The final moments before the start of a Clemson home game offer a theatrical glimpse into one of college football's greatest traditions. The Tigers leave their locker room and exit the stadium entirely in order to board buses while in full uniform to travel to the opposite end of the field. They part a sea of rabid fans until they reach their destination, at which point they exit the buses and enter Memorial Stadium atop The Hill.
There they stand and wait like gladiators entering the Roman Colosseum. Head coach Dabo Swinney leads them, and he - along with the rest of the team - touches and rubs the statuesque Howard's Rock as they soak the wild roars of 80,000 fans blended into a nameless, faceless mob.