By William Qualkinbush.

There really was no reason for it. It happened at random.

Clemson and Maine were locked in gridlock at 4-4 in the second game in a weekend series relocated at the last minute to Augusta, Georgia. It was the 14th inning of a marathon game in a day that was to feature another game afterwards. Both pitching staffs were mowing down the opposition, with Clemson’s bullpen converting 16 consecutive outs.

There was nothing special about the three outs the Tigers converted in the top of the 14th. The first was an innocuous fly ball to left. The second was a three-pitch strikeout. The third was a groundout to second.

No play required a Sportscenter-caliber effort. They were just the latest in a string of solid plays by the Tigers.

As the team exited the field of play, however, a funny thing happened. It caught my attention from the radio booth, and it was noticeable to others in the stadium.

The crowd cheered. It was loud. Many stood and applauded, to the point that it seemed odd. Did I miss something? Was there a phenomenal play we missed?

No, for no reason at all—other than to show some love to the team they came to root for—the orange-and-purple-clad fans in attendance chose that moment to give the team a nice ovation.

The result was predictable: single, errant pickoff throw, strikeout (a minor speed bump), run-scoring single. Game over. Tigers win.

A team that had not scored in six innings, that saw a two-run lead erased late, that had every chance to mail it in and get ready to win the series in game three—that team won in dramatic fashion en route to a series sweep.

I’m sure it was just coincidence that Clemson’s late charge to victory came on the heels of an overwhelming and identifiable show of support from the fans, right? The two events just so happened to coincide, right?

Actually, in statistics, the saying “Correlation does not prove causation” (one of my favorites) renders any assertion in this circumstance unable to be proven. As someone who was there, though, allow me to make the quantum leap.

The fans mattered, in a positive way, and gave the team the boost it needed to win the game.

Such an outpouring of support seems like something best reserved for a home game, not a neutral site venue. Alas, this isn’t at all the case as far as Clemson is concerned.

Over the past few seasons, Doug Kingsmore Stadium—one of college baseball’s premier venues—has become a less-friendly environment for the Clemson baseball team. Opinions on Jack Leggett have become entrenched. Periods of poor play have become exasperating. The result has been a less-than-supportive environment for the team to play in.

Before fans get all hot and bothered, let me make a couple of assertions. First, to borrow a phrase my co-host Dutch Coleman uses on the radio from time to time, “If I’m not talking about you, I’m not talking about you.” If you’re nothing but positive when sitting in the seats at DKS, I’m glad for you. I support your position. This discussion isn’t for you.

Second, I’ve been to every home game over the past three-plus seasons, other than a couple of work-related absences. This isn’t an overreaction to a small sample size. I have carefully considered this topic for some time, and there’s no denying it.

The Clemson baseball crowd isn’t very supportive right now.

Sure, you pay your money. You give your time. You buy concessions. You bring your families. I get it. Everyone involved appreciates your financial support.

But over time, the environment has grown more and more toxic. I think this stems from having long memories. Every error, every strikeout, every walk becomes about yesterday, or last weekend, or last season. We ask players and coaches to have short memories, yet we remember and hold people accountable for past sins long after the fact. This doesn’t seem consistent.

I’ve often said fans can be “too smart” at times in this day and age. So much information is available that we become hyper-analytical as spectators during sporting events. I’m as guilty of this as anyone.

Because of this, we have put stipulations on the teams we root for. They have to play to a certain caliber, or a certain way, or make certain decisions. Otherwise, it’s not good enough.

I’m really not sure why the environment is so tainted during Clemson home games right now, but I have a theory. Hold onto your hats, because this one is sure to ruffle some feathers…

I firmly believe there are “fans” that populate Doug Kingsmore Stadium that would rather be proven right about the current situation at Clemson than see Clemson win baseball games. There, I said it.

You’ve probably already made up your mind about Leggett and the entire coaching staff at Clemson. No amount of information is going to change your mind. If you’re one with a negative mindset toward the current staff, you might hide behind the guise that you still support the players but don’t support the coaches.

That might sound good in theory, but it doesn’t work. When you grumble and complain loud enough that the coaches hear you, guess what? The players do too.

See, the players are nothing more than collateral damage in this struggle. The players are innocent bystanders who hear the complaints, the boos, the second-guessing, the dissatisfaction from the stands. It’s impossible to take an adversarial approach to this staff while still supporting the players.

If you still don’t believe me, ask one of them sometime. Three guesses what the answer will be.

The bottom line is this: Each game is different. Each season is different. It doesn’t make sense to reflect frustration over years of disappointment onto a new group of players. That’s not hopeful. That’s just bitter, and it’s not what home field advantage is founded upon.

Regardless of the way the product on the field looks, Doug Kingsmore Stadium has lost its edge, and that’s a fan issue. While worrying about how players play and coaches coach, fans have forgotten how to be good, positive, supportive fans while the game is going on.

As someone who proudly wears a Clemson ring, it disappoints me to feel this way. It saddens me to think there are Clemson people who want Clemson students to fail in order to justify their long-held sentiments about the program. It frustrates me to hear players like Garrett Boulware talk about how much they like to play on the road (read: “away from the negativity”). When a neutral venue like Augusta that is more than two hours away feels more supportive than an on-campus stadium, it’s a major problem.

Clemson has a big game coming up with South Carolina on Friday. Before that, there’s a midweek game against Wofford. The team needs a supportive crowd, which you—the fans—can provide if you feel like it.

Positive support isn’t about runs, balls, strikes, outs, errors, weather, wins, or losses. Support is a choice, a conscious decision made by individuals who would rather cheer for and encourage the team on the field and the coaches in the dugout regardless of the circumstances than sit silently and wait for a chance to say “I told you so”.

Fans often argue that the team should play well if it wants to receive support. I would argue elite fan bases don’t wait around for a level of play to provide encouragement.

Watch a North Carolina or Duke basketball game sometime when the home team gets down by eight or ten points. You’ll probably see the crowd stand up, cheer, and attempt to spur on the home team. That’s what elite fan bases do. Frankly, that’s what Clemson baseball fans used to do.

I’m not asking you to stick your head in the sand. I’m not asking you to pretend everything is fine. I’m not asking you to logically accept premises you don’t believe are valid.

All I’m asking is for you, the fans who fill the seats, to cheer. Just cheer. Give the Clemson players and coaches an environment that allows them to be successful—an environment they get excited to play in, as opposed to one they don’t.

Lake Olmstead Stadium in Augusta was that kind of a place on Saturday, and the result was a Clemson win. Doug Kingsmore Stadium can be that place again, but that’s not up to players or coaches or facilities or athletic directors or presidents.

That’s up to you.

God Bless!

WQ