DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS GRAHAM NEFF NAMED SHAWN POPPIE AS CLEMSON’S EIGHTH HEAD WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACH ON MARCH 26, 2024. READ MORE INSIDE
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Orange: The Experience is published six times annually exclusively for donors to the IPTAY Scholarship Fund. A minimum priority contribution is $60, but contributions of all amounts are welcome. To join IPTAY, call 864-656-2115 or log on to ClemsonTigers.com/IPTAY. To advertise in this publication, contact Mike Money by email at mmoney@clemson.edu
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6 THE FIRST OF MANY
Clemson Gymnastics takes second place at the inaugural ACC Gymnastics Championship in Greensboro, N.C.
18 THE POPPIE ERA
Director of Athletics Grahm Neff named Shawn Poppie as Clemson's eighth Head Women's Basketball Coach on March 26, 2024.
24 NE W IPTAY STAFF MEMBERS
IPTAY has welcomed three new members to its staff: Ashby Burton, Mac McAlhany, and Joanna Neal.
25 BR OOK T. SMITH APPLIED SCIENCE LAB RIBBON CUTTING
Clemson Football and IPTAY celebrated the completion of the Brook T. Smith Applied Science Lab with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
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CL EMSON 2024 PRO DAY RESULTS
Clemson Football hosted a Pro Day for 10 student-athletes to showcase their incredible skills and talent.
FOOTBALL NATIONAL SIGNING DAY IN REVIEW
Signing Day was drama-free for Clemson, as its entire 2024 class signed early and set its sights on an early impact.
34 BE GINNING OF A NEW ERA
Clemson Lacrosse reaches milestone moments as they compete in the new Clemson Lacrosse Complex for the first time.
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TH E LAST INNING
How two life-long Georgia natives built a legacy with Clemson Softball.
WI LL TAYLOR: THE TRUE TIGER TEAMMATE
Will Taylor has exhibited traits of an ultimate teammate.
Clemson
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Fellow Tigers,
IT’S BEEN A BUSY FEW MONTHS IN TIGER TOWN. WE HAVE HOSTED MANY events during the overlap of winter and spring sports. Thank you for your steadfast support of the Tigers in the stands and for contributing to the ongoing success in competition and in the classroom. There are many important areas to keep in mind as we continue into the spring, including the conclusion to an exciting winter sports season, the IPTAY annual deadline, the college athletics landscape, NIL, and the continued evolution of IPTAY.
The winter sports season has truly been exciting for the Tigers. Ten Tigers represented Clemson at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Boston, men’s basketball returned to the second Elite Eight in program history, and the inaugural season of Clemson Gymnastics proved historic. In addition to winter sports, our spring sports teams are off to an exciting start. Baseball and softball have secured quality wins, our new men’s and women’s tennis head coaches have their first wins at Clemson, Shawn Poppie has been named Clemson Head Women's Basketball Coach, and the brand-new Clemson Lacrosse Complex has opened as the only dedicated women’s lacrosse facility in the nation. Truly an exciting time to be a Tiger!
We have also celebrated new additions to the IPTAY team. In recent weeks, we have welcomed Mac McAlhany as Assistant Director of the Development and Member Services team, Joanna Neal has joined the IPTAY family as Executive Administrative Assistant, and Ashby Burton has returned to IPTAY as the Director of Strategic Communications. I am extremely excited about these additions to our team and how they will impact our organization. Additionally, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Adam Witty, the newest member of the IPTAY Board of Directors. Witty has been appointed to represent District V, South Carolina’s low country, and I am excited for the vision he brings to our Board. Each of these additions will be crucial to IPTAY’s success moving forward. IPTAY membership continues to grow – and that’s a testament to the commitment of the Clemson Family. In this crucial time in college athletics, your contributions are more important than ever. We ask for your perpetual assistance in encouraging members of the Clemson Family to become active with IPTAY. No matter the gift level, every dollar is crucial in supporting more than 550 student-athletes who wear the Paw.
As we move into the spring, there are many things to remember during this busy season. As we wrap up football season ticket renewals, I encourage you to carefully consider your giving options for the IPTAY 2024 year. Please do not forget that all IPTAY 2024 pledges are to be completed by June 1. Helpful resources like the interactive parking map can help you navigate your giving level before the June 1 deadline. Please visit ClemsonTigers.com/IPTAY to learn more or access helpful parking information using the following QR code.
