Clemson's football team plays its home games
at Memorial Stadium, better known as "Death Valley". The Tigers football
program is currently the leader among ACC schools for conference
championships at 13, in addition to 2 Southern Conference titles. The
program has also participated in 28 bowl games over the years, winning
15.[citation needed] The 1981 squad also became the first athletic team
in school history to win a National Championship, going 12-0 and
finishing the year ranked #1 in the Associated Press and Coaches polls.
[citation needed] Some of the most notable coaching names in Clemson
football history are John Heisman, Frank Howard (whom the playing field
at Death Valley is named after), and Danny Ford. Tommy Bowden is the
current head coach for the Tigers.
Clemson's football team also has one of the most unique traditions in
all of college football. Before each home game, the team gathers at the
top of the hill on the east side of Memorial Stadium, where each player
proceeds to rub "Howard's Rock" (which is an imported rock from Death
Valley, California that was presented to Frank Howard in 1967) and run
down the hill onto the field. This tradition has been dubbed "the most
exciting 25 seconds in college football" by sportscaster Brent Musburger.
