not enough to put the Carrier Dome on Clemson's level. Sorry, but it's the truth.

I guess nothing will change your mind then. I'm sorry you can't understand even when people who have been in more environments than you (real coaches) say its at least as loud if not louder. It's not that our 50k is louder than 80k... it's that our 50k is enclosed in a very small volume. The dome isn't very big and I'll be the first to admit that. The comparison you make is 50k vs. 80k and you fail to account for the other variables in play here.. I mean I don't know what you need. Not saying its going to win us the game either, I'm just talking purely about our environment. I hope you come up saturday and experience it but by the way your talking I'm assuming you're not.

 

[jekelish]

I guess nothing will change your mind then. I'm sorry you can't understand even when people who have been in more environments than you (real coaches) say its at least as loud if not louder. It's not that our 50k is louder than 80k... it's that our 50k is enclosed in a very small volume. The dome isn't very big and I'll be the first to admit that. The comparison you make is 50k vs. 80k and you fail to account for the other variables in play here.. I mean I don't know what you need. Not saying its going to win us the game either, I'm just talking purely about our environment. I hope you come up saturday and experience it but by the way your talking I'm assuming you're not.

I would agree with this. It's not the size of the crowd, it's the acoustics in such a small, closed in space. It reverberates like crazy and amplifies the noise being made by those 50k people.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

First, it's great to have you guys in the ACC. I wanted to give my thoughts on our upcoming game, and also give my take on some things I've read from the Cuse fans and team.

Home field- I was actually kind of surprised to learn that this game hasn't sold out and that there is so much emphasis on having a sellout. I think it would be great if it was, but I think people are kind of overemphasizing the impact it will have on the game for a couple reasons. While not having AC might impact a bunch of NE schools that you usually play, Clemson plays in 90-100 degree weather all summer (with 100% humidity) and runs the HUNH offense. We also have some really good quality depth across the board, so I doubt the elements will play much role in this game. I know it will be loud, but it's not something that Clemson and Tajh haven't seen before. Probably comparable to a NC State or GT, which have some great gameday environments and can be very hard to win in.

*Confidence- Pretty surprised to see the level of confidence from your team, particularly your QB. Amazing what a couple wins over Tulane and Wagner will do to a team. I'm not sure I would have gone this route, but I respect it and feel like you have every right to feel confident in your chances to win. I'm just not sure I would have put that on paper. Which brings me to my next point that Clemson is overlooking this game, which I can assure you isn't the case. If you win the game, it will be because you were the better team. We didn't play great at NC State, but it wasn't b/c we were under prepared or overlooked them. Morris and Venables are some of the best game planners in the business, IMO, but you still got to execute. We did a pretty poor job of that at NC State and if it happens again on Saturday, you guys will have a chance to win in the 4th Qtr.

To me the key to the game is your Dline. You guys MUST get consistent pressure bringing 4, 5 at the most. With Clemson's speed on the outside, you are in for a very long day if you blitz us like you did NW. Just too much speed on the outside for Clemson to put your guys into too many 1-1 situations.

I see you guys being really up for this one, and won't be surprised one bit if we fall behind in the beginning. I envision a close half time score with Clemson pulling away in the 2nd half to win by about 10-14. I got it 41-30 Clemson.

Looking forward to a great game!

Steve Spurrier well coach at Florida so the Carrier Dome was the loudest place he ever played football.
When its warm outside to (usually September) we've seen southern teams will play because of the heat inside the dome.
Still, SU would need both those factors and an average game from Clemson and a stellar game from Syracuse to win.

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[4evaOrange]

Palmer, are you coming to the game???

 

[jekelish]

Steve Spurrier well coach at Florida so the Carrier Dome was the loudest place he ever played football.
When its warm outside to (usually September) we've seen southern teams will play because of the heat inside the dome.
Still, SU would need both those factors and an average game from Clemson and a stellar game from Syracuse to win.

Sent from my SCH-I200 using Tapatalk 2

That sums it up pretty well, other than the good Captain's phone related typos.

 

[Rocco]

Nothing would feed my brewing distaste for Clemson than to send them out of the Top 10. Some of these fans are straight up clowns. BTW, Chad "Swag" Kelly? Umm.

And thank you to the level-headed Clemson fans who've posted on this board. Look forward to having a beer with you!

 

[DownTheField]

I'm not here to convince you guys that Syracuse has no chance, or even that Clemson is going to win. It's just not going to be b/c of the crowd. That was the point of my OP.

I was honestly surprised by how convinced your fans are that the crowd is going to be some deciding factor. That's why I brought it up. I'm sorry, but IMO, this team has played in tougher environments and performed well. If you're here to try and convince me that 49k Syracuse fans can be louder than 85k FSU fans, I'm sorry, I'm just not going to agree with you. FSU, Clemson, and other southern schools don't have to use Groupons to convince only 49k fans to show up to watch their team play a top 5 team. We sell out for SC State. And before you tell me it's because you got to be good to get fans to come, SC (who I absolutely can't stand) had 80k in their stadium every game when they were in a 21 game losing streak. That's right, a 21 game losing streak.

People in different regions are passionate about different things. I'm never gonna try and convince you that our BBall crowd will be as good as yours. Please don't do the same to me. We're more passionate than you, and we have 35k more people that are right on top of you as well. Simply having a roof is not enough to put the Carrier Dome on Clemson's level. Sorry, but it's the truth.

You were provided with actual quotes from opponents that played in big games in The Dome. I see you haven't addressed any of those. I'm sorry that they don't fit your argument.


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