The Tiger is the official mascot of Clemson University, a public research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States. The university has been using the tiger as its mascot since 1890. The choice of the tiger as the mascot is tied to the university's history and values. **The tiger is seen as a symbol of strength, power, and pride, which are traits that Clemson University strives to instill in its students.** The tiger is also representative of the university's competitive spirit, with its athletic teams known as the Clemson Tigers. The origins of the tiger mascot can be traced back to the university's early days.
Said Jay Williams, “It was an honor to be the first Tiger Cub.” “It was exciting to create a personality and see the kids faces. The Tiger is more traditional, the fighting Tiger, but I am an innocent, playful childlike mascot that the smaller kids really enjoy. The Cub adds a new dimension and means of interacting with the crowd.”
Measurement The Tiger Tiger Cub Neck 16 15 Sleeve 35 34 Height 6 1 5 6 Hips 42 42 Waist 36 34 Inseam 34 34 Head Hat Size Large 11 7 8 Tail 56 48 Shoe Size NA 28. State 1998 Single Game 465 by Ricky Capps Wake Forest 1981 Away Day Game 251 by Zack Mills Wake Forest 1978 Away Night Game 315 by Brad Stoehr South Carolina 2003 Home Day Game 465 by Ricky Capps Wake Forest 1981 Home Night Game 135 by Jon Potter The Citadel 2000 Overseas Game 72 by Randy Faile Wake Forest 1982 Bowl Game 105 by Martin Lowry Penn State 1988 Season 1,549 by Jon Potter 2000 Career 2,216 by Mike Bays 1994-97.
The origins of the tiger mascot can be traced back to the university's early days. In the late 19th century, a Clemson cadet named Walter Merritt Riggs suggested that the athletic teams adopt a tiger as their mascot. This idea was accepted, and since then, the tiger has become an integral part of Clemson University's identity.
Meet “the Tiger,” Clemson’s Mascot
Huge yellow eyes, highlighter orange fur, and an equally bright jersey to match—Clemson’s mascot, “the Tiger,” is hard to miss as he rallies Clemson fans on gameday and silently wreaks havoc on the sidelines. On Monday night, the Tiger will do just that during his fourth appearance at the College Football Playoff National Championship in the last five years (including wins in both 2017 and 2019), a track record that has established him as something of an elder statesman of cheering on the game. For the first time, though, this 2020 match will pit tiger against tiger, as LSU sharpens their claws to take down the reigning champs. Here, the Tiger takes us through how he’s earned his stripes—and how he’s preparing for Monday night.
Age: 66 (“If you’re a history buff,” the Tiger says, “we have a book, Clemson Through the Eyes of The Tiger. It’s our mascot heritage book that gives you all the details about when it first began and personal reflections of former mascots.”)
Height: 6 feet 1 inch
Weight: 260 to 270 pounds
How do you prepare for a big game?
Definitely make sure that I’m in shape, because being a mascot is not for the faint of heart. In terms of preparing, the main things are: Hydrate to be great, do your pushups (because we plan on doing plenty), and then bring the energy. Bring your enthusiasm, and bring the party. You are the life of the party.
You mentioned push-ups—you’re known for doing them every time your team scores. Have you ever wished the boys would just stop scoring?
I have to be honest, yeah. You get over sixty-plus push-ups, or heck even fifty-plus push-ups. You have to understand: This is consecutive push-ups for every score. So whether you score six points, seven points, three points, you don’t just do one set. You do seven and then fourteen and then twenty-one, so by the time you get into the fifties and sixties, you’ve done well over two hundred to three hundred push-ups.
That’s a lot of pushups.
Yes. Inside of a sauna. Let me add that.
Where is the strangest place you have gone as the mascot?
As the Tiger, we do tons of community events, whether that be weddings, birthdays, retirement parties. I’ve worked new hiree events, job application events. I’ve never done a funeral, although I do believe there was one on the schedule, and I’m glad it was cancelled—I don’t know what you would do there.
One story comes to mind: I was doing a wedding in the nation’s capital, and a family rented out one of the Smithsonian museums, the Daughters of the American Revolution one. So I go up to the security guard, and I’m like, “Yeah I’m here to work the wedding. You’re supposed to be secretive.” Kid you not, I’m in a pair of blue jeans, a Clemson shirt, orange shoes, and I have this big bag on my back. Of course, the security guard was suspicious, so I showed him my email saying I was supposed to be there. My name was not listed, other than “the Tiger.” I proceeded to show him what was in the bag, and actually had a gun drawn on me. Good news, the DJ came and saved the day and I was able to make it in alive as the Tiger to do the wedding.
You may have been scared then, but back in 2014, you were named number four on CBS Sports’s list of the top ten scariest mascots in college football. LSU’s feline didn’t make the cut. Thoughts?
