There’s something special about Clemson football home games and if you’ve never experienced Death Valley, you’ll never truly understand the magic that goes into a Death Valley crowd week-in and week-out.
Clemson football fans hold the record for the second-loudest stadium recording in CFB history and there’s a certain passion that just goes beyond anything we’ve ever experienced.
Earlier this week, the official Clemson football Twitter account asked fans to reply with their favorite Clemson win in Death Valley. As expected, the responses were vast.
2016 vs Louisville
— Adam (@Ametts24) May 24, 2021
It’s gotta be the ND “rainout” game. That game, the atmosphere, memories that will last a lifetime.
— Cindy (@cindyb_1988) May 24, 2021
Never gets old pic.twitter.com/EnTDKvz1Z9
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) May 24, 2021
That was a great game. I was a sophomore and Georgia was defending National Champions. What an awesome year we ad!!
— Kathy Gracey (@kcgracey) May 25, 2021
https://twitter.com/Morgan03838837/status/1396975482369884161?s=20
2013 College Gameday vs Georgia
— Matthew Kantz (@mkantz09) May 24, 2021
2008 against Carolina. I was a freshman and it was raining and I was 6 rows from the field. Got bronchitis afterwards but it didn’t matter because we won
— MikeyP (@youngHxCRobLowe) May 24, 2021
https://twitter.com/bnice21/status/1396976907552542721?s=20
The “We Will Rock You” game. Definitely #1 on my list. Back when beating FSU seemed impossible. My ears hurt for days afterwards! And we couldn’t make a extra point all night!
— Davidson Cothran (@dcothran14) May 25, 2021
https://twitter.com/kselman/status/1396983026261893122?s=20
Agreed on all accounts - loudest I ever heard it there
— Scott Jarrett (@sjarr94) May 25, 2021
https://twitter.com/Tigrrrfan/status/1396986653957398529?s=20
1987 vs. UGA...David Treadwell kicking the Tigers to the win, just like he did the year before in Athens.
— Brooks Watson (@bwatson1972) May 25, 2021
11/8/2003 first ACC victory over FSU 🐅🐅
— HarveyLarvae (@HarveyLarvae) May 25, 2021
Thunder & Lightning dismantling GT in front of the @CollegeGameDay crew.
— Will (@houseofbullock) May 25, 2021
Top 5
— Clemson Hype (@ClemsonHype) May 25, 2021
2014 over UofSC
2015 over Notre Dame
2016 over Louisville
1991 over Georgia Tech
2013 over Georgia
Top 3 seen live:
— Andy Pitt (@pittab) May 25, 2021
06 Thunder-Lightning vs GT
16 Tigers give Lamar Jackson the L
05 vs Texas A&M
OMG.
— Charlie Jenkins (@JenkDizzle) May 25, 2021
Too many to mention but if you make me choose I'll pick the 1980 South Carolina Orange Pants game. I was 9 years old and I sat with my Dad on bleachers that sat at the top of the Hill.
1980 was a tough regular season but that game restored my soul.#WillieUnderwood
The one where I watched the goal posts walk themselves out of the North Stands. #ClemsonFSUBowdenBowl2006
— Rick Connor (@TheRickConnor) May 25, 2021
Dantzler to gardner
— Christopher Oconnor (@cro_84) May 25, 2021
To hard to say just one ...
— Philip Sikes (@PSikes21) May 25, 2021
2000 SC
2003 FSU
2006 GT
2009 FSU
2011 Auburn
2013 UGA
2015 ND
2016 Louisville
Losses don’t make the cut but was really cool to be in the student section of the first Bowden Bowl in ‘99... electric atmosphere.
throwback @Jaflacian pic.twitter.com/rVayOXrzww
— Chris (@apop99) May 25, 2021
Clemson football fans have been treated to some sweet memories over the years inside of Death Valley
If you were in attendance for any of those games listed above, you were a part of history.
When looking at some of these in the Dabo Swinney era, a few stand out for different reasons:
- Clemson vs. Louisville, 2016
- Clemson vs. Notre Dame, 2015
- Clemson vs. Florida State, 2009
- Clemson vs. Florida State, 2011
- Clemson vs. UGA, 2013
If you were in attendance for any of the five games listed above, you experienced a loud and live crowd. Both Florida State games were goose bump-inciting and to have the opportunity to hear the entire stadium chanting ‘We Will Rock You’ at the same time is something that you simply don’t forget.
When looking at the other three, you’re talking about historical games that helped define the direction of the program.
Clemson vs. Georgia in 2013 was a game that was nationally televised and there was believed to be well over 100,000 people in Clemson that weekend for the game. Every single seat in the stadium was filled and the Tigers came out on top in a big way. That win officially solidified Clemson on the national stage.
That Notre Dame game in 2015 is one that Tiger fans will never forget. It was held during a hurricane and came down to the very last play. Clemson held on for a victory on national television and that win yielded us the phrase ‘BYOG’ from Dabo Swinney postgame.
Finally, the 2016 game vs. Louisville might feature the best matchup of elite quarterbacks in the history of Death Valley. Deshaun Watson outdueled Lamar Jackson in a game that went down to the wire. The stadium erupted when Clemson’s defense came away with a 4th down stop deep in its own zone and the Tigers eventually went on to win the National Championship.
What are some of your favorite Death Valley moments not mentioned? Comment below, Clemson football fans!