Clemson football fans love ‘Big Dave’ Uiagalelei and there’s no doubt about it
The Clemson football fan base has a new hero and, this time, it’s a person that won’t even suit up with shoulder pads and a helmet.
We all know about Clemson football greats like Tajh Boyd, Sammy Watkins, Deshaun Watson, Christian Wilkins, Ben Boulware, Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne who have become fan favorites during the Dabo Swinney era, but there’s now a new man who is garnering the spotlight and absolutely for good reason: ‘Big Dave’ Uiagalelei.
Dave Uiagalelei, the father of Clemson freshman QB D.J. Uiagalelei, has been present at all of his son’s games this season and has cheered on the Tigers just as hard- if not harder- than anyone all season long, whether or not D.J. was in the game or not.
When Uiagalelei got his chance to start- when Lawrence went out with a positive test earlier this season- his father was there for encouragement.
There is an amount of love and pride that you can see in Dave’s eyes and demeanor when it comes to his son and he has embraced the Clemson family in a way that has taken all of us by the heart.
Clemson football fans are loving every minute of ‘Big Dave’
Several Clemson football fans have taken pictures with Big Dave over the course of the last few weeks and there are many other Tiger fans who have come to meet him or just to say ‘hello’ during a game.
In addition to the fan fare, Big Dave has also put in his work as a recruiter.
He tweeted a picture of himself with the nation’s No. 1 recruit- 5-star DE Korey Foreman who is also from California- during the Pitt game.
Korey is in good hands...#ALLIN #GoTigers pic.twitter.com/a9V9qfUh6Z
— Big Dave Uiagalelei (@DUiagalelei) November 28, 2020
It’s clear that his love for Clemson extends beyond just the support of his son. Though Uiagalelei has only been on campus for several months, the entire family has embraced becoming Tigers through and through.
There’s no doubt that it’s going to be a lot of fun watching DJ and his father over the course of the next couple of seasons and you better believe he’s going to continue to be a fan favorite among Clemson football circles.
People love the passion, pride and pure joy that Big Dave brings wherever he is and that’s something that won’t soon be forgotten, either.