Clemson football’s ‘Philly Connection’ thriving, even without cheesesteaks and hoagies

CLEMSON – Cheesesteaks, hoagies and soft pretzels.

Phillies, Eagles and Flyers.

These are the things of which Philadelphians are made.

“I’m a big Phillies and Eagles fan – all Philly sports, really,” Keith Maguire said.

Suffice it to say these are good days for Maguire. The Phillies are in the National League Championship Series and the Eagles are in first place in the NFC East.

Things also are going rather swimmingly for his other favorite team – the Clemson Tigers.

Maguire, a redshirt junior linebacker at Clemson, represents half of the team’s “Philly Connection,” with the other half being sophomore linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

Both have continued their football careers and expanded their cultural horizons by relocating from the Philadelphia suburbs to the Upstate of South Carolina.

Goodbye hoagies, hello barbecue.

Goodbye soft pretzels, hello boiled peanuts.

Maguire is from Media, Pennsylvania, a borough about 20 minutes west of the Eagles’ Lincoln Financial Field. Trotter grew up in Hainesport, New Jersey, a township about half an hour east of where his father starred as a linebacker for the Eagles for eight seasons.

Together they are thriving for No. 5 Clemson (7-0, 5-0 ACC), which hosts No. 14 Syracuse (6-0, 3-0) on Saturday (noon, ABC).

Maguire and Trotter rank fourth and fifth on the team in tackles with 32 and 31, respectively. Maguire is coming off a six-tackle performance in the Tigers’ victory at Florida State and ranks second on the team with four special teams tackles. Trotter made a career-high 13 tackles in the same game and was named ACC Linebacker of the Week for his effort.

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They have formed quite a formidable tandem, both on and off the field.

“It’s good to have another guy from the area down here with me,” said Maguire, who admits that his strong Philly accent is an easy target for teammates. “Especially with us both playing linebacker. It makes the chemistry a little easier.

“We’re tight, we’re close. We’re always looking to help each other get better, so it’s a good relationship we have.”

So what Philadelphia-born foods does Maguire miss the most?

Cheesesteaks from Dalessandro’s, any sandwich from John’s Roast Pork and soft pretzels from Philly Pretzel Factory.

Oh, yeah, and Tastykake brownies from one of the region’s many Wawa convenience stores.

“Tastykakes are a little more nationwide now, but I always like ’em from back home – I think they’re still a little better there,” said Maguire, whose grandmother has been known to ship him his favorite. “I can’t remember exactly what the brownies are called, but I know where they are in Wawa and that’s all that matters.”

Wawa stores reach as far south as Virginia, but have yet to reach the Carolinas.

“I know,” Maguire said. “That’s my biggest tragedy.”

Trotter concurs.

“I wish they had them down here,” Trotter said. “A big thing for me was being able to go to Wawa and get a meatball sandwich. I love their sandwiches. They’ve got a lot of good options; that was a big go-to for me.”

The go-to’s have changed.

Trotter has developed an appetite for South Carolina-style pork barbecue and Maguire is partial to the bacon, egg and cheese bagel at Clemson’s Pot Belly Deli, but that doesn’t mean they don’t yearn for the occasional taste of home.

“We make do,” Maguire said. “I try to find the most northern-style restaurants around and I eat a lot of pizza.

“But we’ve adapted and I’ve had a good time down here so far. I wanted to go Down South. When I came on a visit, I was pretty much sold the first time. I just wanted to experience a different culture, and it has been a great experience. It’s not that hard with the good group of guys we have here. That has made it easy.”

Just keep sending him an occasional Tastykake brownie, Grandma.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: How Clemson football's 'Philly Connection' is thriving in the South