Student Affairs

51 / 58

51
The Tiger Mascot
When Walter Riggs started Clemson’s football program in 1896, he allowed his players to pick
the teammascot and they chose “Tigers,” borrowing from Princeton University who had
just won the national championship. Since 1954, a Clemson student has donned the Tiger
mascot suit, joined by the Cub in 1993. At football games, the Tiger does push-ups every time
Clemson scores to match the point total while the student section counts the push-ups and
cheers him on, especially when our players rack up the points.
The Paw
The Clemson Paw was introduced as the new athletics logo in 1970. It was modeled from cast
of a real tiger paw at Chicago’s Natural History Museum. It has a one o’clock tilt to reference
the football games’ kickoff time in 1970s. You will find the Paw everywhere around campus
and town showing pride and support for Clemson University.
Clemson Ring
The first Clemson class rings were issued in 1896. The “C” surrounding a palmetto tree on a
black background is one of the most recognizable of all college rings today. Copyrighted so
only Clemson alumni and students with more than 90 hours may have the honor of wearing
it, the ring contains art elements representing the university’s land-grant and military
heritages as well as the motto, “Who shall separate us now?” Seniors may receive their
rings from the university president at a ring ceremony sponsored by the Clemson Alumni
Association and the Student Alumni Council.
Clemson Ice Cream
In the 1920s, the Department of Dairy Science started the first Clemson Creamery in the
basement of the Dairy Building and began making the famously delicious Clemson ice cream.
Today, the student-run ’55 Exchange store features this renowned ice cream, which is still
made on campus by Clemson students using the original Clemson ice cream formula.
Clemson Blue Cheese
Clemson Blue Cheese was first cured in the Stumphouse Tunnel outside Walhalla in 1941 by
a Clemson dairy professor who recognized the tunnel’s perfect conditions for curing. In 1958,
the curing process was moved to the Agricultural Center in Newman Hall. Today, you can buy
the blue cheese at the ’55 Exchange store on campus or online at
PARENT TESTIMONIAL
“The Ring Ceremony is a very special and
unique event, and getting your Clemson
Ring is a big deal for students and their
families. As part of the tradition, cadets
from the ROTC honor guard, Pershing
Rifles, guard the rings at the Scroll
of Honor for 24 hours preceding the
ceremony. Shortly before the ceremony,
the cadets march the rings to Littlejohn
Coliseum. During the ceremony, each
student is called on stage to receive
their ring with friends and family there
to watch. The Ring Ceremony celebrates
what the Clemson Family is all about and
marks an important milestone in the life
of a Clemson student!”
Rhonda and Glenn Barinowski
North Augusta, S.C.