WE USED TO BELIEVE; WHAT HAPPENED TO US?

Sep 14, 2023, 1:39 PM

I can remember a moment in time, not too long ago, whenever a rambunctious Coach stood on the Tiger Paw in Death Valley and got overly excited about ending a 17 Game winning streak against the Auburn Tigers; the belief began.

I can remember a team that won 10 games in the regular season and was blown out by West Virginia in the Orange Bowl in an embarrassing fashion; we still believed.

I can remember a highly touted Tajh Boyd, Nuk Hopkins, and Sammy Watkins defeating a SEC juggernaut in LSU in the Peach Bowl; the belief grew stronger.

I can remember a highly touted team entering the field at Death Valley and being completely dismantled by an FSU team that would go on to win the National Championship in the 2013 Season; we still believed.

I can remember a 2014 squad that had the #1 Overall Defense in the nation that went on to dismantle Ohio State; the belief remained.

I can remember a 2015 team that went undefeated in regular season, defeated ND in a shootout in hurricane conditions, and stomped out Oklahoma in the semi-finals only to lose by an onside kick to Alabama. Guess what... We still believed.

I can remember the joy we all shared whenever Hunter Renfrow caught the touchdown pass in the final seconds of the National Championship game against Alabama and the belief turned into the expectation.

I can remember the years of Kelly Bryant and the promise of Trevor Lawrence to come; we still believed in the expectations.

I can remember the dominating win over Alabama that would send shivers down the spines of the likes of Paul Finebaum and Joel Klatt; along the way we forgot what it takes to get to the top of a very steep mountain.

Clemson faithful, we are spoiled. There's no denying it or even hiding it at this point. The accolades always precede expectations. However, a Championship team does not come overnight, and it takes sometimes multiple seasons to achieve that. Not everyone can be like Alabama and over sign classes, exploit the transfer portal, and get away with bribing recruits to Saban's auto dealerships. Some folks do it honestly and accomplish more with less. Not to say that we have less because our roster is loaded with an embarrassment of riches. However, it takes some coaching, training, conditioning, and a mountain of fan support to push a team to the heights that Clemson has managed to achieve against all odds. I think we should consider ourselves blessed to be Clemson Tigers and to witness the greatest era of Clemson football in its entire history. That has come to fruition based upon the belief and efforts of Coach Dabo Swinney. Let us unite and raise heck in the Stadium each week that we can and win or lose, we continue to love and support our beloved program.

There is something special in those hills at Clemson and I'd be dang if winning or losing a football game will change that.

GO TIGERS!

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Our country won't go on forever, if we stay soft as we are now. There won't be any America because some foreign soldiery will invade us and take our women and breed a hardier race.

~Chesty Puller
Lt.General United States Marine Corps

WE USED TO BELIEVE; WHAT HAPPENED TO US?

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