There are few places like it in college football, if any. One of the very best things the Clemson Tigers have going for them is their illustrious home stadium. Clemson Memorial Stadium can hold its own with the best venues in all the Power Four. However, there is nothing else that comes close to what Death Valley offers in the ACC. Florida State and Virginia Tech may beg to differ, but they are wrong.
Here is how Kevin Shiver of USA TODAY Sports ranked the 17 home stadiums throughout the ACC.
- Clemson Memorial Stadium (Clemson Tigers)
- Doak S. Campbell Stadium (Florida State Seminoles)
- Lane Stadium (Virginia Tech Hokies)
- Bobby Dodd Stadium (Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets)
- California Memorial Stadium (California Golden Bears)
- Scott Stadium (Virginia Cavaliers)
- Kenan Memorial Stadium (North Carolina Tar Heels)
- Carter-Finley Stadium (North Carolina State Wolfpack)
- JMA Wireless Dome (Syracuse Orange)
- L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium (Louisville Cardinals)
- Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Hurricanes)
- Alumni Stadium (Boston College Eagles)
- Stanford Stadium (Stanford Cardinal)
- Wallace Wade Stadium (Duke Blue Devils)
- Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium (Wake Forest Demon Deacons)
- Gerald J. Ford Stadium (SMU Mustangs)
- Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh Panthers)
Clemson fans should love what Skiver had to say about what separates Death Valley from the rest.
"When talking about identity, Clemson Memorial Stadium has it in spades," Skiver wrote. "Indeed, it isn't just one of the most raucous atmospheres in the ACC. It stands up to most of college football. Between the Death Valley moniker, Howard's Rock, and the run down "The Hill," not to mention Clemson's historical success (though that has waned in recent seasons), it's hard to top the intimidation factor on college football Saturdays."
No doubt about it, there is a major "intimidation factor" when it comes to playing Clemson in Death Valley. The run down "The Hill" after every Clemson player touches Howard's Rock can be too much for the opposition to stomach. One of the reasons Clemson has had a strong home-field advantage is because of its raucous environment. Some opponents are down 10 points mentally before kickoff.
Even in down years, an elite home stadium can help uplift a program in dire need of a big win or two.
Dabo Swinney needs to use Clemson's home-field advantage this season
So much has been made about Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney in recent years. He may be the greatest head coach in program history, but 2018 was nearly a decade ago. Clemson has made the College Football Playoff three times since winning its most recent national title, but talking heads such as Paul Finebaum often criticize the future Hall of Fame head coach. It is what it is at this point.
What is important to understand is Clemson needs to find a way to use every advantage it might have to just win anyway. Being in the chaotic ACC should help Clemson more than anyone would think. Right now, Clemson has a manageable conference to navigate, the greatest head coach in program history, one of the best wide receiving corps in the country, and an elite home environment to play in.
Overall, Clemson still needs to find ways to win games that it used to under Swinney. Having a strong home-field advantage is one thing, but maintaining it is another. The last thing Clemson fans will want is for anyone and everyone to come into Death Valley thinking they have a chance at a road win. It is paramount for Swinney and the rest of his staff to instill in their team that it must protect this house.
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Ultimately, reputations are built over the course of years, but they can be ruined in a moment's notice. We are not talking about Clemson losing the occasional home game here. It is all about maintaining the allure of what it is like to play in Death Valley. The first word signifies to the opposition that you are not coming out of it alive. It might mean an L is in their immediate future, so let's not lose sight of that.
Right now, Clemson fans should be thrilled to have the best stadium in the ACC; it is because of them.
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