Next Clemson sport to win a national championship?

Dec 15, 2021, 11:53 AM

Now that men’s soccer got their 3rd national title. I am hoping Noonan can add more to the haul in the next few years and move us up in soccer blue blood conversation, closer to the Indiana’s and the Virginia’s.

Which sport do you think we can next get a national title in?

Most likely:

Men’s soccer - Noonan will keep it rolling

Football - Great chance for a bounce back, but will be hard with other programs strengthening.

Possible:

Men’s Golf - Penley leaving could be a bit but we still will attract golf talent.

Women’s soccer - we have had a solid top 25 program for a few years. Big step up to national title level but we were in elite 8 a couple years ago and lost to the eventual national champion Santa Clara.

Baseball - this would’ve been on top of the list in the 90s and certainly the 00s. Program has fallen off dramatically and is now miles away from that title. However things can change quickly in the world of college baseball, more quickly than some other sports. And the nature of the sport makes a run more possible (look at NC State this year)

Softball - program is off to a great start and we can build a strong power. However it is a very hard sport to break into the top as there are several powerhouse programs that just reload year after year.

Women’s golf - Ole Miss won it this year. I see no reason why Clemson can’t become very attractive to women golfers the same way it is to men golfers.

Rowing - great facility of course. But underwhelming program so far.

Tracks and field - solid program but would be hard to break into elite status. Men and women.

Not gonna happen:

Men’s tennis - would’ve been in the possible category a decade ago but the program has fallen so far and it’s been many years now, find it hard to believe we will rise to a nationally elite level again, barring an amazing coaching hire.

Women’s tennis - Nancy Harris’s best team ever got to a final four and had a string of great seasons but like the men’s program, it has fallen on hard times and will be hard pressed to get back to an elite level.

Men’s basketball - self explanatory

Women’s basketball - still our worst program overall. The monster in Columbia doesn’t help.

Volleyball - not in volleyball country, have never made it very far in the tournament, poor facility.

Cross country

New sports :

Gymnastics - not likely as we will be brand new but who knows really. Could have a softball type instant impact.

Field hockey - probably will be tough to break into the northeast hold on the sport. But could attract talent down south for a solid program.

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Soccer and Football are the most likely but both are juggernauts. Soccer will lose some great seniors but still a non-senior team but might have enough juice to make another run next year at least. Football could catch lightning again at any time.

Golf is another good bet.

I don't see womens soccer breaking the ceiling right now. No Final Four, 2020 was a good year but we have done better. The new-kid FSU and the UNC are still here and the 2014 issue hurt. Duke UVA and ND can all out resource us here. Keep it in perspective - the ACC had 6 teams ranked at before the tournament and we were not one of them. We lost by a collective 2-11 to the top of the ACC.

Baseball could, with the right coach. And yes, those runs are possible with baseball.

We really do not have the resources to fight down-ballot. Maybe an individual NC in tennis is possible but IDK

Next Clemson sport to win a national championship?

Re: Next Clemson sport to win a national championship?

Re: Next Clemson sport to win a national championship?

Seeing as how no one can really hit Valerie Cagle....

If we ever get our quidditch program up and running

Sad seeing no Swimming, Diving or Wrestling on your list.***

Re: Next Clemson sport to win a national championship?

Re: Next Clemson sport to win a national championship?

Re: Next Clemson sport to win a national championship?

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