Clemson QB Tait Reynolds wonders how FSU crowd got louder after fans started leaving
· Yahoo Sports
CLEMSON — As Clemson football quarterback Tait Reynolds began speaking to the press inside the Smart Family Media Center, he was interrupted by crowd noise playing inside the connecting indoor practice field.
Reynolds paused for a moment and pondered waiting for it to stop before talking about the Tigers' most recent opponent.
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"I think Florida State was playing some crowd noise," Reynolds said with a smile on Nov. 4. "It got louder throughout the game. There was nobody there. It got loud. I was like, 'What the heck?'"
The crowd at Doak Campbell Stadium got noticeably smaller after Clemson (5-3, 3-2 ACC) entered the fourth quarter up by 19. The Seminoles attempted a comeback, but Reynolds ran for a 79-yard touchdown to seal a 36-24 win.
FSU fans made noise before Reynolds took the snap on a third-and-12 and throughout their team's comeback attempt.
Reynolds said the crowd noise played inside Clemson's facility was likely to prepare for JMA Wireless Dome's indoor atmosphere. The Tigers play at Syracuse (4-4, 2-4) on Nov. 7 (noon, ESPN2).
"This week should be loud," Reynolds said.
Reynolds has thrown for 1,285 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in his freshman season. He accounted for 274 total yards, threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another against FSU.
Tait Reynolds covered future NFL receiver in first high school season
Reynolds said this season has involved plenty of "live learning" as he continues to grow as a freshman quarterback. When asked about the last time he'd had to do that, he remembered one of his first high school games in 2022 when he took the field at cornerback.
His first assignment? Future Southern Cal and Baltimore Ravens receiver Ja'Kobi Lane, who played for Red Mountain High School in Mesa, Arizona. Reynolds played for Queen Creek High School.
"I was like, 'Dang, this guy's pretty good,'" Reynolds said. "They didn't really throw it his way or anything. I'm not gonna sit here and be like, 'Oh, I locked him up.' He just ran a couple slants. He had a great game."
Needless to say, Reynolds played the second half at quarterback.
"Here I am," Reynolds said. "Playing quarterback now for Clemson."
Reynolds said his freshman season at Clemson has reminded him of his freshman year of high school. He's made mistakes, replayed them afterward and wondered what he could have done differently.
Eventually, he figured things out. Reynolds believes the same process is unfolding at Clemson.
"There was a lot of learning that had to be happening," Reynolds said. "It was just like every game. I was like, 'Dang, I could have done this. I could have done that.' As the years went on, it kind of just slowed down for me. Just got a lot easier."
Nick Coppola covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA Today Network. Email him at [email protected], follow him on X @Nick_Coppola__ and like his Facebook page at Nick Coppola, Clemson Sports.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson QB Tait Reynolds wonders how FSU crowd got louder after fans started leaving