CLEMSON — In recent years, Tiger Walk has become one of the most popular traditions at Clemson.
The football team gets off the buses out at Perimeter Road, decked out in their Sunday best, and walking through Lot 5 between a plethora of the orange-clad faithful towards the West End Zone and into Memorial Stadium.
On Saturday, ahead of the primetime matchup with Florida State, the team added a new wrinkle to the pregame tradition.
Instead of congregating inside the locker room after Tiger Walk, the team headed straight onto the field, forming a circle around the Tiger Paw at the 50-yard line. Each player then closed their eyes for a quick prayer.
“They have talked a lot about playing for an audience of one,” head coach Dabo Swinney said. “Some of the guys got together and really wanted to go pray over the field and just pray over each other.”
“That is one of the positives that I think has come from this season. These guys have grown stronger in their faith. Because their faith has been challenged. And it’s been pretty cool to see. I think a lot of guys have really leaned on their faith, and some of the guys who are really strong in their faith have had opportunities to pour in these other guys.”
Whatever was said must have worked. The Tigers knocked off the Seminoles 24-10, holding a Florida State offense to season lows in yards and points.
Cade Klubnik went 20-of-27 for 221 yards with one passing touchdown, while adding another score via his legs. Adam Randall and Gideon Davidson combined to rush for 87 yards, while Antonio Williams led the team with 62 receiving yards, including a 34-yard touchdown grab on a flea-flicker.
While Klubnik didn’t know whose idea the pregame prayer circle was, he was a big fan.
“I honestly don’t know who initiated it, word just spread,” the quarterback said. “I was wondering the same thing. But it was great.”
“We just kind of took a moment to realize this is more than just football, and just really pray for each other. I think a lot of people glorify God when things go well, and we are here to glorify God when things are not necessarily going our way.”
Avieon Terrell had a strong game on the defensive side, finishing the contest with three tackles, two sacks and one pass breakup.
Like Klubnik, Terrell did not know who came up with the idea. In fact, he didn’t even know it was going to happen until after Tiger Walk. However, he was also extremely keen on the idea once he realized what was happening, and the junior cornerback is hoping the prayer circle becomes a new tradition within the team.
“I really didn’t know we were doing it, but I liked it,” Terrell said. “I wish we had been doing it all year.”
“You are locked in more. I was very locked in.”
Photo by Bart Boatwright