Modern-day gladiators: Swinney describes running down the hill

Swinney stands at the top of the hill.When Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney steps off the bus at the top of the Hill and walks through the gates, he’s met with an explosion of sight and sound that not many people get to experience. In his eyes, it’s like modern-day gladiators entering the arena to do battle.

He’s also trying to go fast and catch the band.

Clemson’s iconic entrance – dubbed The Most Exciting 25 Seconds in College Football by Brent Musberger – had humble beginnings.

The first game in Memorial Stadium was on September 19, 1942 against Presbyterian. The 40 Clemson players on the 1942 sophomore dominated team dressed in the basement of Fike Field House, just like usual that day,…