As college athletics continues to evolve, I cannot stress enough the importance of involvement with 110 Society, the Official NIL Partner of Clemson Athletics. Your support in this space is critical as we continue to thrive in this new era of college athletics. Please visit 110society.com to get involved. Let’s all do our part to ensure that best remains the standard. The following QR code will showcase additional opportunities to get involved today.
As you continue considering your support of IPTAY, I urge you to look more into IPTAY Legacy: IPTAY’s newly redesigned planned giving program. A way to make a long-lasting impact on Clemson Athletics, IPTAY Legacy provides options that everyone can consider. More information on IPTAY Legacy can be found in the coming pages of this edition of Orange: The Experience.
IPTAY has and will continue to play an integral role for Clemson Athletics, and it is because of your unyielding passion, commitment, and belief in our mission. We greatly appreciate your continued investment and support as we venture into unchartered territory in this business. Thank you for being the team behind the team!
Go Tigers!
Davis Babb IPTAY CEO
CLEMSON GYMNASTICS FINISHED THE 2024 ACC CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH a 196.425 score, placing second among league teams in its inaugural conference championship appearance.
Lilly Lippeatt, a redshirt freshman from Mason, Ohio, and Clemson’s first freshman signee was named the ACC’s Newcomer of the Year for the 2024 season. Amy Smith was named ACC Coach of the Year in her first competitive season guiding the Tigers.
NC State won the ACC’s first league title since 1984 with a 197.550. Clemson’s score was its third-highest away from home this season, trailing a 196.825 at UCLA and a 196.550 at North Carolina, meaning it will count toward Clemson’s National Qualifying Score (NQS), which impacts NCAA Regional selections.
The Tigers led all teams with a 49.200 on vault, their final rotation, finishing second on floor (49.425) and tied for second on beam (49.225).
Twenty-three of Clemson’s 24 lineup members in this year’s championship are eligible to return for the 2025 season.
Rebecca Wells finished with a 39.325 in the all-around, placing her second overall, and earning her ACC AllChampionship Team honors. Molly Arnold (floor, vault), Kielyn McCright (beam), Madison Minner (vault), Maggie Holman (vault), Wells (floor, vault), Lilly Lippeatt (bars, beam), and Lauren Rutherford (floor) also earned All-Championship Team honors by finishing in the top six among all performers in their respective events.
BARS (TEAM TOTAL: 49.225)
Freshman Trinity Webb became the first Tiger to officially compete in an ACC Championship event, leading off with a 9.775. Eve Jackson followed with a 9.850 before redshirt freshman bars All-ACC selection Lilly Lippeat tied her season-high with a 9.900. Kaitlin DeGuzman, also an AllACC selection on bars, competed in her final conference championship event putting up a 9.825. After a fall, AAI Award Nominee Rebecca Wells stepped up in the clutch,
matching her career-high with a 9.875. Clemson’s 49.225 was its fourth-highest total of the season in the event.
BEAM (TEAM TOTAL: 48.475)
Lippeatt led off with a 9.875, tied for her second-best mark of the season. Wells, a beam All-ACC selection, put up a 9.700, and Kielyn McCright scored a 9.875. Freshman Quinn Kuhl, making her first appearance in the lineup since Feb. 17 at NC State, matched her season-best with a 9.800 to anchor the Tigers, who had to count a fall in the event.
FLOOR (TEAM TOTAL: 49.525)
Lippeatt again led off – this time with a 9.875 of on floor. Molly Arnold, an All-ACC selection on floor matcher her career high with a massive 9.950, second-best among all competitors, and Lauren Rutherford had the second-best mark of her career as she tallied a 9.925 and finished fifth overall. Wells followed that with a 9.900, her fourth score of 9.900 or better this season on floor and sixth among all performers.
VAULT (TEAM TOTAL: 49.200)
Wells, an All-ACC performer on vault, led off for the Tigers with a 9.825. Arnold, also an All-ACC selection on vault, had a 9.850 as she landed her Yurchenko 1.5. Lauren Rutherford had a 9.800, Madison Minner had a 9.875, her second-best mark of the season and second among all competitors on Friday, and freshman Maggie Holman had a 9.825, earning her a sixth-place finish individually. Clemson took four of the top six vault scores among all athletes and the 49.200 led all teams.
FINAL RESULTS
The final results of the ACC Championships were led by NC State taking home the ACC title with a 197.300 overall score. Clemson finished the receiving second place not far behind NC State with a score of 196.45. Third place came was a tie between UNC and Pitt with a score of 196.300.
