That win was so gratifying for me. Far beyond it being Duke and everything it meant for the program, on the national stage, etc., etc. Think I've mentioned this before, but my in-laws (BIL, MIL, FIL), and even my wife at times, are diehard Clemson fans in Durham. Big Duke fans growing up, but once my BIL went to Clemson (x2), things changed. They go for Duke at all other times, and have season tickets to Duke Football, but make no mistake, they are all Clemson, all the time. I remember being in the car with them one time years ago discussing Duke and Clemson and them bitching about Duke Basketball getting calls. It got heated. I openly cheer against Clemson entirely because of them. You can't be around them without hearing about Clemson's greatness. You'd think there was no better place on Earth than Clemson, S.C.
Many years ago, at a Duke Football tailgate, my BIL and I (prior to being B'sIL) got into a knock-down, drag-out, full on fist fight arguing about Duke and Clemson. I'm talking rolling around on the ground in the leaves, the whole shebang. We are super cool ever since, but the Clemson hatred on my end is real. As soon as this game was announced (and even rumored), my wife started dreading September 4th, 2023. My BIL had been very confident about the game, bordering on cocky, really since camp started. The number of times I've heard him say, "I don't think you understand how good our DL is" approaches the hundreds.
We planned a big tailgate with all of our usual Duke friends for about a month and executed flawlessly. Dropped off cars at 6:30 Monday morning, went back to pack up coolers, etc., posted up for good around noon. Only Clemson fans amongst our group of roughly twenty were BIL, MIL, and FIL, all in Clemson regalia. Wife had to be convinced to at least come to the tailgate with all of her friends and family, but left at 5ish to go home because there was no way she was going to be in that stadium with all the tension and history. Everyone was surprised she was there as long as she was, given her bluster about not even coming to the tailgate.
I spoke briefly to my MIL today about an event we're doing for my wife's birthday this weekend. Otherwise I haven't heard from them, and neither has my wife. I have no doubt my FIL and MIL will be ok and are probably close to being over it. My BIL is probably still crushed and will be for a while, bordering on suicidal. Supposed to see him Saturday night for wife's birthday deal. That should be interesting.
What a day. What a game. I will never forget yesterday. That was so cathartic.
Sorry (again) for another long post.