Rubbing the Rock
Fansided

Tailgating and GameDay Guide to Clemson Tigers Football

By Barry Shuck

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 04: A detail of a Clemson Tigers flag attached to a car in the parking lot while fans tailgate outside the stadium prior to CLemson playing against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 4, 2012 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 04: A detail of a Clemson Tigers flag attached to a car in the parking lot while fans tailgate outside the stadium prior to CLemson playing against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 4, 2012 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 07: The Clemson Tigers touch Howard’s Rock as they run onto the field before their game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Memorial Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 07: The Clemson Tigers touch Howard’s Rock as they run onto the field before their game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Memorial Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Pre-GameDay

First, you must obtain a ticket. A friend of mine has been a season-ticket holder for 22 years and had invited me for ions to attend a home game. Now, as a football writer for several online places including several NFL sites, football season is very busy for me; but this year I made the effort and was rewarded with a great experience.

The game against A&M was highly-anticipated and earmarked as one of two possible games the Tigers were expected to be challenged on their 2019 schedule. Tickets prior to GameDay were going for as much as $350 on the secondary market, which sounded good to me to turn a profit. However, my friend’s wife who would make certain I would walk back home to Pensacola, Florida so preparations to the game was a must.

The best method is to try to find someone who already has tickets and bogart or buy their extra seat. Many season-ticket holders buy 3-5 seats each year for their children and/or grandchildren to attend, invite friends, church members or neighbors to see a home game.

If you must buy a ticket or two on the secondary market, buy them very early in the summer. If you wait, not only are the best seats taken, but they cost more. Another factor is who the opponent is. With A&M, they were earmarked to be one of the SEC’s better teams this year. Once A&M hit the number 12 ranking and won their first game, all hell broke loose for the demand for tickets to this one contest.

Most folks assume Clemson is just the University, but it is actually a small town of less than 20,000 that has existed since the late 1800s. The town originally was called “Calhoun” and was renamed “Clemson” in 1943. The town is very quaint with lots of shops, bars, and restaurants. A trip to this burrow is a good time the day before the game when the foot traffic isn’t so congested.

Plan your tailgating as well. Buy as much as you can the week prior to GameDay because everyone has the same idea you do and are buying the same stuff. It is awful to not being able to purchase your favorite buns or kosher dill pickle chips just because you delayed. If you make anything, do it the day before.

MAKE A LIST of everything you are going to need. Within your list, make several categories such as seating, food, beverages and non-food items (such as plates, utensils, etc.). If you have four folks going to the tailgate, regardless if they have a game ticket, this means you need four chairs. If you are bringing your TV, this means you need a generator and satellite dish. Making a list will save you time, effort and will guarantee your experience does not lack anything.

If you decide to record the game, make sure you do this before GameDay and is one less thing to do.

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