Trying not to be down, but this may be the year..

Nov 19, 2024, 9:03 AM

I take a step back from Clemson athletics and college sports as a whole. Now, before I get accused of being a cuck, I grew up not far from Clemson, attended games with my dad as a kid when we were terrible and have been going to games for 40 years now. From Danny Ford, to Ken Hatfield, Tommy West, Bowden and Dabo. My ex and I, for over 20 years, Clemson athletics were our thing - we went to anything and everything. I've been to every playoff game, every Natty (except '81, as I was a baby then), nearly every ACCCG and we also always tried to hit up one away game a year. My blood definitely runneth orange.

That being said, I'm starting to feel like the heartbreak, anguish and anger outweigh the highs. She and I were both from the Clemson area, her parents live on Keowee and games were our #1 thing. But we split in late 2020 and it's gotten harder and harder to make it back. Regardless, I've always made it a priority to make it to at least one, this year it was going to be the sc game, same as it was in 2022. I secured a hotel, parking pass and was looking for tickets. But $400 for something in the upper deck? $500+ for an (upper/lower level) - the seats that start with a "U"? $750+ for a true LL ticket? I feel like the people selling these tickets have lost their passion too, they're just in a position to become entrepreneurial and stick it to someone, all in the name of making a buck.

Two years ago, I took my (new) gf to the sc game - only the second game she'd attended at Clemson. We left Charleston at 530 am, we got into Clemson around 930 and it took another 2+ hours to get parked. We heard the cannons as we were walking up and missed half of the first quarter by the time we got into the stadium.

This year, I have to board my dog, I had set up a boarding trip with a place, but I can't drop her off before 7am. With that, no way I'd make the game. My only option was to board her for Friday too, and head up then. But that's another $75 for the dog, another $250 for a hotel. And I still don't have tickets. I need to shell out ~$1000 for a pair of tickets. That's $1300, on top of the $600 I've already spent. $2k to watch a nooner where, let's be honest - we very well may lose. These are championship prices for a game that, outside of SC, ESPN just told us no one else cares about. It's the holiday season, I've got gifts to buy, I'm trying to fix up my house to sell.. I just can't see it. Especially when I've spent $550-650 on tickets to watch us play in National Championships. I probably spent $2k for the weekend in Tampa when we knocked off Bama - I'd spend roughly the same for this?

I haven't gone a season without at least one home game since I was maybe 7-8 years old. It breaks my heart. I *can* do it, I just can't justify it. And the entire atmosphere now - half these "kids" don't care. I know we'll lose names to the portal - big names we are counting on for next year. They're in it for the money, the fans are in it for the money, the businesses are in it for the money, the school is in it for the money.

My ex's family - her dad was pretty well off (I want to keep it vague, as no doubt some of you know my ex and her family). But her dad was well off, did things right, worked his butt off, had the same amazing seats for 40 years. 2016 or so, he was looking at retiring and said the IPTAY fees kept creeping up - those, combined with ticket prices, everything that went into tailgating, he said maybe he'd step away. So, my ex and I sucked it up and split the cost with him. In 2020, he/we got burned with their seating with everything happening with Covid. I think that year we had 4 tickets, I only got to go to one game. Things soured and he said he couldn't justify the cost anymore. He walked away from Clemson football after over 50 years of investing everything he had. But they'd finally milked him dry. I was shocked. And then shortly after, she and I split. It didn't matter, I guess. But anyway, last night, I kind of had the same realization.

Maybe the breakdown of my relationship with my ex and her family has soured me on Clemson football, I don't know. Maybe I'm frustrated with the product I see on the field now, after witnessing the highest of the highs. I don't think that's it, but I don't know. Maybe it's the NIL, transfer portals, endorsement deals, players bouncing after a few games. Maybe it's being shafted by ESPN, visibly seeing the favoritism with the SEC and knowing there's nothing I can do about it. The logistics of traversing our state, unnecessary traffic, dodging terrible drivers.. Being shafted at every opportunity from someone looking to make a buck.

Last year, I took my gf to WB to watch us play. While she hated USC, tailgating and all, she said she was surprised by how electric WB was. "We'll see a night game in DV and you'll see, it's even better!", I've promised her for a year. That won't happen now.

I don't know - I promise I'm not trying to be a downer, and I'll always hold Clemson (and their athletics) dear to my heart, but I feel like I need to find a way to disengage, even partially. Focus on boating, traveling, fishing and hunting - the other things in my life that bring me pleasure. I still have memories of amazing moments - things I wouldn't trade for the world. Tampa, California, even that first loss in Phoenix when DW played his heart out - incredible moments. The grifters can't rob me of those.

I apologize for the length of this - guess I wrote this just to get it off my chest, but also see if I'm not alone. Anyone else reaching a similar conclusion? It really hurts.

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Your post rings true, a lot of what I feel. The tailgates - for years, my ex's family was set up in Lot 3, right at the bronze tiger. That was their spot. We'd come up Friday night, load up everything, have a couple drinks and some food and get to bed. No matter gametime, "tailgating starts at 6am" lol.. (inside joke). But you're right, we're setting up and breaking down a small military base, and as a guy in my (at the time) 30's, with a group of mostly senior citizens, I found myself doing the lion's share of the work. Add in a 4 hr drive from Charleston on Friday and the return drive Sunday, it's a full weekend. I totally understand what you speak of.

Their tailgate location started getting shuffled around when we started winning. There were Littlejohn renovations, they moved us to asphalt, we had fences behind us, the logistics were a 3itch, but we found a way to make it work. It was a lot of work, but at the end of the day, it was our tradition.

Ticket costs though. We *usually* bought our tickets through IPTAY, but occasionally for away games or the ACCCG, I'd buy them on the secondary market, or through some other team's fan page. Thinking back as I was typing my email, I think I paid $500 for a pair of tickets in a box for the ACCCG. Field level, 50 yard line seats in various stadiums - night games, prime time - for $200 or so each. And that's not that long ago.

My (I say new, but we've been together for a few years, so "new" sounds weird) - but my new gf, she's a Texan and a Longhorn fan. For her birthday this year, I got her tickets to see Texas vs Vandy in Nashville. Our flight, hotel, (field level) tickets and the entire weekend in Nashville (steakhouses, brunches, bouncing around more bars than I can count) was honestly comparable to what I'd spend for a noon game in DV and a single night hotel? It's just crazy.

Trying not to be down, but this may be the year..

Re: Trying not to be down, but this may be the year..

Re: Trying not to be down, but this may be the year..

Dear Diary,

I am sure you'll get some flames on this post

Re: I am sure you'll get some flames on this post

Re: I am sure you'll get some flames on this post

Re: I am sure you'll get some flames on this post

Re: I am sure you'll get some flames on this post

Re: Trying not to be down, but this may be the year..

Re: Trying not to be down, but this may be the year..

Re: Trying not to be down, but this may be the year..

My wife and I went to every home game for years when we lived in the Lowcountry

Your username says it all. You are indeed wiser!***

Re: Your username says it all. You are indeed wiser!***

Re: Trying not to be down, but this may be the year..

Re: Trying not to be down, but this may be the year..

Re: Trying not to be down, but this may be the year..

Re: Trying not to be down, but this may be the year..

i feel you on the cost aspect, its just dumb to drop that much money on a

Re: Trying not to be down, but this may be the year..

Re: Trying not to be down, but this may be the year..

Just spitballing here, but

Re: Trying not to be down, but this may be the year..

Re: Trying not to be down, but this may be the year..

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