Clemson University, located in Clemson, South Carolina, is known for its fierce tiger mascot. The Clemson tiger represents the university's strength, courage, and pride. Since the early 1900s, the Clemson tiger has been a symbol of the university's athletic teams, specifically the football team. The tiger mascot has become a beloved figure among Clemson fans, known for its energetic and enthusiastic presence during games and events. The Clemson tiger can be seen prowling the sidelines, firing up the crowd, and leading cheers. The mascot's distinct orange and purple attire, and its playful and friendly interactions with fans, have made it a recognizable symbol of the university's spirit.
John Seketa Clemson Athletics P.O. Box 31 Clemson, SC 29633
All-Time Pushup Records Category Record Record Holder Opponent Year First Quarter 62 by Jon Potter Duke 2001 Second Quarter 175 by Ricky Capps Wake Forest 1981 Third Quarter 225 by Christopher Kit Southwick North Carolina 2011 Fourth Quarter 128 by Rob Lockard N. Two of the fan favorite mascots were the all-time pushup leader 2,216 Mike Bays 94- 97 who was third in the 1996 UCA National Mascot Championships and Chris Peters 92- 93 who spent the 1995 football season as the mascot of the Memphis Mad Dogs of the World Football League.
The mascot's distinct orange and purple attire, and its playful and friendly interactions with fans, have made it a recognizable symbol of the university's spirit. The Clemson tiger is regularly seen at sporting events, school rallies, and charity events, where it represents the Clemson community as a whole. The mascot's role goes beyond entertainment, as it also serves as a representation of the university's values, traditions, and accomplishments.
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.
“This is about degrees of separation from the war itself,” said Matthew E. Stanley, assistant professor of history at Albany State University.
Through its energetic and engaging presence, the Clemson tiger mascot epitomizes the university's commitment to excellence, unity, and pride..
Reviews for "The Clemson Tiger Mascot: A Tradition Passed Down through Generations"
1. Jessica - 1 star
I was really disappointed with the performance of the renowned Clemson Tiger Mascot. It just seemed like the mascot lacked the necessary energy and enthusiasm to engage the crowd. The dance moves were awkward and uncoordinated, and it just felt like the mascot didn't connect with the audience at all. The costume itself also appeared worn out and tired, which added to the overall lackluster experience. I was expecting so much more from such a renowned mascot, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations.
2. Michael - 2 stars
As a passionate fan of Clemson University, I was expecting the renowned Clemson Tiger Mascot to bring some serious spirit to the game. However, I found the mascot's performance to be quite underwhelming. The energy level was low, the interactions with the crowd were minimal, and it just didn't feel like the mascot was truly invested in hyping up the audience. Additionally, the costume looked outdated and worn, which further detracted from the overall experience. I hope that the mascot receives some improvements and upgrades to better represent the team's spirit in the future.
3. Emily - 2 stars
I attended a game where the renowned Clemson Tiger Mascot was present, and I have to say that I was not impressed. The mascot seemed more interested in posing for selfies with fans rather than actively engaging with the crowd and creating a contagious atmosphere. The lack of energy and enthusiasm was quite evident, and it left the fans feeling deflated instead of pumped up. The costume also appeared outdated and uncomfortable, giving off a lack of professionalism. I hope that the mascot team considers making some much-needed improvements to enhance the overall experience for the fans.