How loud is Clemson’s Death Valley?
“Before we put them away, that was one of the loudest stadiums I’ve ever played at, and ever heard,” said Florida State defensive end Giorgio Newberry to the Tallahassee Democrat, recalling the 2013 game. “It was really loud, like extremely loud. We had speakers at practice, and it wasn’t even close. It was extremely loud. It’s a very intense stadium.”
The 16th-ranked Seminoles placed loud speakers all around the field in practice all week to try and simulate what they will be hearing in Clemson Memorial Stadium this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher told the Democrat it gives the players better focus while practicing.
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly did the same prior to his team’s Oct. 3 visit to Clemson. Like Newberry said, it too was not enough as Kelly and the Irish struggled with the noise for the better part of the three quarters before adjusting.
At one point, Notre Dame was called on consecutive penalties for two delay of games and a false start. Overall, the Irish had three false start penalties.
The Tigers, who will be looking to improve to 9-0 for the first time since 1981, have won a school-record 14 straight games at home, dating back to the last time Newberry and the Seminoles handed Clemson a 51-14 defeat – the Tigers’ worst loss in the history of Death Valley.
“I always think it is an advantage when we play at home,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “It does not win for us. We played them at home two years ago and they drug us up and down the field. So you have to play well. It only becomes an advantage if you play well.”
Clemson had been playing very well this season. The Tigers, who will run down the Hill on Saturday for the first time as the top-ranked team in the country, have won 11 straight games overall and 17 of their last 18.
Offensively, they lead the ACC in total offense (485.1), scoring offense (40.6) and are second in rushing offense (218.1). Defensively, they are second in total defense (278.1), second in rushing defense (109.1) and fourth in passing defense (169.0).
Clemson has won each of its last four games by an average margin of 27.3 points. With the exception of a three-point win at Louisville and a two-point victory vs. Notre Dame, the Tigers have taken down their other six opponents by an average margin of 29.8 points.
The average margin of victory in Death Valley this year is 21.6 points.
“Clemson is a tremendous team. Dabo has those guys playing extremely well, and he always does,” Fisher said. “They’re winning as much as anybody, playing. They got great players, great coaches, doing everything they do.
“It’s going to be a tremendous atmosphere and environment up there. They’ve got a tremendous home field there, and it’ll be big, but that’s why you come to Florida State and you go to Clemson. You play in those types of games.”
During their 14-game home winning streak, the Tigers have won by an average of 25.1 points per game.
“If you don’t give (the fans) something to cheer about, then it ain’t going to matter,” Swinney said “You have to play well, regardless of where you are. The beautiful thing about being at home is this energy that is present as you walk out for pregame. When you go on the road, you better pack that up and bring it with you because it is not the same.
“You have 72 guys, and that is all you got. Whereas at home games, we have all of our guys … we have hundred-and-something guys on the sideline, you have great energy and no one does it better than the pageantry of Clemson so that is some great juice. But if you don’t play well, it is not an advantage at all.”