CHARLOTTE – Although Clemson and the University of Georgia are both large, public institutions that are close enough together that they can usually abide by the same weather forecasts, current Tiger and former Georgia Bulldog R.J. Godfrey told media members at the 2025 ACC Tipoff on Wednesday that the two campuses have several key differences.
“The biggest difference is one thousand percent the size,” the forward told TCI at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown. “Clemson’s one street, downtown, you have everything there, food options all around it. But Athens, I call it the New York City of college towns. You have five streets, you have a metropolitan with a highway around it… that’s probably the biggest difference.”
Godfrey, a Suwanee, Ga., native, played his first two seasons as a Tiger under head coach Brad Brownell, then transferred to Georgia for his junior season. Ahead of his senior year, for the second time in his life, Godfrey said “yes” to the orange and purple and announced his return to Clemson on April 4.
Despite admitting that downtown Athens has more food options and a bigger downtown area, Godfrey insisted that Clemson has always felt like home.
“Both are two awesome places, but I like Clemson,” he said. “I’m a Clemson man and I’m just glad to be back.”
On any given fall Saturday in downtown Clemson or “metropolitan” Athens, you could expect to see a sold-out football stadium, packed with passionate fans covered in red and black or orange and purple clothing, respectively. During the spring months, these same fans pack out Doug Kingsmore and Foley Stadiums for baseball games, and in the winter and as Godfrey experienced, the fans at both schools show up to support their basketball teams.
“Georgia fans, they don’t play,” Godfrey said. “We had an awesome student section and band at Georgia, and they were really passionate about the sports there. Our band and student section (at Clemson) is awesome too, that’s one of the similarities.”
According to last year’s every-game starter for the Bulldogs, the fans at both schools are equally passionate, but they have slightly different personalities.
“I feel like the people are a lot nicer at Clemson, not that people are mean at Georgia, but people are more caring and nice at Clemson,” he said.
These differences also translate to the court. Last season, Godfrey and the Bulldogs made it to the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 10 years. Godfrey concluded his season averaging 6.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and an assist, his career high in each category.
Still, Gonzaga, a No. 8 seed in the Tournament, eliminated the Bulldogs in the first round. Just a few hours later, fifth-seeded Clemson was eliminated by No. 12 seed McNeese State.
Despite personal success at Georgia and increased similarities between the way both teams’ seasons concluded, it was program differences that ultimately called Godfrey back to Tiger Town.
“Clemson is a more hard-hat, hard-nosed, more disciplined program,” he said. “(Brownell) makes us into soldiers. No excuses, no regrets, you’re going to go out there, no matter how you’re feeling, and you’re going to play hard. Personally, that’s what I love—fighting through adversity, and fighting through your mind.”
Clemson fans will have their first chance to watch Godfrey back in the orange and purple uniform on Friday, Oct. 17, when the Tigers take on the Presbyterian Blue Hose in an exhibition game at Littlejohn Coliseum.
It will mark Godfrey’s second first game as a Tiger.
–photo by William Howard-Imagn Images