Clemson Opens vs. ‘Greatest Leadership Academy On Planet’
By: Jason Priester February 1, 2026

One of Clemson’s six core values is patriotism, where the school honors its military heritage, and head baseball coach Erik Bakich has certainly done his part during his tenure with the Tigers to honor that value.

Bakich’s own values are deeply rooted in the military. His father served in Vietnam, and his grandfather in World War II. So it should come as no surprise that the Tigers take every opportunity to honor the military and the veterans among its own fan base. That includes players coming out of the dugout in the middle of the fourth inning of every home game, while Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA blasts from the speaker system, to shake the hands of veterans in attendance.

With all that in mind, it should come as no surprise that the Tigers will host Army on Opening Day. It’s something Bakich started working on soon after he was introduced as head coach in the summer of 2022.

Clemson head coach Erik Bakich before the Tigers’ game against Stanford on Friday, April 11, 2025 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson. (Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider)

“We actually had this on the schedule before we had the Bananas on the schedule, before we got the idea about going into the crowd during the fourth inning to salue the veterans,” Bakich told The Clemson Insider.

During that three-game series set to begin on February 13, fans should expect Clemson to do multiple things to honor the military.

“I would say it was perfect timing to play arguably the greatest leadership academy on the planet that is producing future war-fighters of our country,” Bakich added. “We’ll honor and celebrate them and do it in a way off the field, outside the lines, before the game starts.”

When Bakich was at Michigan, the Wolverines also hosted Army in a three-game set to kick off the 2018 season. The Black Nights managed to take one of the three games in what was mostly a very competitive series.

Bakich expects nothing different this time around and fully anticipates his team to have its hands full all weekend long.

“We have played them before when I was at Michigan,” Bakich said. “I can tell you from experience they will not be intimidated by the crowd, they will not be intimidated by anything and they will give us one hell of a fight.”