Clemson’s football team has gotten used to returning to town with fanfare after winning away from home. On Friday, the Tigers did it for the first time in 2016—and for the first time as national championship participants.

A few thousand energized orange-clad fans met the Orange Bowl champions in front of the West Zone under cloudy skies at around 4:25 p.m.—a few minutes earlier than expected. The crowd lined Centennial Boulevard on both sides and spilled into the adjacent parking lot as players, coaches, and personnel filed toward their cars after a long business vacation in Miami.

The tradition of Clemson fans meeting the team outside the football facility en masse began in 2011 after an unexpected road victory at Virginia Tech. These get-togethers often feature impromptu speeches from Dabo Swinney—either on the ground or from the balcony that extends from the second floor.

There was no such address from the head coach, however, since he remained in Florida with his family to unwind. Fans awaited a potential Dabo sighting by chanting his name, but they began to file out as news spread that he would not be making an appearance.

Instead, the star of the show was Deshaun Watson. The Heisman Trophy finalist was flanked by two police officers escorting him through the adoring throng.

As if he needed an introduction, Brent Venables pointed at Clemson’s quarterback with his hand extended in the air and gestured at him. The defensive coordinator cheesed as he exclaimed, “That’s my guy!” to fire up the crowd.

Also popular was punter Andy Teasdall, who received several nice ovations as he moved down the line for his execution of a critical trick play in Thursday’s win. The first player off the bus was Ben Boulware, still sporting his mustache that he proclaimed in front of thousands of onlookers “gave me special powers” in the aftermath of the team victory and his selection as Defensive MVP of the Orange Bowl.

President Jim Clements also arrived at the stadium, shaking hands and slapping five with fans young and old. The celebration lasted about forty minutes as the Tigers prepare to take a collective breath before preparing to play for the national title.