Student Affairs

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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
Homecoming and Tigerama
The excitement, spirit and enthusiasm of homecoming celebrations have been a Clemson
tradition since 1914. During the week preceding the game, student organizations build
homecoming displays on Bowman Field which consist of telephone poles, wooden frames and
tissue paper called “pomp” stuck into chicken wire to make images or designs. Beginning in
1957, Tigerama — one of the nation’s largest student-run pep rallies — incorporated skits by
student groups, fireworks and the crowning of the homecoming queen on the Friday night
before the football game.
Founder’s Day
The anniversary of Clemson University Founder Thomas Green Clemson’s death on April 6,
1888, is commemorated each year with a Founder’s Day ceremony. The ceremony includes
a prayer service at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in nearby Pendleton where he is buried.
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
Auburn’s old orange and navy jerseys. Because the jerseys had gone through a few washboard
scrubbings, they were quite faded. So Riggs made the school’s predominant color orange
(now officially known as Clemson Orange) and the faded condition of the navy became
a deep purple (officially known today as Regalia).
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.
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.