Forget playing one game at a time. Forget the idea of a one-week season. Forget enjoying this one for a night and then moving on to the next one.

No, this game was bigger than that.

Clemson’s 24-22 victory over sixth-ranked Notre Dame in front of a sensational, saturated sellout crowd at Memorial Stadium on Saturday is not a game that’s played and then forgotten. Much like the last time the Tigers and Irish played in that stadium, regardless of what else happens in the 2015 season, anyone who was there will remember the details.

It didn’t happen that way by default. Not every big game becomes immortal. Not every important matchup becomes ingrained into the oral history of an entity.

No, games like Saturday’s are remembered for one reason—the commas.

See, commas help us tell our best stories in the best way. It’s like the classic example of an old-timer who walked 15 miles to school, in the snow, uphill both ways, with giant holes in both shoes. With each comma, the legend grows and the story becomes more and more unbelievable.

There are different categories of commas, too. Some of them happen within the action, while others are extemporaneous. The most legendary games typically include a little bit of both.

Some of the greatest games of my lifetime at Clemson had these layers of commas. Bowden Bowl I had a top-ranked Florida State team, the first-ever meeting of father and son coaches, Heisman candidates and NFL lottery picks on the other sideline, and a scandal involving improper discounts at a Tallahassee Dillard’s that prompted fans to hang shopping bags from their cars while tailgating.

That was a legendary game.

Even though the result was undesirable for Clemson fans, the 2013 Florida State game had major division and national implications. It had pre-controversy Jameis Winston as a freshman quarterback. It had a faux gambling scandal floated right before kickoff involving Tajh Boyd. It had College Gameday on the premises.

2013 Georgia had College Gameday, too. It also had rivalry, talent, national, and season opener implications that vaulted it into legendary status.

That’s a slightly less legendary game, but it’s the best one in my lifetime that ended with a Clemson win.

There are less legendary games that had one or two commas associated with them. The 2003 Georgia game had Justin Miller leading the team down the Hill walking arm-in-arm before it got blasted by the Bulldogs. The 2008 South Carolina game had the “Dabo” chant. 2007 Boston College had Matt Ryan.

2005 Miami had the decibel record. 2015 Louisville had a goal line stand. 2001 South Carolina had The Catch II.

Many of these either lacked hype leading up to the game or lacked intrigue once the ball was kicked off. Saturday’s Clemson-Notre Dame showdown had both.

Obviously, the in-game storylines were massive heading into the game. Both Notre Dame and Clemson came in as playoff contenders ranked in the top 12. Brian Kelly and Dabo Swinney are nationally recognized coaches with impressive lists of accomplishments. NFL talent populates both rosters all over the place.

All of those commas would have been added prior to Saturday’s game. Those alone don’t make a game legendary. Something extraordinary needed to happen. Multiple odd occurrences would seal the deal.

Hurricane Joaquin ensured that the game would be remembered for all time. Historically high ticket prices defined the weeks leading up to the game, but with each forecast, the numbers dropped considerably. Outrageous demand suddenly met a newfound supply. In a state of emergency, grass parking lot spaces were at a premium. Patrons parked at their own peril. Some of those lots filled up to the point that several had to be closed prior to the game.

The torrential rains that fell over multiple days throughout the area continued throughout the entire game, and yet a frenzied crowd showed up to provide as hostile an environment from start to finish as I’ve ever seen in Death Valley. Students sat in ponchos and filled up their section more than an hour prior to kickoff. As the rain poured, no one left.

Clemson’s early lead, the second half turnovers, Notre Dame’s late comeback, the goal line stand—all of those things get their own commas. Even Dabo Swinney’s on-field comments get a comma since ESPN cut away from him to an unsuspecting Sportscenter set.

Only that inaugural Bowden Bowl can match Saturday’s game in terms of storybook material—even if it does look like one giant comma splice. In 50 years, the story will be told like this:

“Kids, that Notre Dame game back in 2015 was incredible. I’m so glad I was there. We beat them on the last play, in a hurricane, in a game where demand was as high as it can possibly be, forcing four turnovers in the second half…”

Who knows what else might be added to the list? Either of these teams could end up in the College Football Playoff. Deshaun Watson could win the Heisman. A ton of players could end up in the NFL. The long sentence could get longer.

If you were there, you won’t ever forget it. You’ll love to tell that story, no matter how many commas that story contains.

God Bless!

WQ