ARLINGTON, Texas —  No Erik Bakich, no problem for the Clemson Tigers.

Due to a two-game suspension for his ejection in the season finale last season, Clemson was without Bakich for its 6-5 comeback win over Oklahoma State in the opening game of the Shriners Children’s Classic Friday afternoon at Globe Life Field.

Longtime Bakich assistant Nick Schnabel served in Bakich’s place and filled in admirably, despite the 15th-ranked Tigers opening away from home for the first time in two decades and against a Cowboys team that came into the season ranked No. 17.

The two have coached together for so long now that Schnabel could hear Bakich in his head, even if the head coach was a mile away at the team hotel.

“Well I had him in my ear the whole time,” Schnabel said. “I’ve been with him for 13 years.”

Schnabel embraced the challenge of opening up against that caliber of competition with open arms, leaning on his vast postseason experience.

“It’s like being in a regional game one,” Schnabel said. “With all of these teams and programs, that is exactly what it is like. It’s not always going to go great the garbage is going to hit the fan and that is exactly what you want to see. Responses. We certainly had to do that today.”

Bakich has long maintained that Schnabel was ready to be a head coach. On Friday, Schnabel proved he is much more than Bakich’s right-hand man.

However, in true Schnabel fashion, he wasn’t looking for any credit. He gave that to each player in the dugout for their ability to stay focused on the task at hand, despite finding themselves in a 4-1 hole after four innings of play.

“It’s a credit to our kids,” Schnabel added. “Them taking ownership. They competed their tails off. Obviously, as a coach and a coaching staff, that is what you want to see and they certainly did that.”

Schnabel was also quick to credit the Clemson fans. Considering the Tigers are opening the season halfway across the country, there was a strong turnout from the rabid fan base.

“It was awesome,” Schnabel said. “It is tough for me in the dugout to hear them sometimes but after the handshake, walking back, I got to see the full crowd and how loud they were. It was just awesome to see them travel like this and we are really fortunate to have them.”

The Tigers are right back at it tomorrow. Clemson is set to face off with No. 21 Arizona, with first pitch scheduled for noon (EST).