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With Saturday’s kickoff slotted for 7:52 p.m., Clemson shifted its normal Monday work across the street and ran practice under the Death Valley lights to mirror the exact game window. Dabo Swinney said the goal was comfort and rhythm more than spectacle.
“We decided, since the game is so close to our normal Monday night practice time, to just move it over there,” Swinney said. “Get all the lights on, get everything going, and give them a good feel.”
The setting cooperated. After a largely mild camp, the Tigers got a clean, night-game rehearsal in ideal conditions — the kind of dry run that helps the first snap feel familiar. “It’s an amazing night — unbelievable weather,” Swinney said, adding that the weekend forecast points to a similar stage. “It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful night on Saturday as well. It’s good to get them over there and let them feel the environment.”
There’s energy in the building, too. “Everybody’s like, ‘It’s game week,’” Swinney said with a grin. “You love this.”
Swinney has also kept the focus on the home edge. He’s seen two-plus decades of primetime surges in the Valley and wants the same jolt against LSU. “Death Valley will be at its best Saturday night,” he said. “Show up in orange so we know who the good guys and the bad guys are. Let’s spot the ball and go.”
And he didn’t downplay how much the crowd matters: “We need them. We’ve been pretty dang good at home, and our fans deserve a ton of credit for that. We’ll need them to be a big difference Saturday night.”
