How Clemson built an athletic program from the ground up

Clemson’s athletic department spent more than $14 million on softball before a pitch was thrown.

CONCERT IN SOUTH CAROLINA.NIGEL: YOU ARE LOOKING LIVRIGHT NOW AT CLEMSON AND ITSFIRST-EVER HOME SOFTBALL GAME.GABRIELL THIS IS THE SECONDGAME OF A DOUBLE-HEADER TODAY.WE SHOULD MENTION THAT BECAUSE-OF RULES, WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TOSHOW YOU PLAWE CAN ONLY SHOW YOU THIS.CLEMSON LOST THEIR FIRST GAME2-0 AGAINST WESTERN CAROLINA.THE SECOND GAME IS GOING ONRIGHT NOW AND THE TIGERS DO HAVEA 2-0 LEAD IN THE FIRST INNING.WYFF NEWS 4 INVESTIGATES WANTEDTO FIND OUT WHAT IT TOOK TO GETTHE SOFTBALL PROGRAM UP ANDRUNNING.NIGEL: WE FOUND THE SCHOOL SPENTMORE THAN $14 MILLION BEFORE APITCH WAS EVEN THROWN.WE ALSO LEARNED THAT THEADDITION OF SOFTBALL ANELIMINATION OF WOMEN’S DIVINGWAS, IN PART, A COMPETITIVENUMBERS GAME.SOUTH CAROLINA HAD ABOUT 1400HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE SWIMMERS ANDDIVERS LAST YEAR.GABRIELLE: THERE WERE TRIPLE THENUMBER OF FAST PITCH SOFTBALLPLAYERAMANDA CRAWFORD REPORTS NOWCLEMSON IS HOPING IT INVESTMENTAND EXPANDED RECRUITING BASEWILL MEAN A WINNING PRODUCT.