We’re settling into season now and seeing early narratives start to take shape, but there are still so many unsolved mysteries about how this season will play out. Here’s what I’m watching, anticipating, and worrying about as we exit the tumultuous introduction to our 2024 season and prepare to settle into the rhythm of conference schedules.
Question: How high does Clemson go?
We’re used to hedging when it comes to new teams. Regardless of the strength of a roster, the first few weeks, if not the whole first season, tend to be a rollercoaster. Even after a great intrasquad showing, history would lead us to use caution when predicting how Clemson will perform this year.
Clemson doesn’t seem that concerned about caution. A remarkable opening meet performance of 196.325 landed the Tigers in the top 20 nationwide and atop the ACC. Perhaps the difference between this team and other new squads is the number of transfers providing stability and relieving the burden of having to orient a whole team to the experience of being a college gymnast at once. Whatever it is, though, it’s undeniably happening. At this point, I strongly favor Clemson to make regionals in its inaugural season and consider it at least strongly in the mix for the conference title….
