CLEMSON — If you were in Berkeley, Calif., on Friday or you saw the pictures on social media from those who were, you noticed something very different about the Clemson faithful that were in attendance – Tiger Band was not there.
Why?
I think we all know why.
It was strictly for financial reasons.
In this day and age of college athletics, athletic departments everywhere are having to make some tough decisions, including Clemson.
It is either Tiger Band or something else. Like another sport, maybe?
Wait, Clemson tried that and everyone had a fit, so it had to spend close $100 million since then to keep that sport and add two more to accommodate Title IX rules.
So, there’s that.
Granted, it does not cost Tiger Band $100 million to fly and lodge in California, but it costs more than you think. Try six figures.
“All areas of the athletic department are looking to try and save money right now,” a source inside the athletic department told The Clemson Insider. “It is a low six or high five figure commitment. There is not really a place and time for them to play. They are not part of the halftime show, and their seats are in the upper half of the bowl at most places.
“Sending the band for that, it was not a priority to have them out there.”
I get why Clemson fans are upset about this. Having Tiger Band playing Tiger Rag, the alma mater and supporting the team is kind of what makes it a Clemson game.
I get it and so does Clemson.
Clemson is not the only school that is having to make tough decisions on bringing its band or not to road venues. If you noticed, most road teams, since 2022, have not brought their bands to Clemson.
FSU did not bring its big band to Clemson last season, nor did UNC when they were here just a few weeks ago. For years, other ACC schools have opted out of bringing their bands to Death Valley.
Tiger Band did make the trip to Baton Rouge, La., to start the year, and will be with the football team at road games to Florida State and Duke later this season.
Why LSU, FSU and Duke?
Those games are bus rides, which is way more affordable than flying to Berkeley, California and Syracuse, New York.
That is right, TCI confirmed Tiger Band will not make the trip to Syracuse on Nov. 7.
“We know, obviously, how much energy they bring. They are huge fans. They make a ton of noise. They are awesome when they are a part of it,” the athletic source said about Tiger Band. “But there is just a reality to it, too.”
That reality?
In 2025, Clemson was the last school still sending its band to all away games. Clemson was the last ACC school to send its band on flight trips. Alabama, Notre Dame and Ohio State are just a few examples of big-time schools that are not sending their bands on road trips where the band has to fly.
To put some perspective on things, three of Clemson’s five regular season road games this year are 600 or more miles away. That is a first in Clemson football history.
The 2026 football season ranks third all-time in terms of travel miles in Clemson history, only being outdone by the 1982 and 1991 teams that traveled to Japan to play Wake Forest and Duke.
“When you get into these long road trips, and you are making six-figure decisions, the reality is that money can go to other things,” the source said.
So Clemson made a financial decision not to take Tiger Band to California and Syracuse, but the athletic department is still providing Tiger Band with over $300,000 in support annually and still plans to take the band to any postseason game or games this year.
TCI learned Clemson also told the spirit squad they were not going to make the trips, either. However, the spirit squad raised some funds to go and Clemson decided to help pay for the rest.
Clemson went back to the band and offered the same solution and the band declined the offer.
We were told, though Tiger Band was not thrilled with the news that they were not going to Cal or Syracuse, they were collaborative as partners and were understanding of the decision.