Clemson Fan- My Thoughts

[A Clockwork Orange]

Now you are being a douche...

It's the "up north" that means everything. Southerners can't believe and will never even consider that there are certain things up North that can compete with the South. That's why this guy thinks we're insane.

I have no doubt the Clemson gameday experience is better than here. More people, better tailgates, more pageantry. They have it all over on us. I'll concede that up front, and absolutely can't wait to visit for a game. The dome IS louder though on it's best day. There haven't been many 'best' days in the last 13-15 years though, so I can understand how these opposing fans might think we're nuts.

And you can tell by his posts (or most of them at least) that HE thinks we're talking about PASSION for the sport. He's confusing a passionate fan base with a loud fan base in a box. They're more passionate, the dome makes us louder. It's not that hard to understand, but Southerners are a touchy bunch. Honor being bruised and all that jazz. I half expect them to take off their white gloves, slap us across the face and challenge us to a duel because we DARED to say that this piddly Northern school might have something over their Southern experience.

Seriously, if I beep the horn at someone down here to get moving through a traffic light, it's like I killed their dog. Up North it was a simple communication. And I'm not talking about blaring my horn, just a quick beep to let them know the light is green. They're sensitive creatures down here, that's for sure. Nice people, just very sensitive.

 

[CuseOnly]

It took me 3 pages to see the light, but now I do.


The reason there's more quotes on our sites than your paper, is b/c we care more about football. I would expect this to be reversed during BBall season. Tigernet pretty much sucks, but they're not going to put their reputation on the line by making up quotes. That's not a very good long term business plan. I can assure you these quotes are from the mouth. If not, I expect your coach/players, etc to come out and set the record straight. I wouldn't want articles written with direct quotes from me that are completely fabricated...

Are you really talking about reputation regarding an article on the web? I would love to see anything that corroborates what was said on there...anything at all. How can you assure me? With your sparkling online reputation.

 

[tigerlabel]

C'mon back.

And about the sold out thing - this ain't the South where football is a religion for everyone. There are leaves to rake up here, not to mention Cindy's soccer game (more inside jokes). It's a religion for us (on this board), but not everyone else in the area. It's even tougher for a small private school in the NE. Unfortunately, we have to live with the whole attendance thing. Don't be a stranger.

A "religion" ? It's way more important than that.

 

[Finwad32]

A "religion" ? It's way more important than that.

For the majority of this board, we feel the same. Let me just say we're very much looking forward to hosting Clemson. It's not often in the past decade or even longer that we host a top 5 team in the Dome. For us die-hards this is a great opportunity. Without sticking my foot in my mouth, IMO, we're very much looking forward to more and more of these types of games in the ACC.

But, while giving the respect to Clemson for who you currently are as a football program, I go up to the Dome expecting a win, the only time I didn't was in the latter stages of the GROB era. As crazy as that might sound, I consider myself an optimist.

It's gonna be a fun day in Syracuse, NY. Win, lose or draw, I'm looking forward to many more!

 

[CousinClem]

It's hard to guess how many Clemson people are going to be at the game. I know the school returned 300 tickets, but most Clemson people get better seats and confirmation of tickets sooner by not going through the Clemson Athletic Dept. The first ACC game at Boston College there were about 15,000 Clemson fans.

With the economy like it is I don't expect that many, but 7-8,000 wouldn't surprise me.

On a side note, when the NCAA had a penalty for crowd noise Clemson was the only visiting team ever charged with that foul. NC State had all the Clemson people in the end zone together and when State was backed up near the goal line they couldn't hear the signals.

 

[Orangepace]

On a side note, when the NCAA had a penalty for crowd noise Clemson was the only visiting team ever charged with that foul. NC State had all the Clemson people in the end zone together and when State was backed up near the goal line they couldn't hear the signals.

This is reason #1 why I hate that SU gives up a whole section... Stuff it to incoming schools and designate the same allotments to the schools, but pepper those bastards around the stadium 30 per section and at least 3 rows from the nearest season ticket holder.

 

[SteveC]

It's hard to guess how many Clemson people are going to be at the game. I know the school returned 300 tickets, but most Clemson people get better seats and confirmation of tickets sooner by not going through the Clemson Athletic Dept. The first ACC game at Boston College there were about 15,000 Clemson fans.

With the economy like it is I don't expect that many, but 7-8,000 wouldn't surprise me.

On a side note, when the NCAA had a penalty for crowd noise Clemson was the only visiting team ever charged with that foul. NC State had all the Clemson people in the end zone together and when State was backed up near the goal line they couldn't hear the signals.

