The Clemson Tigers are any team that represents Clemson University as a member of the NCAA's Division I or in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
In 1896, football coach Walter Riggs came to Clemson, then Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina, from Auburn University. He had always admired the Princeton Tigers, and hence gave Clemson the Tiger mascot. The Clemson Tigers field nineteen athletic teams. In men's sports there are: football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, golf, track and field (indoor and outdoor), cross-country, and swimming and diving. For women's sports, there are: basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, track and field (indoor and outdoor), cross-country, swimming and diving, and rowing. The South Carolina Gamecocks are Clemson's in-state athletic rival. The two institutions compete against each other in many sports, but the annual football game receives the most attention.
Tiger Paw logo
The Tiger Paw logo was introduced at a press conference on July 21, 1970, and was developed by Helen Weaver of Henderson Advertising in Greenville, South Carolina, from a mold of a Bengal Tiger in the St. Louis Zoo. The tell-tale hook at the bottom of the paw is a sign that this is the official licensed trademark for the university. The SC Beta Chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity also has retained the exclusive rights to paint the logo on many of the highways that lead into Clemson.
Facilities
The most prominent of Clemson's facilities is Memorial Stadium, Frank Howard Field, and home to the Clemson University men's football team. Memorial Stadium is also known by its nickname, "Death Valley."
The men's and women's basketball teams play at Littlejohn Coliseum, an arena offering over 11,000 seats. The Coliseum also acts as a venue for a variety of campus functions throughout the year including concerts and graduation ceremonies.
Recently renovated Doug Kingsmore Stadium is home to Clemson's men's baseball team. The men's and women's soccer teams play their home games at historic Riggs Field.
Other home venues for these sports are: Walker Golf Course, Hoke Sloan Tennis Center, Jervey Gym, Rock Norman Track Complex, and McHugh Natatorium. Women's rowing holds home events on nearby Lake Hartwell.
Football
Main article: Clemson Tigers footballSee also: 2009 Clemson Tigers football team
The Tigers football program has won 59.0% of its games through the 2006 season, placing it 37th on the all-time winning percentage list. Clemson is also currently the leader among ACC schools for conference championships at 13, having last won a title in 1991. Clemson also won two Southern Conference titles before joining the ACC. The program has participated in 30 bowl games over the years, winning 15. The 1981 squad, led by Head Coach Danny Ford, became the first athletic team in school history to win a national championship. Clemson defeated Nebraska 22–15 in the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida to win the 1981 NCAA Football National Championship. Stars of the game included Homer Jordan (QB) and Perry Tuttle (WR). Clemson finished the year 12–0 and ranked #1 in the Associated Press and Coaches polls. Some of the most notable coaching names in Clemson football history are John Heisman (also coached at Akron, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Penn, Washington & Jefferson, and Rice; the Heisman Trophy is named after him), Jess Neely, Frank Howard (whom the playing field at Death Valley is named after), and Danny Ford. After Tommy Bowden resigned midseason on October 13, 2008, Dabo Swinney took over as interim head coach. On December 1, 2008, Swinney was named head coach of the Clemson Tigers football team.
Before each home game, the team ends pre-game warm ups and proceeds to the locker room. With five minutes to go before game time, two buses leave the street behind the West Endzone both full of Clemson football players. The buses pull to a stop at the gate in front of The Hill, and the Tigers gather at the top, where each player proceeds to rub "Howard's Rock" (which is an imported rock from Death Valley, California that was presented to Frank Howard in 1967). While Tiger Rag is played and a cannon sounds, the Tigers run down the hill onto the field in front of over 81,000 screaming fans. This tradition has been dubbed "the most exciting 25 seconds in college football" by sportscaster Brent Musburger.
