The Clemson University Mascot is a powerful and beloved symbol of the institution. Known as the Clemson Tigers, the mascot embodies the athletic strength, resilience, and pride associated with the university's athletic teams. The present-day Clemson Tiger mascot originated in the early 1950s, when a student named John C. Poulos took on the role. Poulos, along with other students, sought to bring more enthusiasm and spirit to Clemson's athletic events. Hence, he donned a tiger costume and began leading the crowd in cheers and chants.

The Tiger and Tiger Club Mascot Tradition

In 2011-2012, Tiger fans will see Chris Alston, a junior Computer Engineering major from Atlanta, Ga and Christopher “Kit” Southwick, a senior Sports marketing major from St. Albans, VT share duties as “The Tiger” and Sarah Newburn, a senior Special Education major from Greenville, SC in her third year as “The Tiger Cub” mascot. Assisting Sarah is Marshall Saunders, a senior Ag Mechanization & Business major from Piney River, VA.

Since 1954, a Clemson student has adorned the mascot suit to entertain the Clemson faithful. Joined in 1993 by The Tiger Cub, these furry creatures can be seen imitating game officials (which is now against the rules), signing autographs, getting their picture taken with dignitaries (President Reagan, President Bush, Olympic athletes, among others), shooting the cannon, or doing “Pushups” each time Clemson scores.

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 “Eye of the Tiger” will always shine bright for the Clemson mascot due to an endowment set-up by Stuart McWhorter (’88-89) and his father Clayton in 1995.

Here are just a few of the great experiences by the Clemson mascots: One of McWhorter’s funniest moments was in Columbia in 1989 when he grabbed a tuba from a member of Tiger Band during halftime of the USC game. He ran on the field and created general havoc until being chased away by an offended Carolina band member.

Said Jay Williams, “It was an honor to be the first Tiger Cub.” “It was exciting create a personality and seeing the kids faces. The Tiger is more traditional, the fighting Tiger, but I am innocent, playful childlike mascot that the smaller kids really enjoy. The Cub adds a new dimension and means of interacting with the crowd.”

Schedule an Appearance by The Tiger or Tiger Cub

To request an appearance up to 90 minutes by The Tiger or Tiger Cub, please forward a letter or an e-mail to:

John Seketa Clemson Athletics P.O. Box 31 Clemson, SC 29633

The letter must contain the following information; name of the event, date, time, location, directions, contact person and phone number.

The cost for an appearance is $70.00 and $.50 per mile to and from the location. You will receive in writing a confirmation on whether or not a mascot will be able to make the appearance.

The fur fabric is 80% acrylic and 20% polyester with a backing that is 75% polyester and 25% cotton. Heads are constructed from Kydex plastic.

Clemson finally changing their mascot?

The Clemson Tiger has been roaring since 1896. That’s almost 127 years of that unbearably bright- and eye-straining orange that consumes the entire campus.
It’s time for students to rally for change. It’s time to retire the tiger and put away the orange paint once and for all.
First of all, there are much cooler animals out there than a tiger.
Starfish have the ability to regenerate their own limbs. Not to mention, they don’t require silly necessities that could hold them back, like blood and a brain. Starfish can also live up to 35 years in the wild, unlike tigers which typically only survive for about 15 years.
Chameleons can blend into their environment, change colors and even have projectile tongues to catch their prey which is super cool and interesting.
Not roosters, though. That would be a weird and boring animal to have as a mascot.
Ligers have an incredible stripe pattern that is both beautiful and functional for blending into their environments, unlike a tiger which has a completely different appearance.
Zebras are my favorite animal, so that’s another animal to consider.
Second of all, tigers are scary. Think of all the children who are probably scarred for life from seeing that big tiger with pointy teeth every time they attend a football game.
“I’m tired of this suit,” Clemson’s Tiger mascot said. “I’m also tired of scaring innocent kids.”
We should consider a much more PG- and kid-friendly mascot that won’t leave children with nightmares.
Now, as for the current color scheme of the University, there are definitely changes to be made there.
Orange is just not a very flattering color. It’s really hard to put an outfit together when I want to support my school, and that shouldn’t be the case.
Clemson should consider other cooler and more appealing colors to go with their new mascot.
I think it would be a nice change for Clemson to move more toward a cool-color scheme. Maybe a nice blue or a mint green. Purple should definitely be thrown in there somewhere, though, because that’s my favorite color.
However, this new color scheme should avoid colors such as red, black and white. These colors are boring and tend to represent schools that lose to Clemson often. We wouldn’t want to step on their toes.
In addition to this new mascot and color scheme, it will also be necessary that Clemson chooses a new logo to represent the school that isn’t a paw print.
This, of course, depends on the new animal chosen to represent the University. Still, Clemson may want to consider thinking outside of the box for this. For example, two paw prints would be a really different and creative logo for Clemson to consider.
So, let’s get started and make these changes happen.
Clemson University is an amazing school with so many great things to offer. Just imagine how much better it will be once these changes are made. I’m sure everyone agrees.

3 differences between Clemson and LSU's mascot

Dec 28, 2019; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; LSU Tigers mascot Mike the Tiger performs during the third quarter of the 2019 Peach Bowl college football playoff semifinal game against the Oklahoma Sooners. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Both teams claim play in the real Death Valley. Both teams consider “Tiger Rag” to be their fight song. But one of the most obvious similarities between the Clemson Tigers and the LSU Tigers is that they share the same animal as a mascot. Except they’re slightly different. Here’s a look at three things that set the two Tigers apart.

Hence, he donned a tiger costume and began leading the crowd in cheers and chants. Since then, the tiger mascot has become an integral part of Clemson's culture and identity. The mascot represents the fierce competitiveness and determination of the university's sports teams, especially the football team, which is widely known for its success.

1. LSU has a live mascot, Clemson doesn’t.

LSU has a live tiger living on campus, while Clemson only has a costumed version. The school’s first-ever live mascot was Mike I, who lived from 1936 to 1956. LSU has had six Tigers since that one, with Mike VII who was introduced in 2017 currently residing in the habitat near Tiger Stadium. Traditionally, the mascot is a Bengal tiger, though Mike V was a Bengal-Indochinese mix, Mike VI was a Bengal-Siberian hybrid, and Mike VII is also a Bengal–Siberian mix. Controversy has surrounded the keeping of a wild animal as a mascot in captivity for years, and LSU stopped taking Mike to home football games in 2016 after the death of Mike VI.

Keeping up with the tradition, there have been several individuals who have brought the Clemson Tiger mascot to life over the years. These students, known as Tiger Cub Leaders, undergo a rigorous process to be selected for the prestigious position. They must possess not only physical agility but also a deep understanding of Clemson's values and dedication to excellence. The Clemson Tiger mascot can be seen at various sporting events, including football, basketball, and baseball games. The mascot entertains the crowd with energetic performances, engaging in playful antics and rallying the supporters to cheer on the teams. Outside of games, the Tiger mascot also serves as an ambassador for the university, making appearances at community events, pep rallies, and alumni gatherings. The mascot's presence adds a touch of excitement and camaraderie to these occasions, further strengthening the bond between Clemson and its extended community. In summary, the Clemson Tiger mascot is a symbolic representation of the university's athletic prowess and school spirit. It embodies the community's fierce devotion to Clemson University and serves as a source of inspiration and pride for students, alumni, and fans alike..

Reviews for "The Clemson Mascot's Journey Through History: An In-depth Analysis"

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How the Clemson Tiger Became an Iconic Symbol for the University