Saturday, November 8, 2025
We were all up early again, this time in anticipation of our road trips Main Event.
Not only was it Game Day . . .
. . . it was a Hall of Fame Game and
Teacher Appreciation on a . . .
. . . NIGHT Game in Death Valley!
It was an Atlantic Coast Conference
game between two blue blood programs
Unfortunately, both schools were in a funk this season.
The ACC is no longer just an East Coast
affair after recent realignment
The ACC is now a 17 team affair for football with teams on the West Coast and in Texas nowadays.
Our combatants tonight:
Florida State Seminoles
4-4 Overall, 1-4 ACC
2025 Results
vs. Alabama (7-1) – Won 31-17
vs. East Texas A&M (2-7) – Won 77-3
vs. Kent State (3-6) – Won 66-10
at Virginia (8-1) – Lost 46-38 *
vs. Miami (FL) (6-2) – Lost 29-22 *
vs. Pittsburgh (7-2) – Lost 34-31 *
at Stanford (3-6) – Lost 20-13 *
vs. Wake Forest (5-3) – Won 42-7 *
* ACC Game
at
Clemson Tigers
3-5 Overall, 2-4 ACC
2025 Results
vs. LSU (5-3) – Lost 17-10
vs. Troy (6-3) – Won 27-16
vs. Georgia Tech (8-1) – Lost 24-21 *
vs. Syracuse (3-6) – Lost 34-21 *
at North Carolina (3-5) – Won 38-10 *
at Boston College (1-8) – Lost 41-10 *
vs. SMU (6-3) – Lost 35-24 *
vs. Duke (5-3) - Lost 46-45 *
* ACC Game
We arrived on campus at 9:00 a.m.
in search of a parking space
Without a season parking pass, we were told that parking near Clemson's Memorial Stadium was next to impossible but because we were on campus ten hours before Kickoff tonight, we just might find a spot about a mile away on the road leading into the stadium.
It would be located on a grass area on the side of the road and would be free, not the $100 that lots were asking for a parking spot.
Michael dropped Jacob and me off at the stadium and drove to the desired parking strip. He would hike back to us if he found the desired spot.
He did.
Our first view of Memorial Stadium
Jacob with the Tiger
Our seats were up in that nose
bleed, upper deck section with
the "S" of TIGERS on it
Great read on this extended
Veterans Day Weekend
Follow the Paws to get to the game
Jacob with another Tiger
Getting a better look at
Death Valley
Howard's Rock
The Touchstone for every Tiger
as they enter the stadium on Game Day
Frank Howard was Clemson's Head Football Coach from 1940 to 1969. His record at the helm of the Tigers was 165-118-12 and his teams won two Southern Conference and six ACC titles.
The back of Clemson's HUGE scoreboard
Across the street from the scoreboard
is a nice Memorial Garden
At last, Michael was back in the fold
Coach Danny Ford's 12-0 National Title Team
It was time to explore the campus
and the nearby college town scene
Another dangerous Tiger in our path
Little did we know that kismet was about to happen.
We struck up a conversation with
Pat, the man behind this open tailgate
Pat and five of his children are alumni of Clemson. They have been tailgating near Memorial Stadium for years and he invited us to come back to join them for a day of food and beverages for the rest of the day.
We would.
Some of the chairs for Pat's party
As we left, Pat's plan was coming together
Interesting Building
Even the school newspaper questions
Dabo Swinney's status as Clemson's
Head Football Coach
Michael's artsy mirror photo of
the three of us roaming the c ampus
INDEED!
Oh boy, more cannons
They are called Tom and Jerry
We made it to the college town
It was all bars, restaurants
and souvenir shops
Orange is a popular color in this town
Michael and Jacob with a sharp
looking Tiger
A cool, old Sherwin Williams Paint Store
now selling souvenirs
"Hey Laurie, I'm heading to Study Hall."
That sentence might be a bit deceiving.
After some shopping, we again
needed sustenance
Troubled QB Deshaun Watson
is a Clemson alum
This is his Houston Texans NFL jersey not a Clemson jersey like all the other Tiger players celebrated in the sports pub.
It is located near the bathrooms, hmmm . . .
All the other Tigers memorabilia
is displayed like this
Jacob discovered crossword puzzles
while we waited for our food
My tasty Southerner Burger,
Pimento Cheese, Bacon and Peach Jam
Lettuce, Tomato and Onion on the side
DELICIOUS!
