Today is the final day that C.J. Spiller, Jacoby Ford, Thomas Austin Kevin Alexander, Michael Palmer, Ricky Sapp, Kavell Connor, Crezdon Butler, Chris Chancellor, Sadat Chambers and other seniors put on the solid orange, give their affirmation of 110% and enjoy the most exciting 25 seconds in college football. Those in attendance will get 25 seconds for each senior to individually make his way down the hill for the final time. How do you wrap an entire collegiate careers appreciation in 25 seconds?

I remember Woody Dantzler, Reggie Merriweather, Charlie Whitehurst and James Davis’ final games and how the stadium erupted when they reached the top of the hill and the awareness that it would be the last time that we saw such great leaders on the field. I specifically remember a sadness watching James Davis walk off the field on his last play in Death Valley thinking that the catalyst that started the Clemson revival for Tommy Bowden had played his last down in Death Valley.

So I stand waiting on the Saturday morning that will evidently be a very bittersweet day as we say goodbye to the Clemson seniors who will also, most likely, give Clemson their first ACC Championship game birth since 1991. Those seniors will continuee to play on Sundays but there is nothing like claiming those seniors as your seniors, part of your history, your heritage, your University. It will be hard to share them with a new fan base but we can always claim them as Clemson Tigers.

And to think, one year after a downtrodden coach resigned, his coordinator replacement was able to take the team that he recruited and built to the championship game. I hope Tommy is watching, because I really want him to enjoy watching what are the fruits of his labor with the players he brought in to the stadium that he helped evolve to develop the program that is now, once again, a contender.

Thank you seniors for everything that you have done for the university, your ability to put up with the overbearing fanbase and what you have given the future of the program. I hope that they all become successful and come back to visit so we can once again cheer them on in their old house.

Posted on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 7:06 am by Clem

Filed under Clemson.

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