PAW SITIVE PRESS
HIGHLIGHTING CLEMSON’S TOP PERFORMERS IN ATHLETICS
BRIE CLARK
Gymnastics | Redshirt Sophomore
Clark was named ACC Specialist of the Week on March 11th. She tied a career high with a 9.950 on floor, including a 10.0 score from one of the judges. Her score was the highest score by an individual on floor by the Tigers this season for her fifth win of the year. She also set a career-high on beam with a 9.925, finishing second in the event.
AMARI ROBINSON
Women's Basketball | Gradute
The graduate senior was named All-ACC Second Team for the second consecutive season. She averaged 17.4 points and scored a career-high 37 points against Syracuse this past season. She was third in the ACC in field goal percentage (.530) and ranked top 10 in many other statistical categories.
MARIE FORBES
Track & Field | Junior
Forbes finished fifth in the weight throw with a distance of 21.76 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championship. She earned First Team All-American honors and is now a back-to-back First Team AllAmerican.
IAN SCHIEFFELIN
Men's Basketball | Junior
The junior was named the ACC’s Most Improved Player by coaches and media. He saw career highs in many categories and became the first to win the award for Clemson since Jaron Blossomgame in 2016.
PJ HALL
Men's Basketball | Senior
Hall earned the second All-ACC honor of his career, making the ACC’s First Team for his achievements and play this season. The senior is up for numerous postseason awards, including being a Top 5 finalist for the Naismith Hall of Fame Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.
TAREES RHODEN
Track & Field | Senior
In the finale of the men’s 800 meter at the NCAA Indoor Championship, he secured his place on the podium with a time of 1:47.79 to earn fifth place overall and be named First Team All-American for the second consecutive indoor season.
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LEVON KIRKLAND
BY TIM BOURRET
SINCE 2013, DABO SWINNEY HAS PRESENTED THE BRIAN DAWKINS
Clemson Lifetime Achievement Award to a former Clemson Football player who has been out of college for at least 10 years. The recipient also embodies characteristics that consistently demonstrate the qualities of leadership, community service, and other high qualities that are persistent with excellence since graduating from the Clemson program.
Brian Dawkins, who played 16 years in the NFL, was named to nine Pro Bowls and was a finalist for many public service awards. He was the first recipient of this award and the first former Tiger inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.
This year’s recipient was former Clemson All-America linebacker Levon Kirkland, an All-ACC defensive end with the Clemson Football program from 1988-91. Kirkland went on to a celebrated 11-year NFL career with the Steelers, Seahawks, and Eagles. He was inducted into the Clemson Ring of Honor in 2019.
In Kirkland’s retirement from the game, he returned to Clemson to earn his degree, coached at the college level, and served as an administrator working in minority student recruiting at Clemson. He was also an administrator with the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame working on all phases of the organization, including many community service activities. Kirkland has a positive attribute and an affirmative influence on every team and organization he has been affiliated with.
Those qualities are continuing today, as he returned to the Clemson Football program this past December to work on Head Coach Dabo Swinney’s staff. Kirkland will be enhancing capacities that provide guidance to current football student-athletes in areas that include the evergrowing NIL department.
I am thrilled to have Kirkland back on campus working in athletics. From the time he was a red-shirt freshman in 1988, he has always been high on my list of respected Clemson Football players. He will be a terrific asset to Swinney’s program.
Fittingly, Kirkland was awarded the Brian Dawkins Clemson Lifetime Achievement Award just a couple of weeks after he began working full-time on Swinney’s staff. This award that meant a great deal to Kirkland, who started on the same Eagles defense with Dawkins in his final year in the NFL (2002). Kirkland and Dawkins helped the Eagles to a 12-4 record and the NFL Playoffs.
“This is a great honor because Brian Dawkins was a contemporary who I looked up to when I was in the NFL,” said Kirkland. “He was and still is a great example of what it means to be a leader, a father, a husband, and who is passionate about everything he does. Brian Dawkins is among the most respected NFL players in this era and to have an award with his name on it is very special.”
If Brian Dawkins is one of the most respected and most honored former Clemson players at the NFL level, Kirkland is not far behind. While Dawkins is the only former Tiger in the NFL Hall of Fame, Kirkland has been on the Hall of Fame ballot multiple years. Kirkland was an All-Pro and named to the NFL Team of the 1990s as a linebacker.
Kirkland’s level of experience from the time he came to Clemson in 1987 as a lightly recruited high school player out of Lamar, SC will be a great asset in relating to current Tigers in his new job.
