Tag: Running down the hill

CFB show host says Swinney has made Clemson’s pregame tradition ‘all about himself’

A college football show host apparently has a problem with how Dabo Swinney goes about Clemson’s pregame tradition. Of course, after rubbing Howard’s Rock before each home game, Swinney can be seen sprinting full speed down the hill as he leads his …

A college football show host apparently has a problem with how Dabo Swinney goes about Clemson’s pregame tradition.

Of course, after rubbing Howard’s Rock before each home game, Swinney can be seen sprinting full speed down the hill as he leads his Tigers out onto the field.

Brandon Walker of Barstool Sports, who hosts The Brandon Walker College Football Show on Barstool’s Sling TV channel, seems to take exception to Swinney sprinting down the hill.

Walker posted the following comment on Twitter, saying “Dabo has taken Clemson’s awesome entrance and made it all about himself,” adding that how Swinney does the hill run “is weird” and “Clemson fans can’t fathom why this is weird.”

“These folks are under a spell of some sort,” Walker added on Twitter.

It’s weird that this is just coming out now since Swinney has been doing the same thing since he took the job as Clemson’s head coach.

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The X-Factor in Saturday’s game was special

Clemson’s home opener on Saturday proved a special day for multiple reasons. For starters the sixth-ranked Tigers returned to the win column as they pounced on South Carolina State early and ran away with a 49-3 victory. And Clemson defensive …

Clemson’s home opener on Saturday proved a special day for multiple reasons.

For starters the sixth-ranked Tigers returned to the win column as they pounced on South Carolina State early and ran away with a 49-3 victory.

And Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables had plenty to celebrate after his unit kept their opponent out of the end zone for a second straight week. But after the game his most impassioned answer was about the Tiger faithful in the stands.

“The stadium was awesome. The fans, just driving onto the campus gives me chills just thinking about it,” Venables said. “It’s so cool to see the passion, the love and the pride that Clemson and its constituents have for their university. The alumni are special here and that was so cool.”

After a full season with a 25-percent capacity crowd at Memorial Stadium in the wake of the pandemic, Death Valley welcomed 78,609 fans into its gates to watch the Tigers play.

Before kickoff, as Clemson loaded onto busses and traveled from the west end zone to the top of the hill, Venables paused to soak in the scene of a raucous crowd eagerly awaiting their team to rub Howard’s Rock, run down the hill and step on the playing surface.

“Our guys came out of the bus to get ready and run down the hill and the crowd was going nuts man,” Venables said. “I had to pull the headset off and take it all in because I don’t want to take that for granted.”

Last season R.J. Mickens experienced his first taste of Death Valley. But in his assessment, nothing compared to standing at the top of the hill on Saturday.

“It was like something out of a movie, I saw it on the recruiting trips and saw it on TV but I never really got that full experience especially at home,” the sophomore safety said. “In Charlotte it was a love-hate environment, and it was still crazy to see that but playing in Death Valley is special.”

Venables made sure to credit the Clemson alumni, students and fans for the appreciation they show the Tigers every time they play at Memorial Stadium.

“The people at Clemson have so much pride and appreciation for its university, the players, this program, this history here and its very very special and was on full display today,” he said.

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!

Up close look at the best tradition in college football

Clemson ran down the hill in front of a full-capacity crowd at Memorial Stadium for the first time since November 2019. The ACC Network and Clemson Football posted an up close looks at the Tigers’ first trip into Death Valley this season ahead of …

Clemson ran down the hill in front of a full-capacity crowd at Memorial Stadium for the first time since November 2019.

The ACC Network and Clemson Football posted an up close looks at the Tigers’ first trip into Death Valley this season ahead of their matchup with in-state foe South Carolina State.

Check out the videos below.

Podcast: ‘The Most Exciting 25 Seconds in College Football’

Miller Yoho of the Duke’s Mayo Kickoff Classic stops by and talks to Levon Kirkland and myself to give Clemson fans all the info they need to know about all the events and other things surrounding next week’s game between Clemson and Georgia in …

Miller Yoho of the Duke’s Mayo Kickoff Classic stops by and talks to Levon Kirkland and myself to give Clemson fans all the info they need to know about all the events and other things surrounding next week’s game between Clemson and Georgia in Charlotte.

Clemson’s Running Down the Hill Tradition won the Herbie Award for College Football’s best entrance, we discuss it and we compare it to other stadium entrances in college football.

We also have an interview with Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and we update you on all the latest injury news ahead of the Georgia game.

You can listen to today’s podcast here (LINK), or listen to it and download it where you listen to all of your podcasts at either Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify.

ESPN writers agree, Clemson has best entrance in college football

It’s no secret that Clemson possesses the most unique entrance in college football. In just a few short weeks the Tigers will leave the playing surface to board the team buses in the west end zone and drive around to the top of the hill for the …

It’s no secret that Clemson possesses the most unique entrance in college football.

In just a few short weeks the Tigers will leave the playing surface to board the team buses in the west end zone and drive around to the top of the hill for the “most exciting 25 seconds in college football” before they take on South Carolina State on Sept. 11 at Death Valley.

And this time the moment will be sweeter after a limited number of fans attended games last season due to COVID-19 protocols.

A panel of ESPN writers gave their thoughts on the traditions that make college football different from any other game. One of the topics the writers broke down was the best stadium entrance and the consensus pick did not surprise.

“I’ve been to Clemson only once, but what a game I saw: Clemson vs. Louisville in 2016. Deshaun Watson vs. Lamar Jackson. The Tigers’ run down the hill was absolutely electric — my second favorite moment next to hugging Ryan McGee in the press box,” Adam Rittenberg said in the discussion. “But it’s hard to top the anticipation of the team taking the buses around the stadium, assembling at Howard’s Rock and then sprinting down the hill. Can’t wait to be back in Death Valley.”

Bill Connelly echoed the same sentiment about the moment when the Tigers run down the hill.

“Clemson is definitely No. 1. The bus ride builds anticipation, and the hill itself adds some lovely ‘Oh man, what if one of them slips and falls?; anxiety, too. It’s perfect,” he said.

Heather Dinich, David Wilson and Andrea Adelson each mentioned the Tigers’ tradition in their answer as well.

While Clemson fans have to wait an extra week to see the Tigers run down the hill, Clemson opens the season against Georgia at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 4 in the Duke’s Mayo Classic.