Clemson football has made a habit of winning the ACC Championship the past half-decade, but Tiger fans should never forget to appreciate conference titles.
After the hoopla of winning another National Championship, Clemson football fans have already moved on to looking at what it will take repeat in 2019.
There’s certainly nothing wrong with that and there’s nothing like the feeling you get when you see the Tigers win a National Title. As a matter of fact, it’s only happened three times in the history of the Clemson football program.
As we see memorabilia bought and license tags put on car, they’re all going to be to commemorate the National Title victory.
It was a magical season, no doubt. As part of commemorating the season that was, I do think that Tiger fans should always take a moment and appreciate the ACC Championship that was won in 2018, as well.
I know it wasn’t as illustrious and didn’t feature a top-caliber opponent (Pittsburgh), but it was still a great accomplishment.
Why?
I remember a time where I dreamed of Clemson football winning a conference title. Not a National Championship, not even making the CFB Playoff. Just winning the conference.
Well, Dabo Swinney has done that a grand total of five times now- four in a row- and it has almost become a given to Clemson football fans.
While it doesn’t compare to a National Championship, I do think that it should be appreciated because it makes us remember where the program has come.
10 years ago, a National Championship was the outlandish dream. Now, National Championships are the consistent goal.
It’s amazing, to me, just how far Dabo Swinney has brought this program, but it all started with appreciating the small victories and working to be the best in the conference.
And though an ACC Championship may seem like a small victory now compared to a Natty, it should still be appreciated. That conference title will get put on a banner just like all of the other ones and the fun should never be taken out of the winning.
So, don’t be afraid to celebrate every single aspect of the special 2018 season. The first 15-0 team in modern history, a National Title, a CFB Playoff berth, an ACC Championship, a perfect 12-0 regular season, a win over in-state rival South Carolina, and an ACC Atlantic Division championship.