Well I will say this: I would rather our mascot look intimidating than like a stuffed animal. You think of a tiger in the wild—it is an animal that you would respect, that you would love to go see, but at the same time you know it’s nothing to play with. You look at the community we’ve built, our Clemson family, and we are definitely welcoming. But as a mascot, I’m glad we’re on the list. We’re here to handle business.
You have a history, as the Tiger, of mimicking referees. Have you ever gotten into trouble for picking on an official?
As a mascot, you can’t talk. Your job is to mimic—not to be disrespectful, but in a playful sense. I believe a ref that I pissed off the most was probably in baseball because, you know, we have free will. We can pretty much walk anywhere. If you get in trouble, I guess the ref has to understand that they’re not talking to a person at the moment, per se. They’re talking to a tiger. Definitely being a distraction, getting caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, being on the opponent’s side [can get you in trouble]. But it’s all good, it’s fun and games.
Who is your favorite tiger (other than yourself)? There are quite a few other tiger mascots.
The only ones I’ve met have been Auburn’s and LSU’s, and between the two I would say they are about equal. The thing about mascots is, we’re kind of all in the same situation. As a mascot your biggest job is to survive, not have a heat stroke, and do your job of hyping up the crowd and having fun. Mascot are like a family…I think that we’re all friends.
Do you have a message for the tiger on the other sideline?
Push-up contest.
How do you celebrate after a big win?
After a big win you eat the biggest pizza you can find, and/or you go to a buffet. Okay, let’s start with the first thing you do. You take a shower because you’re going to smell really bad. Then you go find that pizza, and you go and celebrate with your Clemson family.
So you’re hitting the town after the championship game. No cat naps?
Well, I’ve got about a fourteen hour bus ride back, so you better believe there will be a cat nap on the bus.
To end, let’s back it up a minute: If you guys take home the trophy, what’s going to be your first reaction when that buzzer hits zero?
[Exhales.] Thank God.
How do you celebrate after a big win?
After a big win you eat the biggest pizza you can find, and/or you go to a buffet. Okay, let’s start with the first thing you do. You take a shower because you’re going to smell really bad. Then you go find that pizza, and you go and celebrate with your Clemson family.
Over the years, the tiger mascot has undergone several changes and iterations. The current iteration, known as **"The Tiger,"** is a human in a tiger costume. The Tiger can be seen at various university events, particularly athletic events, where he rallies the crowd and supports the Clemson Tigers teams. The Tiger mascot is not only a symbol of school spirit and pride but also represents the university's commitment to excellence. **The Clemson Tigers teams have achieved significant success in various sports, including football, basketball, and baseball.** The mascot serves as a reminder of the university's dedication to sportsmanship, teamwork, and striving for greatness. In addition to its role at athletic events, the Tiger mascot is also involved in various community service initiatives and philanthropic activities. The university takes pride in its mascot's positive impact both on and off-campus, as it brings people together and spreads joy and enthusiasm. In conclusion, the Tiger is the official mascot of Clemson University, representing the university's values of strength, power, and pride. The mascot serves as a symbol of school spirit and has become an integral part of the university's identity. Beyond its role at athletic events, the Tiger mascot also participates in community service initiatives, further enhancing its positive impact..
Reviews for "The Tiger Effect: How Clemson's Mascot Boosts Recruitment and Enrollment"
1. John - 1 star - I was extremely disappointed with the Tiger Clemson Mascot. I had heard so much hype and had high expectations, but the performance fell flat. The mascot seemed clumsy and uncoordinated, and the costume looked cheap and poorly made. It was supposed to be a fun and entertaining experience, but it was just a letdown. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable mascot experience.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - I attended a Clemson football game and was not impressed with the Tiger Clemson Mascot. While I appreciate the effort that goes into being a mascot, this one simply did not bring the energy or excitement that I was expecting. The performance felt lackluster and uninspired, and it seemed like the mascot was just going through the motions. I think they could benefit from more training and enthusiasm to truly engage the crowd and create a memorable experience.
3. Mike - 2 stars - As a longtime Clemson fan, I was disappointed with the Tiger Clemson Mascot. The costume itself was lackluster and appeared worn out. The mascot's movements seemed awkward and robotic, lacking the fluidity and grace I have seen from other mascots. The overall performance was underwhelming, and I found myself losing interest rather quickly. I hope they invest in improving their mascot to better represent the spirit and energy of Clemson University.
4. Emily - 3 stars - While the Tiger Clemson Mascot was not terrible, it left something to be desired. I found the costume design to be a bit outdated and not as vibrant as I would expect. The performance lacked the charisma and enthusiasm needed to truly engage the crowd. It felt like the mascot was simply going through the motions without any real passion or connection to the audience. With some improvements, it could become a more enjoyable experience for fans.