PenthouseTiger
Four-Star Recruit
I can attest to the clemson family thingClemson is a tight family also within the university and alumni. Now I know that Nebraska as a state is solid Red and the state of South Carolina is fairly evenly divided (slight tilt towards USC due to their larger alumni base) in terms of loyalty. Our state as a whole will never have the kind of unity that Nebraska has.
However, the Clemson family itself is a very close group. In fact, the phrase "Clemson Family" is used often and is evident everywhere. A couple examples:
- A few years ago, an off campus apartment building burned down and left dozens of students with nothing but the clothes on their backs (thankfully nobody was hurt). Immediately, donations began pouring in from fellow students, faculty, the city of Clemson, and others. The morning after the fire, there was a message posted on Clemson's webpage stating where to send donated items such as clothing, books, school supplies, etc. By that afternoon - less than 24 hours after the fire - the message on the webpage had changed to something like "Please don't send any more donations of anything. We have way more than we will ever need."
- With the budget crunch this year, President Barker (Clemson's president) imposed a 5-day unpaid furlough for salaried employees this year to save money. Of course he didn't want to do that but money is very tight. As a result, a fund was set up for people to donate money to help those employees who would need money the most (obviously not for the highest paid professors but for the support staff who don't make much) and donations are accepted from everybody at Clemson. Students, faculty, and alumni all came together to donate in this fund to make up for the shortfall.
South Carolinians are a stubborn bunch and we stick together on most things with the notable exception of college football. Seems like Nebraskans are exactly the same except that every single one of you all across the state live and breathe Cornhusker football. And I would bet that y'all have a similar bond with fellow students and alumni and the campus itself that is as deep yet undescribable to outsiders. These similarities are part of what makes it so much fun for us Clemson fans to come over here on this board.
Finally, below are a couple of my favorite writings about Clemson. The first is entitled "Something in These Hills" and was written by an alumnus of Clemson College.
http://www.tigermemories.com/page.php?3
The second is the last two sections from a post on TigerNet (www.thetigernet.com) from a few years ago describing senior year and coming back to Clemson as an alumnus.
It is looking back and laughing at yourself when you were a freshman.
It is looking back and asking yourself where four years went.
It is realizing that the past four years were the greatest in your life.
It is the sweat on your brow as you finish your biggest project ever.
It is being able to walk in front of the Calhoun house.
It is being able to walk in front of the statue of Thomas Clemson.
It is knowing every square inch of campus while blindfolded.
It is walking down the aisle.
It is shaking the president's hand.
It is seeing your name on that piece of parchment.
It is taking one last walk alone through campus as a student.
It is your senior year.
It is coming back for the first time in years.
It is seeing Tillman again for the first time.
It is noticing the statue in front of Mell and having it mean something.
It is watching the demolition of Johnstone.
It is watching it grow younger as you grow older.
It is giving anything you can because you think of it as your child.
It is knowing that your best friends who are standing beside you were your neighbors.
It is looking into your old classrooms and sitting in your old seats.
It is standing on the hill for the first time in years.
It is a picnic out at Twin Lakes.
It is seeing your name that you carved during your junior year in the same place.
It is knowing that after you are gone, your children and friends were influenced by things you learned here.
It is knowing that it will be here when your children think the same thing you are thinking right now.
It is Clemson.
It is more to you than anyone will ever know.
full post is http://www.thetigernet.com/view/hof_post.do?id=218
I was in San Diego on vacation (we got to stay in a sweet condo on Coronado Island for free). We decided to go to a Padre's game to watch former Tiger standout Kahlil Green (and root against visiting Barry Bonds). At the game we ran into no less than 3 other tiger fans, all locals, one of whom bought Padres season tickets immediately after Green was called up to the majors. Its so cool to realize that your school has such a loyal nationwide fanbase.