Clemson QB Cade Klubnik Makes Embarrassing Slip-Up With Savannah Bananas at Death Valley
The Savannah Bananas are about to take their wildly entertaining brand of baseball to a whole new level. On Saturday, April 26, they’ll face off against the Party Animals in front of what will be their largest crowd ever—81,000 strong inside Clemson’s iconic Memorial Stadium, better known as Death Valley. But before the Bananas ever step up to the plate, it was Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik who gave them the kind of introduction only he could.
In a video posted to the Bananas’ social media accounts, Klubnik, Clemson’s returning starter and soon-to-be senior, served as tour guide for the visiting baseball circus. He greeted the Bananas outside the Oculus—the same spot where Tiger Walk ends on game days—before showing them the Tigers’ locker room, explaining the team’s “Best is the Standard” mantra, and leading them to the legendary Hill.
But the funniest moment—and the one quickly catching attention online—came when Klubnik tried to explain the tradition of Howard’s Rock, the sacred pregame ritual Clemson players have followed for decades. With cameras rolling, Klubnik encouraged the Bananas to touch the rock, saying, “Everybody touch the rock… I’m not exactly sure how it got here, but the motto is, unless you’re giving 110 percent, keep your filthy hands off my rock.”
That admission—funny as it was—raised some eyebrows among fans. Klubnik, a face of the program for the past two years and the guy tasked with leading Clemson back to the College Football Playoff, admitted on camera that he didn’t know the backstory behind one of the most cherished symbols in school history. It didn’t go unnoticed.
To be clear, Howard’s Rock was brought to Clemson in the 1960s by former head coach Frank Howard after it was given to him by a friend from Death Valley, California. It’s now an inseparable part of Clemson lore. So when your QB doesn’t know how the rock ended up on that pedestal? That’s tough.
Still, Klubnik’s enthusiasm was undeniable, and the Bananas soaked in every second. Players practiced running down the hill, caught passes from Klubnik on the turf, and got the full Death Valley experience—minus the roar of a fall Saturday.
For Klubnik, it’s his second baseball-related appearance this week. He threw out the first pitch at Clemson’s midweek baseball game against Georgia on April 22. He mentioned during the ESPN broadcast that he used to play baseball as a kid before committing full-time to football.
The Bananas’ matchup Saturday will be broadcast on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. ET. With 81,000 tickets sold and Memorial Stadium as the backdrop, they’re set to smash their previous attendance record of 65,000 from a March game in Tampa Bay.
Cade may not know exactly how Howard’s Rock got to Clemson—but thanks to this moment, the Bananas, and just about everyone watching online, won’t forget his tour anytime soon.
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