It was a college bar after all
More shopping was required
The 2018 15-0 National Title Team
The 2016 14-1 National Title Team
Tigers everywhere we looked
They do LOVE their school in Clemson
Taco eating Tiger and it's
not even Tuesday
The Tiger Town Tavern was too noisy
and packed for our tastes
Every friendly, hospitable Tiger we
met would agree with this sign
Lots of car decorations all over town
We headed back to Pat's tailgate party.
Another photo op
Good words
Clemson's Soccer Stadium
Our hosts
Joe, Cal and Pat
GREAT GUYS!
Joe basting the 16 racks of ribs
Jacob on the right playing
catch with Michael
Cal telling me of his undying
support for Coach Swinney
Corn Hole is a staple of
any tail gate party
After chicken strips, fries, cheeseburgers and beer, I needed a 15 minute timeout.
Michael had decided to wear his Humboldt State football t-shirt today. One of the men at our shared tailgate party has a daughter who attended Humboldt State as well. The man was ecstatic to meet another Lumberjack this far from home.
I walked back to the stadium only
75 yards away to take another look
The sky was brilliant on this
late Fall day
The trees were only adding
to the amazing ambience
The students were starting
to arrive for the game
Jacob and a fellow tailgater
playing catch
Kids in trees is always
a fun activity
HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!
After hours in the smoker they were both ready and delicious.
The level of hospitality, camaraderie and fun that we shared at this tailgate was other worldly.
We were all stunned, happy and approaching food coma status.
More Clemson Pride
I like the BYOG decal
Getting closer to Kickoff
Husky meets Seminole
Fans were starting to stream
into Memorial Stadium
A full house of 81,500 fans was expected tonight.
Up the road, we heard a
parade approaching
I think they were Clemson fans
Cheerleaders were radiant . . .
. . . no matter the uniform
Baton Twirlers were a great touch
More Cheerleaders
Flag Girls and THE BAND!
All of this was happening a mere 20 yards from our fabulous tailgate.
Jacob was ready to
head to the stadium
A Deshaun Watson jersey
Finally it was time for the game
After all of the hospitality that Pat, Cal and Joe graciously provide to us, we could no longer be neutral.
GO TIGERS!
Tailgate Parties all around us
DAMN, I would look good in these
The view from
Section TDM
Row X
Seats 10, 12 and 14
The people around us were all so nice and polite. That one obnoxious fan that always seems to find us was nowhere in sight tonight.
Light shows were part of the pre-game
Jacob was concerned by lightning flashes illuminating the thick clouds but they were occurring several miles away and did not pose a threat to our location.
Leading the team onto the field
All of the ground level shots are courtesy of the Clemson Football Facebook page.
Here come the Tigers
Touch Howard's Rock at the top
of the hill and then run down it
football in the South
in a TD and a nifty two-point play
End of the First Quarter
Clemson - 8
Florida State - 0
The Tigers Defense came to play tonight
Halftime Score
Clemson - 18
Florida State - 7
Not many in the sold out stadium
missed the band's halftime performance
Our hosts mentioned that Memorial Stadium offers in and out privileges, so they said we would be welcome to come join them at halftime for more food and grog if we wanted.
We were too high up in the stands to make that move an option.
HOLD THAT TIGER!
Celebrating
End of the Third Quarter
Clemson - 21
Florida State - 7
Running Wild
The fog rolled in but not for long
The things one has to endure
as a Father and Grandfather . . .
needed First Down
Hanging out with Michael
enjoying another GREAT Adventure
as the game was ending
Final Score
Clemson (4-5, 3-4 ACC) - 24
Florida State (4-5, 1-5 ACC) - 10
After every Clemson home game, win or lose, fans are invited to "Meet on the Paw."
with Jacob . . .
Michael always loved holding
for PATs and Field Goals
by Howard's Rock to exit the field
While we were enjoying a
great evening in one of college
football's great cathedrals . . .
at Wisconsin (2-6)
Having the Badgers Punter be Wisconsin's leading passer was beyond the pale!
In a nutshell, in my opinion, Clemson is the second best place to see a college game that I've been to trailing only Husky Stadium in Seattle. I freely admit that personal bias may be coloring my decision.
As for a total tailgating/game day experience, Clemson is my clear #1 choice in the known universe thanks to the unmatched hospitality of Pat, Cal and Joe.
Thanks Again Men!
It was another solid day of physical fitness for me as I racked up another 15,589 steps. My three day Adventure total was now at 36,337 steps.
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