Longtime Clemson football home game tradition returns after 3-year hiatus

The Gathering at the Paw is back.

Clemson football announced Monday that its long-standing postgame tradition, in which fans mingle with the team at midfield after home games, is a full go for 2022.

The Gathering at the Paw was previously suspended for the entire 2020 season and all but one game of the 2021 season amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Clemson OK’d the tradition ahead of last year’s Nov. 20 home game against Wake Forest, but this fall will mark the first full resumption of the tradition since 2019.

Clemson formalized the Gathering at the Paw in 2003, but the tradition dates back decades to Memorial Stadium’s opening in 1942.

Frank Howard, Clemson’s coach from 1940 to 1969, encouraged the practice as a way for fans to engage with players. It’s stuck ever since.

After 2022 home games, “fans are asked to enter the field via the Hill or ramps in the west and urged not to jump over the brick walls,” according to a Clemson release.

No. 4 Clemson plays a full seven-game home slate for the first time since 2019 this fall, hosting Furman, Louisiana Tech, No. 13 N.C. State, Syracuse, Louisville, Miami and South Carolina at Memorial Stadium.

Fans are invited to gather at Clemson’s midfield logo regardless of opponent or final result, though the latter category hasn’t been an issue during recent seasons at Death Valley.

The Tigers enter the 2022 on a 34-game home winning streak, the longest active streak in the country and one of only 24 home winning streaks of 30-plus games in FBS history. Cincinnati has the No. 2 active streak with 27 straight home wins.

Clemson is also 53-1 at home in the College Football Playoff (2014-present), good for the top winning percentage in the country (98.2%) in that span. Alabama is No. 2 with a 52-2 home record and 96.3% winning percentage.

Clemson’s only home loss since 2014 came at the hands of Pittsburgh, 43-42, in 2016. Clemson is 34-0 at home since, including 6-0 during last year’s 10-3 campaign.

Preseason ACC champion favorite Clemson opens its season Monday at Georgia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game before returning home to play Furman on Sept. 10.

Clemson 2022 football schedule

Sept. 5 (Mon): at Georgia Tech, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Sept. 10: vs. Furman, 3:30 p.m. (ACC Network)

Sept. 17: vs. Louisiana Tech, 8 p.m. (ACC Network)

Sept. 24: at Wake Forest

Oct. 1: vs. NC State

Oct. 8: at Boston College

Oct. 15: at Florida State

Oct. 22: home vs. Syracuse

Oct. 29: OPEN

Nov. 5: at Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 12: vs. Louisville

Nov. 19: vs. Miami

Nov. 26: vs. South Carolina