Was there really a penalty for crowd noise? You're pulling my leg right? I'm kind of in shock. That is so stupid.

On a side note i expect no more than 5000 Clemson fans at the most. Mostly because the dome is tiny, relatively speaking.

 

[Shenexon]

For the majority of this board, we feel the same. Let me just say we're very much looking forward to hosting Clemson. It's not often in the past decade or even longer that we host a top 5 team in the Dome. For us die-hards this is a great opportunity. Without sticking my foot in my mouth, IMO, we're very much looking forward to more and more of these types of games in the ACC.

Thanks for voicing my thoughts. This is the beginning of a great era of SU football and we're excited. There's no second chance for a first impression and we want to show we're going to be competitive. Great opportunity indeed.

 

[dollarbill44]

I do have to concede one thing that the Clemson fans are mocking, by the way.

The jingling keys thing is stupid. I hated it when I was a student and I still hate it now. It's so incredibly dumb. I wish we would do away with it. It doesn't make noise. It's just...dumb.

I agree, but do the Clemson fans mock the VaTech fans? That is the first place I've seen the key jingling back in 1984 when SU played at Lane Stadium.

 

[SteveC]

I agree, but do the Clemson fans mock the VaTech fans? That is the first place I've seen the key jingling back in 1984 when SU played at Lane Stadium.

I would hope they do. It's a really really stupid thing to do.

 

[edowd26]

All I have to say to you Clemson fans : When you see Dyshawn Davis barrelling down on tahj boyd in the pocket...

"Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land "


Get some.

 

[SyrCowboy]

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

So here is my list with a few places for the Carrier Dome:
Full Dome!
FSU
Auburn
SC
UGA
Half full Dome (most current crowds)
GT
NC State
VT
UNC
When we play an FCS team Dome
MD

The reason we do not make it high on the list of tough places to play anymore is the lack of crowds at games. If you read any rankings with authors familiar with the 80's-90's Carrier Dome crowds they will tell you it was the toughest place to play. That is what us die hard fans remember, and want us to get back to every game.

 

[Marroniac]

It took me 3 pages to see the light, but now I do.


The reason there's more quotes on our sites than your paper, is b/c we care more about football.

Our beat reporters may be (considered by some) total garbage, but Cohen doesn't miss many opportuntities to stir the pot. If these quotes were legit, I would expect a full length article about them. I don't think Tigernet has more access than Cohen, even though the call for blacklisting him is louder than the dome was vs. Wagner.

 

[TigerTown]

So here is my list with a few places for the Carrier Dome:
Full Dome!
FSU
Auburn
SC
UGA
Half full Dome (most current crowds)
GT
NC State
VT
UNC
When we play an FCS team Dome
MD

The reason we do not make it high on the list of tough places to play anymore is the lack of crowds at games. If you read any rankings with authors familiar with the 80's-90's Carrier Dome crowds they will tell you it was the toughest place to play. That is what us die hard fans remember, and want us to get back to every game.

You put vt behind gt and ncsu?
Vt>ncsu> gt

 

[SyrCowboy]

You put vt behind gt and ncsu?
Vt>ncsu> gt

I took the other guys list and added the Dome to it is all.

 

[sufandu]

So here is my list with a few places for the Carrier Dome:
Full Dome!
FSU
Auburn
SC
UGA
Half full Dome (most current crowds)
GT
NC State
VT
UNC
When we play an FCS team Dome
MD

The reason we do not make it high on the list of tough places to play anymore is the lack of crowds at games. If you read any rankings with authors familiar with the 80's-90's Carrier Dome crowds they will tell you it was the toughest place to play. That is what us die hard fans remember, and want us to get back to every game.

I'd say the reason we don't make those lists anymore is because we've had bad teams which contributed to the bad crowds. It's probably a little arrogant of us to claim that we're absolutely the toughest. Amongst the toughest when we have a good team and a good crowd? No doubt. Let's not swing too far in the opposite direction just because someone understands so little about our home field at it's best and insults it.

I'm with Tiger Town. How do you have VT so low? Some of our best teams had nightmare games there.

 

[sufandu]

I took the other guys list and added the Dome to it is all.

Got it.

 

[Trueblue25]

I expect the dome to be shaking. I haven't been this excited about a game since G Mac was having his last home game. AKA I haven't been this excited for a home football game.

I remember as a little kid when I went to the Tech game in 2002 I thought the ground beneath me was going to crumble and collapse because the arena was so loud.

As a grown up I frequent Buffalo Sabres hockey games at the First Niagara Center, a known venue for crazy, drunken, loud hockey fans. The place seats over 18,000 in an arena less than half the size of the dome. This is arguably one of the loudest, best fanbases in hockey/sports.

