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CLEMSON TRADITIONS
Solid Orange
Launched in 1999 as a marketing campaign by the University, “Solid Orange” is all about
sportsmanship and building an environment that is spirited; fun; and also shows respect for
teams, the University and the traditions that make Clemson special. Every Friday, students,
faculty, staff and alumni everywhere can be found wearing Clemson orange in a show of
unity and pride.
Tiger Rag
In 1942, student band director, Dean Ross,
found the sheet music for “Tiger Rag” in
an Atlanta music store and brought it back
to campus to play at football games. “Tiger
Fanfare,” by band director Mark Spede, was
added in 2003. Today, the band has more
than 15 ways to play what’s known as “the
song that shakes the Southland.”
Howard’s Rock
Named for legendary Coach Frank Howard,
the rock was brought to Clemson from Death
Valley, California, by 1919 alumnus S.C.
Jones. On September 24, 1966, the day the
rock was first placed on a pedestal at the top
of The Hill, Clemson overcame an 18-point
deficit to defeat Virginia in a 40-35 victory.
The following season, when the Tigers
hosted Wake Forest in the season opener on
September 23, 1967, Howard told his players
“If you’re going to give me 110 percent, you
can rub that rock. If you’re not, keep your
filthy hands off of it.” The Tigers won that
game with a 23-6 victory and a Clemson
tradition was born. The rock still sits at the
top of The Hill, and Tiger football players rub it for good luck before each home game.
Running Down The Hill
The tradition of running down The Hill (located above the east end zone) began out of
practicality in 1942. The shortest walk from the team’s dressing room in Fike Fieldhouse to
the stadium was to walk down Williamson Road and enter a gate where the stadium’s large
scoreboard now stands. Today, with the sound of “YOUR CLEMSON TIGERS!” a cannon fires,
the band plays “Tiger Rag” and thousands of orange-clad fans cheer the moment when the
Tiger football team runs down the grassy hill onto the field, a tradition that has been dubbed
“The Most Exciting 25 Seconds in College Football.”
First Friday Parade
Since 1974, the First Friday Parade has been held the Friday before Clemson’s first home
football game to celebrate the beginning of the school year and kick off the football season.
Student organizations, community groups and University departments parade down
Highway 93 to Williamson Road before ending at Historic Riggs Field for a pep rally.
Orange and Purple
The use of orange and purple began when Walter Riggs formed Clemson’s first football team
in 1896. Riggs brought the game from what is now Auburn University and with it, some of