This article was written by a student of ENGL 2310: Introduction to Journalism, which is taught by Mike Pulley.

During football season, there is no place quite like Clemson. Your first game day as a student is an experience you will never forget.  However, due to COVID-19, the usual picture of Clemson tailgating has vanished in 2020. 

“Tailgating is strongly discouraged,” says the Clemson University Game Day Guide. “No tents, large groups, or trailers will be allowed.” This means that the large celebration of orange-clad Tiger fans that used to take place during a football game has been replaced with silence across the campus.

For the freshman class who had high expectations for their first game day experience, these restrictions are less than ideal and pose a problem for several on-campus students who have a very limited number of places to go on game day.

Alexis Hinson, freshman nursing major, made the best of this situation. 

“My parents came and set up some food on a table,” said Hinson. “And some friends came over to hang out and talk.” 

Other freshmen students found different locations to celebrate the Tigers’ first game day this year.

“I went with some friends from high school that live off campus so that we wouldn’t have to worry about as many restrictions and what not,” said Ariail Jordan, a freshman psychology major. “It was actually kind of sad seeing Death Valley and downtown so empty in comparison to how it used to look, but game day was still fun.”