Clemson Family,
It’s been an exciting and fun-filled fall in our athletic department, with many accomplishments and achievements across a wide range of our sports. A pair of rather important trophies return to their home in Clemson, with men’s soccer claiming the ACC Championship in thrilling fashion and football winning The Palmetto Bowl. Congratulations to both Coach Mike Noonan, Coach Dabo Swinney and their staffs and student-athletes.
As many of you know, I’ve spent a good bit of time in Dallas the last few weeks serving on the College Football Playoff selection committee. It was a great experience, and I really enjoyed spending time in a room with people so knowledgeable, committed and devoted to doing the best to serve college football. We’ll continue to evaluate the process, but as a college football fan, I’m excited and hope you are too about the inaugural College Football Playoff.
We’re fired up to head to Orlando for the Russell Athletic Bowl, and I know Dabo and the entire football program are ready to head to Central Florida to finish the 2014 season matched against a legendary coach and program in Oklahoma.
Thanksgiving weekend’s big victory (captured nicely in THIS VIDEO), was such a great experience for our student athletes, fans, alumni and everyone in the Clemson Family. The senior members of the football team have compiled 41 overall wins and a 26-2 home record over the last four years, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of their dedication and effort.
Coach Noonan’s team returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006, and first ACC Championship since 2001. The soccer squad claimed a #7 national seed, and with a packed house for a pair of NCAA Tournament games, it’s clear the men’s soccer program has reestablished a tradition begun with a pair of national championships in the 80s. The future is bright for the men’s soccer program.
Also this fall, women’s soccer put together a remarkable 13-3-3 overall record and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007. It was a great run which ended with a tough penalty kick outcome in Columbia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Coach Radwanski’s team also earned the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award for the 2013-14 season, and recorded a 3.67 cumulative team grade point average for the 2013-14 academic year, highest among all BCS schools and best in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
If you haven’t done so yet this year, I encourage you to come out and support our men’s basketball team at Littlejohn. I was happy to get back to town last night in time to catch the the closing minutes of our win over #18 Arkansas. What an exciting finish! This weekend, we host Auburn in another big SEC matchup, and all seating will be general admission. We close out the non-conference schedule with home games on Dec. 22 against Oakland and Dec. 30 against Robert Morris before starting ACC play against North Carolina at home on Jan. 3.
If you drive through the Athletic District in the coming weeks, you’ll notice even more construction beginning to take place. In addition to continuing improvements at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, operations have begin on both the suites and club level as well as the WestZone bridge and Oculus project.
Later this week we’ll celebrate fall graduation. There’s no better achievement for our 38 student-athletes earning their degrees, and we appreciate every IPTAY donor for their support in assisting in their development. Thank you!
I look forward to seeing you in Orlando for the Russell Athletic Bowl. It will be an exciting matchup against the Sooners, and a final chance to thank this outstanding, record-setting class of seniors. Tickets are available HERE – and you can find more information about the game, events, travel and everything else at ClemsonTigers.com and our new BOWL HEADQUARTERS.
Thanks, and Go Tigers,
Dan
April 26, 2024
April 25, 2024