Never has the noise came CLOSE to what I've heard in the dome.

I expect the dome to be near or about at capacity. This will be a LOUD one.

 

[TigerTown]

I expect the dome to be shaking. I haven't been this excited about a game since G Mac was having his last home game. AKA I haven't been this excited for a home football game.

I remember as a little kid when I went to the Tech game in 2002 I thought the ground beneath me was going to crumble and collapse because the arena was so loud.

As a grown up I frequent Buffalo Sabres hockey games at the First Niagara Center, a known venue for crazy, drunken, loud hockey fans. The place seats over 18,000 in an arena less than half the size of the dome. This is arguably one of the loudest, best fanbases in hockey/sports.

Never has the noise came CLOSE to what I've heard in the dome.

I expect the dome to be near or about at capacity. This will be a LOUD one.

So now upstate NY has both the loudest college football and hockey stadiums...got it (and yall say we are homers and have blinders on ;-)

 

[Trueblue25]

So now upstate NY has both the loudest college football and hockey stadiums...got it (and yall say we are homers and have blinders on ;-)

At what point did I call it the loudest college football venue? I haven't been to them all yet. Certainly is very loud, however I haven't experience all the Big 10 or Pac 10 venues...

...then again by the looks of your past schedule... neither have Clemson fans.

I simply draw from experience.

 

[Marroniac]

I grew up in Syracuse but I now live in the south. I think the biggest disconnect, and the reason southern fanbases tend to disagree with our claims regarding our crowds, is that southerners aren't really exposed to truely fair weathered fan bases. We don't have the best fans. But when there is a true event, and the people come out and pump their veins with dome foams, it's exciting. We haven't had that happen in a while. It might happen on Saturday. And we're pumped about it. It's like marrying the homecoming queen, watching her gain 75 pounds, and then she starts doing P90X.

 

[baggerbob]

So now upstate NY has both the loudest college football and hockey stadiums...got it (and yall say we are homers and have blinders on ;-)

Glad you and other Tiger fans have come to the board, hopefully a great game on Saturday will be the start of a great rivalry. Love the good natured banter, back and forth.

 

[Van111]

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!

Good post and thanks for the welcome to the ACC. A few things. This game is a statement game, win or lose for our program. Besides what others have said, there are a few variables that may effect this games outcome. First, we pretty much have talent from all over the country that bigger programs didn't want, so we have a major "chip" on the shoulders of many of the players on this team. That could pay dividends in this game. Second, this is a chance for Coach Shafer to send a message to players we recruited that shunned our program and 2 come to mind on your squad, EO (Who won't play) and Kelly (Unlikely to see him on the field). Our Coach sent a message out to recruits that spurned us, and it was clear that you better chose a school that doesn't play us. We will also have quite a few new recruits in attendance. Don't think that isn't a little in his mind, even though it is probably way back there. Third, the unknown. The Dome is more that just a Hot Box or Loud Stadium. It is that, I can assure you. But it is something that most players really never understand until you play in it. Some teams handle it, others clearly melt in it. Ask Geno Smith and Teddy Bridgewater. What makes our Dome different than any other? Its on campus and they sell beer, and mind you, us Upstate New Yorkers like our beer. I agree the start will be very important as to the output of the game, and I could also agree the score could be high, but that comes to our last variable, #4...the number 4 has very special meaning, especially when you put two them together. Like this.....44. And that my friend is a variable we have all been waiting for and its return.

I know the talent level will be hard to compete with, but i think we are being taken a bit to lightly, and Clemson, like almost all the ACC teams in the last decade it seems, finds a way to lose games. This will be the wake up call, Orange get ahead early, Clemson mounts a comeback but is overwhelmed at the end.

I got it Syracuse 44, Clemson 28

I warned you about the number 4 after all.

 

[edowd26]

So now upstate NY has both the loudest college football and hockey stadiums...got it (and yall say we are homers and have blinders on ;-)

Our dads will also beat up yours guys' dads...

 

[Trueblue25]

I grew up in Syracuse but I now live in the south. I think the biggest disconnect, and the reason southern fanbases tend to disagree with our claims regarding our crowds, is that southerners aren't really exposed to truely fair weathered fan bases. We don't have the best fans. But when there is a true event, and the people come out and pump their veins with dome foams, it's exciting. We haven't had that happen in a while. It might happen on Saturday. And we're pumped about it. It's like marrying the homecoming queen, watching her gain 75 pounds, and then she starts doing P90X.

This.

This 100000 times.