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Clemson Tigers

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Clemson University is a member of the NCAA's Division I and is in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Clemson University 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 main in-state athletic rival. The two institutions compete against each other in many sports, but the annual football game receives the most attention.

Facilities

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Clemson University is home to many athletics facilities. The most prominent of these facilities is Memorial Stadium, home of 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

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The Tigers football program is currently the leader among ACC schools for conference championships at 13, in addition to 2 Southern Conference titles.[1] The program has also participated in 28 bowl games over the years, winning 15.[2] The 1981 squad also became the first athletic team in school history to win a National Championship. Clemson defeated Nebraska 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.[1] Some of the most notable coaching names in Clemson football history are John Heisman, Frank Howard (whom the playing field at Death Valley is named after), and Danny Ford. Tommy Bowden, son of famed coach Bobby Bowden, is the current head coach for the Tigers.

Clemson's football team also has a unique tradition in all of college football. Before each home game, the team gathers at the top of the hill on the east side of Memorial Stadium, 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) and run down the hill onto the field. This tradition has been dubbed "the most exciting 25 seconds in college football" by sportscaster Brent Musburger.

Clemson University's athletic rivalry with the University of South Carolina is one of the richest in college football. The series dates back to 1896 and has run uninterrupted since 1909. To date the Tigers lead in the series 64-35-4 with 4 consecutive victories over South Carolina since 2002.[3]

Basketball

Accomplishments include:

  • Men - 1939 Southern Conference Tournament Champions, 1990 ACC Regular Season Champions, 3 Sweet 16 Appearances, 1980 Elite 8 Appearance, 1999 NIT Runner-Up[4]
  • Women - 1981 ACC Regular Season Champions, 1996 and 1999 ACC Tournament Champions, 4 Sweet 16 Appearances, 1991 Elite 8, 1984 Women's NIT 3rd[5]

Baseball

The team has posted a combined 28 ACC regular season and tournament championships (most in the conference), 32 NCAA Tournament appearances, 20 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, 15 NCAA Regional Titles, 3 NCAA Super Regional Titles, and 11 College World Series appearances.[6] Most 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 Regular Season Champions - 1954, 1958, 1959, 1967, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2006[6]
  • ACC Tournament Champions - 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2006[6]
  • CWS Appearances - 1958, 1959, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2006[6]

Soccer

Men's soccer was the second program to ever win a national championship, winning the NCAA Tournament in 1984 and 1987.[7][8] In their 25 appearances in the NCAA tournament, the teams has garnered a runner-up finish in 1979 and 7 appearances in the Final Four, with the 2005 squad being the most recent team to accomplish that feat.[9] In addition to their NCAA titles, the men's program have won 16 combined ACC regular season and tournament titles, with the last one coming in the 2001 ACC Tournament.[citation needed]

The women's soccer program won the 2000 ACC Regular Season Championship and has participated in the NCAA Tournament every year since the start of the program in 1994.[citation needed]

Other Sports

The Tiger golf team has won 9 ACC titles in the program's history.[citation needed] In 2003, Clemson edged out Oklahoma State to win its first National Championship in golf and the 4th overall for the school.[citation needed] In addition to that victory, Clemson also won the ACC and NCAA East Regional titles, making the Tigers the first program in NCAA history to win its conference, regional, and national championship in the same year.[citation needed] In addition, the 1998 and 2001 teams finished second at the NCAA tournament.[citation needed]

Clemson's track and field teams have combined for 26 ACC Championships (12 men's indoor, 11 men's outdoor, 1 women's indoor, 2 women's outdoor).[citation needed] In addition, the men's indoor track team finished second at the NCAA Championships in 1992 and 1993.[citation needed]

Men's cross-country claimed ACC titles in 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, and 1988.[citation needed] The women's team captured the ACC title in 1986.[citation needed]

Men's tennis have garnered 11 ACC titles and made 20 appearances in the NCAA tournament.[citation needed]

Women's tennis have won 7 ACC titles and made 13 appearances in the NCAA tournament.[citation needed] The 2004 and 2005 teams made the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.[citation needed]

Women's volleyball won the 1997 ACC Tournament and 1999 ACC Regular Season championships.[citation needed]

Men's swimming and diving won the 1986 ACC championship, while the women's team won ACC titles in 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1997.[citation needed]

Clemson Rugby is also a very successful club.

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Clemson Championships". Retrieved September 6. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b "Clemson Bowl History". Retrieved September 6. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Clemson Game by Game against the University of South Carolina". Retrieved September 6. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "Clemson Men's Basketball Media Guide". Retrieved September 6. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Clemson Women's Basketball Media Guide". Retrieved September 6. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b c d "Clemson Baseball Media Guide". Retrieved September 6. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "1984 National Championship :: Tigers defeat top four seeds en route to title". Retrieved June 8. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "1987 National Championship :: Tigers come on strong late in the season". Retrieved June 8. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "2005 Clemson Men's Soccer" (PDF). Retrieved June 8. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
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