We have been spoiled. I first realized this when we lost against Pittsburgh in 2016, at home, on a last-second field goal, by a score of 43-42. The collective reaction went from shock to disbelief – then into a state of dysphoria. It was the first Clemson football loss at home since Week 8 of 2013 to #5 Florida State. Then, the Seminoles were captained by future Heisman trophy winner and number one overall draft pick in the draft Jameis Winston. The last time Clemson lost to an unranked team at home was in Week 8 of the 2008 season against Georgia Tech.
The crowd in Death Valley that night had forgotten what a home loss felt like.Thousands of fans showed up to a football game already knowing the result, and when it ended differently, they didn’t know how to handle it.
It’s astonishing: Clemson used to scrape out 4-8 wins every year and the occasional upset, but the losses would eventually occur — they were inevitable. Now, it’s a shock when they lose to any team, let alone one that’s unranked. The only other team to have a run of success like this recently has been Alabama. Nick Saban turned that struggling program into a powerhouse nearly overnight. But there is a big difference between these two schools: football isn’t the only sport Clemson is good at.
Just last year we witnessed Clemson advancing to the Sweet Sixteen in Men’s Basketball against Kentucky, a premier team in Division I. Men’s Soccer also had a huge run of success, under head coach Mike Noonan, making the tournament five years in a row, competing in the 2015 championships. Clemson Baseball has hosted a regional for the last three years which also happen to be the first three of new manager Monte Lee’s tenure. Men’s Golf consistently finished in first or second at half of their tournaments last year. All-American Doc Redman turned pro at the age of 20 after setting multiple records, not just for Clemson, but for the entire ACC.
For the first time in a long time, every organization is good. As an entire fanbase, across multiple sports, it feels weird to lose. Let that sink in.
It’s an impossibly high standard to keep and it can’t last forever. It’s not about the quantity of time it lasts, however. Rather, it’s the quality of the relationships forged during this age of extended greatness. Couples, friends and families can always talk about when their team was unrivaled by any university in the country.
The Sports section here at The Tiger newspaper will be covering all of it all year long. We hope you enjoy these games as much as we do.
