re: Clemson Fans - Talk to me about game weekend for ND

It's a bummer that you won't get the real Clemson experience, which was the whole point. Their fan enthusiasm hasn't been this low in a nearly a decade.

Try to have a good time despite this, mate

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I learned today the bars might not serve booze before 10?! This could be something we need to plan for given the noon kick.

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Absolutely. Clemson is NOT a bar tailgate town. Every campus is different, and I remember when I went to some Big Ten schools I was shocked at all the bar tailgating. I never went into a bar once prior to a game the entire time I was at Clemson (outside of Esso, but, as stated, Esso is kind of unique and spend most of the time in its parking lot not inside the bar).

The tailgating is pretty open. There are of course restricted areas but also plenty of open spots. The weather is supposed to be perfect. I’d show up early with an Irish coffee in a thermos and just walk around. Everyone will have Bojangles chicken biscuits with it being an early game so you’ll get fed, especially if you say you’re pulling for Clemson as a first time visitor.

As stated, Ubers suck and everything goes contraflow postgame. Def walk / stumble is your best option.

Does suck this won’t be the typical atmosphere and the fanbase is in a really weird place right now with Dabo’s comments. It’ll still be a blast, but if this had been the top 10 night game folks were hoping preseason, it’d be wild.

We’ve got a group of 6 guys that may be heading up from Greenville. Can’t decide but will let you know if we do.

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NolaLovingClemsonFan

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Thanks for the perspective, sounds good.

Definitely leaning mobile tailgate before and bars after going Esso and then to the main stretch.

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reminded me of a bigger Louisiana Tech and a nicer Ruston. The campus is nothing special - their main building is okay, I guess. It reminded me of Auburn.

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Clemson is universally known as Auburn with a lake…

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How was the trip? Looks like y’all saw a great game. I’m legitimately curious as to your experience there and how you liked the town.

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It was awesome. A bunch of random observations:

Our place was great...secluded in the woods on the lake, but a short trip to town. That area of the state is really beautiful and the fall colors were pretty strong.

The town is definitely small but had a nice college feel to it. The bars were pretty standard college bars but fun. We made multiple stops at Esso Club, met a couple really nice groups there who were super welcoming to me as a new South Carolinian.

Gameday was a cool experience. I loved the area around the stadium and the setups and tents and stuff. We met a couple different groups of tailgaters who were really nice. Met a couple where the wife was from Wisconsin but had lived down there for forever, they were tailgating right by the graveyard...they gave us food and stuff, and the we opened the beer we shotgunned with the master key to the stadium or wherever they grow their sod or something, as one guy there was a head groundskeeper.

We missed our gate going in so decided to just wait and watch the busses come up, which was fun and a cool scene.

We were super high surrounded by Irish fans, who were nice. It was cool being able to see the hills and lake in the distance. The stadium did not feel overly loud to me, but I think that was a function of how high up we were. Coeds were attractive. Weather was bordering on hot once the morning fog burned off.

After the game it was pretty tame...nothing that was out of control or rowdy, I didn't see any issues between the fan bases. Was maybe expecting a little bit more raging?

Drive home on Sunday felt like it was 8 hours.

I'll add a few pictures in here in a bit.

Looks like a hell of a trip! Thanks for the stories and the pics.

double post