It will be a different kind of Christmas present in New York for many of those inside Yankee Stadium.<\/p>\n
Though Penn State and Clemson will not be moving on to the College Football Playoff, the two are set to finish their season off in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 27, and many of the players will be first-time New York visitors.<\/p>\n
It will be a gift of new experiences \u2014 celebrating the holiday in the famously feel-good holiday city and playing a bowl game inside the historic stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never been, but I\u2019m an O-lineman, I\u2019m excited about seeing all the different food spots,\u201d Clemson offensive lineman Blake Miller said to reporters via Zoom on Wednesday as the Tigers gear up for their first game at Yankee Stadium.<\/p>\n
Blake Miller #78 of the Clemson Tigers looks on at the fans before the game against the Furman Paladins. Getty Images<\/p>\n
Freshman Rowan Byrne has been the lineman room\u2019s go-to \u201ctour guide\u201d for the upcoming trip, Miller explained, and will know what is and isn\u2019t a great New York slice<\/a> as a native of Bronxville.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m from Ohio and came down here to South Carolina. Up there in New York is a very different way of life from what I understand,\u201d Miller said. \u201cI\u2019m excited to see things from a different lens and see a different way of life.\u201d<\/p>\n Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen has an added layer to his first Pinstripe Bowl as he will be playing his former team, which is undergoing major changes after the firing of James Franklin.<\/p>\n Allen, who served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Nittany Lions in 2024, has not been to Yankee Stadium nor been in the city for the holidays.<\/p>\n Similarly, it will be a first for Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, who will be playing under center for the first time with new head coach Matt Campbell \u2014 the man behind Brock Purdy at Iowa State.<\/p>\n Yankee Stadium will host Clemson and Penn State for this year\u2019s Pinstripe Bowl. Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cI love New York City. I\u2019ve been a couple of times and as a kid, kind of dreamed of living there,\u201d Grunkemeyer said. \u201cI\u2019ve never been to Yankee Stadium. I\u2019m a big stadium guy, I like seeing all the different stadiums. So, that\u2019ll be a cool one to cross off the list.\u201d<\/p>\n