The 2023-’24 sports year at Clemson has to be the best in the history of Clemson Athletics.
I do not think it is even arguable.
With the baseball Tigers wrapping up their season with their Super Regional loss to Florida last Sunday, Clemson Athletics completed the sports calendar for the 2023-’24 academic year.
Here is how some of it went down on the courts and on the playing fields.
- Football: 9-4, beat Kentucky in the Gator Bowl
- Men’s soccer: 2023 National Champions, ACC Tournament Champions
- Women’s soccer: 2023 Women’s College Cup (Final 4)
- Men’s Basketball: NCAA Elite 8 (24-12)
- Gymnastics: NCAA Tournament (Inaugural season, 2nd in ACC)
- Baseball: NCAA Regional Champions, ACC Atlantic Division Champs (44-16)
- Softball: NCAA Tournament
- Women’s Golf: NCAA Elite 8, 2nd in regional, 2nd in ACC
- Men’s Golf: NCAA Regional Champions
Those are just the team accolades, there were many student athletes and coaches that earned numerous athletic and academic awards both regionally and nationally, as well.
Clemson has always had good to great athletic programs throughout the years. However, there is not another year on record that had this much success from so many programs in one academic year.
Look at it this way, this year marks just the third time in Clemson history that the football team, the men’s basketball team and the baseball team all finished ranked inside the top 20 of the final polls. Granted, the final polls in college baseball will not be released until after the men’s College World Series, but considering the Tigers were a national seed and advanced to a Super Regional for the first time since 2010, it is safe to say they will finish the year ranked in the top 20.
The other two years football, men’s basketball and baseball finished inside the top 20 in the same calendar year was in 1985-’86 and 2017-’18.
This year was an historical season for Clemson Athletics. Athletic director Graham Neff and his entire staff of support people, administrators, coaches and of course, the student athletes deserve all the credit.
Also, congratulations to the fans. They came out and supported their Tigers all year. The baseball program set a new attendance record. Every one of the gymnastic meets had more than 8,000 fans packing Littlejohn Coliseum.
Littlejohn was also lit for men’s basketball games, while the atmosphere at McWhorter Stadium is second to none in college softball.
And of course, Death Valley was hopping all season last fall, which included a dominating win over a nationally ranked Notre Dame team.
Congratulations on a great year, Clemson. The future for Clemson Athletics and the Tiger Paw looks bright.
A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available. Get yours while supplies last! Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!
