CLEMSON — Opening Day at Clemson might be a little different this year.

The Tigers open the season on Friday against Army, and with Erik Bakich’s military ties and this being Hero’s Weekend at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, expect a strong dose of Military Appreciation througout the three-game series.

“We’ve got Army-West Point coming to town,” Bakich said. “It is going to be an exciting time, Hero’s Weekend, which aligns perfectly with the values of this university and patriotism. With what we did last year, with the fourth inning honoring of our veterans and military and public service personnel, it couldn’t have timed up or aligned better to bring in Army for opening weekend.”

Clemson has several things planned in an effort to honor the military, including a flyover, but Bakich didn’t want to spoil everything that is in store for fans planning to be in attendance.

“It’s everything from flyovers to honoring veterans,” Bakich said. “Our fourth inning tributes to above and beyond. We’ve got quite a few fun things planned, so I won’t spill the beans on all of them, and I would be lying if I told you I knew of every single thing that we are doing. But I have been looped in on a lot of it, and it is going to be a fantastic weekend to celebrate all those service men and women that have laid it on the line in the past or are currently doing so. Giving them the respect that they deserve.”

There’s also going to be some baseball. The Tigers are a preseason Top 20 team and have hosted a regional in each of Bakich’s first three seasons.

Army is coming off a season that saw them finish 25-25 and miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017, not including the 2020 season when there was no tournament due to COVID.

“Also to play very competitive games against, really, one of the better programs in the northeast,” Bakich said. “Historically, a perennial regional team. With the addition of having the utmost respect for those guys, just knowing we are going to get a hell of a baseball series. They will not be intimidated. They will give us everything they got. They will not quit and they will fight every pitch.”

Photo by Bart Boatwright