Ford craves Clemson tailgating

Hall of Famer Danny Ford didn’t have to go far to find his second love after coaching college football. He actually stayed in the same proximity.

The former Clemson coach lives just 8 miles from Death Valley — on his farm near Central, S.C. Three-plus decades removed from leading the Tigers to their first national championship in 1981, Ford still is attending games.

“At this stage of my life, the most fun I have now is tailgating,” Ford told USA TODAY. “I didn’t do that back in the day, and now it’s my favorite thing to do. I get to games really early and try a lot of food at a lot of different places. And I get to see Clemson.”

The 69-year-old tailgating fanatic doesn’t exactly blend in outside Memorial Stadium.

“People will recognize me, and I’ll take a picture with their baby,” he said, laughing. “I definitely love everything about (tailgating).”

Ford said he plans to be at Clemson’s rivalry game against Florida State on Saturday, which also is the latest stop on the Amway Coaches Poll Tour — as fans will have an opportunity to take pictures with the iconic crystal trophy before kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET.

The Clemson-FSU rivalry has greatly changed over the years, just as the defending national champion program has evolved. Ford admits he never thought Clemson would win another national title after his ’81 team finished 12-0.

“I don’t mean that as a slight,” he said. “It’s just really hard to do.”