Graduation rates
For the graduating classes of 2000-2008, according to statistics reported to the NCAA, the graduation rate for male students at Clemson has increased from an average of about 68% in 2000 to about 71% in 2008, while the graduation rate for football student-athletes at Clemson has decreased slightly from an average of about 56% to about 55%. In other words, the gap between football players and other male students has increased from 12% to 16% over the past 9 years.
The four-year average graduating rate for male students at Clemson has stayed steady at an average of about 68%, while the four-year average graduating rate for football student-athletes at Clemson has stayed steady at an average of about 54%.
Beginning in 2005, the NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) was developed in response to complaints from college and university presidents. "The GSR measures graduation rates at Division I institutions and includes students transferring into the institutions. The GSR also allows institutions to subtract student-athletes who leave their institutions prior to graduation as long as they would have been academically eligible to compete had they remained."
The GSR data for the Clemson football team in 2005 was 94%, in 2006 was 77%, in 2007 was 75%, and was 68% in 2008.
Basketball
Main article: Clemson Tigers men's basketballThe Clemson Men's Basketball team is currently coached by head coach Oliver Purnell. Purnell has guided the Tigers to higher win totals each season that he has been the Tigers head coach. The Tigers were defeated 86–81 by the University of North Carolina in the 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship game on March 16, 2008. Accomplishments include:
*vacated by NCAA
The Clemson Women's Basketball team is currently coached by head coach Cristy McKinney. In 2008, the team made it to the ACC tournament, where it defeated N.C. State in the first round, but lost to eventual champion North Carolina in the quarterfinals. Accomplishments include:
Baseball
Main article: Clemson Tigers baseballAs of 2008, the Tiger baseball team has posted a combined 30 ACC regular season and tournament championships (most in the conference), 34 NCAA Tournament appearances, 16 NCAA Regional Titles, 3 NCAA Super Regional Titles, and 11 College World Series appearances. Much of the baseball program's success occurred under Bill Wilhelm during his 35 seasons as Clemson's head coach. Jack Leggett has been the Tigers' head coach since 1994.
*ACC Tournament began in 1973 to determine conference champion
*No conference tournament was held in 1979 due to academic conflict, Clemson awarded title for regular season finish
Soccer
The men's soccer team was Clemson's second sports program to win a national championship, winning the NCAA Tournament in 1984 and again in 1987. In their 26 appearances in the NCAA tournament, the men's soccer team garnered a runner-up finish in 1979 and has appeared in the NCAA Final Four seven times, with the 2005 squad being the most recent team to accomplish that feat. In addition to their NCAA titles, the men's program has won 16 combined ACC regular season and tournament titles, with the last one coming in the 2001 ACC Tournament. The Tigers have known only two coaches in their history: Dr. I.M. Ibrahim (1967–1994, 388–100–31 career record) and Trevor Adair (1995–present, 50–48–10 record at Clemson). Former Tiger Oguchi Onyewu played with Clemson in 2000 and is currently with A.C. Milan .
Women's soccer became a varsity sport at Clemson in 1994.
Golf
The Tiger golf team have a tradition of being among the best in the ACC and the nation, having won several ACC titles and regularly qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. In 2003, Clemson defeated runner-up Oklahoma State to win its first National Championship in golf and the 4th overall for the school. In addition to that victory, Clemson also won the ACC and NCAA East Regional titles that year, making the Tigers the first program in NCAA history to win its conference, regional, and national championship tournaments in the same year. Clemson also has the most regional titles among NCAA Division I schools, having won 7 since the NCAA adopted the regional tournament format in 1989.
Other Sports
- ACC Championship decided by tournament until 2004; regular season finish has determined ACC champion since 2005 season
- The Lady Tigers rowing team became the 1st team other than Virginia to win the ACC Championship since the ACC began sponsoring the women's rowing championship in 2000.
The Rugby Club is also very successful, and was founded in 1967.
Discontinued Sports
Wrestling - discontinued after 1995 due to Title IX
Boxing - discontinued after 1948 due to violent nature of sport
Olympic Medalists
Base
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