Dabo Swinney calls on Clemson fans to fill Death Valley for spring game

Clemson moved its spring game from this past Saturday to next Saturday in order to not hold it on Easter weekend.

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney is hopeful that the change will allow more fans to come out to Death Valley on April 15.

“I’d love to see us fill this thing up,” Swinney said. “It’s a big day. We moved it for Easter and we need a great crowd here. We need some energy and some excitement.”

There are multiple reasons Swinney wants to see a packed Death Valley for the Orange and White spring game next weekend.

One obvious reason is to impress recruits who will be on hand.

Clemson is scheduled to host several of its top targets for the class of 2024 and 2025 on unofficial visits this coming weekend.

“We’re going to have a ton of recruits coming in,” Swinney said. “So hopefully Tiger nation will show up and let’s have a great day in the Valley. It’s going to be an awesome day.”

Another reason Swinney wants a big crowd is to help prepare his players, particularly freshmen, for a game day atmosphere.

There are no preseason games in college football, so Saturday’s spring game will be the closest to a true game day that freshmen will experience until the season opener in September.

“That’s why it’s so important that we really fill this place up as much as we can. That’s what everybody needs to understand. It’s not just recruiting,” Swinney said. “We don’t get preseason games. We don’t get a game in the spring. It’s not like the NFL where you get to go play three preseason games. The spring game is different. It’s like a game. It just creates another level of preparation. It’s such a good opportunity to grow your team and give some of these guys their first opportunity to feel what it feels like at this level.”

Fans who come out will get to watch an impressive group of Clemson freshmen for the first time.

Five-star defensive lineman Peter Woods and four-star quarterback Christopher Vizzina are among the players who are sure to have plenty of eyes on them this weekend.

Both have impressed this spring, and Woods has already shown that he is one of the best defensive linemen on the team.

“The spring game is really our only opportunity to create that one preseason game type of environment. I hope we have a good crowd,” Swinney said. “I think it’s great for a lot of these young guys who are going to play, for them to experience that one time. That will go a long way for us for teaching them and preparing them for the season.”