“My role in this position is two-parts,” said Kirkland recently. “I provide mentorship with the student-athletes and provide support to the NIL program. This entails a lot of areas because I have a great deal of experience in all aspects of what these student-athletes are in the process of going through.”
“I feel uniquely qualified. I have been through just about every phase of what they have been through in high school, and are in the process of going through at Clemson. Whether they are a freshman or senior, and what they will go through as they graduate and transition to professional football or some other profession.”
Kirkland has had to adapt during many stages of his life. Those experiences will help him as he evaluates his role in the Name Image and Likeness world, which is in its infancy regarding college athletics. “I am spending a lot of time reading and researching NIL because it is so new. Everyone is trying to learn how they can help their student-athletes expand their brand,” Kirkland explained.
Kirkland has had to adapt many times in his life. Not the least of which took place in 2013 when his wife Keisha died at age 41 after a five-year battle with cancer. She was in the middle of a career as a top weathercaster at WYFF TV in Greenville.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Keisha. She was the one who encouraged me to come back to Clemson and finish my degree. She always put me on the best path.”
Now Kirkland’s daily task is to put Clemson Football student-athletes on the best path. I can’t think of a better person to fill that role in Dabo Swinney’s administration.
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When you can’t be here, rent your condo to other fans and offset the cost of ownership through our hotel management rental program. When you are here, you’ll be just 2 miles from campus, on the lake, and have access to some of the best amenities of a luxury resort, including our restaurant and bar, Traditions on the Lake.
Call us today and start your new Tiger Tradition at Lakeside Lodge.
BEYOND THE GAME
BY LAINEY CALABRESE
EMEREY SAMPSON
WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING A STUDENT-ATHLETE AT CLEMSON?
ES: Being a Clemson student-athlete is both a challenging and a rewarding experience. Clemson is a great place to be a student-athlete because there is a feeling of togetherness. Everyone wants to see me and my teammates succeed in athletics, as well as academics.
WHAT INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES HAVE YOU HAD AT CLEMSON?
ES: My first experience as an intern was in the Controller’s Office. There was a learning curve that I had to overcome when I started in that position. I learned basic accounting skills in this role. Learning these skills was a vital experience that helped me in my later internship at Nike.
My second internship at Clemson was as a Gender and Sports Admin Intern for Stephanie Ellison-Johnson. I held this position after my experience in the Power Cohort. This internship was a fulfilling experience because I was able to work with Stephanie Ellison-Johnson and use my voice for good. I was able to provide an opinion on matters within athletics as well as bringing a student-athlete perspective to the table.
WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEING IN THE FIRST POWER COHORT?
ES: Being a part of the first cohort and the first meeting was a unique experience. Throughout the year my peers and I were able to aid in building the program from the ground up. My experience in the Power Cohort allowed me to further develop personally and professionally. The biggest characteristic that was affected was my confidence. I was able to learn to use my voice, and how to be confident in doing so.
WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE IN TIGER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY AND HOW WAS IT DIFFERENT FROM POWER?
ES: Tiger Leadership Academy helped me to understand how I can be a leader on the rowing team, with work, and my college courses. The Tiger Leadership Academy focused on building leadership skills, as well as problem-solving in various situations. POWER Women's Leadership Academy focused on leadership development, as well as how to be a strong woman in the athletics industry and in everyday life.
CAN YOU PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE WITH NIKE AND WHAT YOUR DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITIES LOOKED LIKE?
ES: I worked on a project with Nike in creating a profitability framework that used Power Query to support the APLA leadership team. My day-to-day responsibilities included meeting with my team members to discuss and provide updates, ask questions, and develop the financial reports. Working for Nike was a great experience. I enjoyed being in an environment focused that focused on working hard and completing tasks while also providing a strong support system.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ROWING?
ES: I first started rowing when I was in the 8th grade.
WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WHILE HERE AT CLEMSON?
ES: In 2022, I received the CRCA Scholar-Athlete Award. In 2023, I was part of the All-ACC Team Selection and received All-ACC Team Honors.
THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY
On Sunday March 18, 2018, Clemson Men's Basketball defeated Auburn 84-53 to advance to the Sweet 16 in Omaha, Nebraska. Gabe DeVoe scored 22 points and Elijah Thomas added 18 points as No. 5 seed Clemson defeated No. 4 seed Auburn in dominating fashion.
THE POPPIE ERA
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS GRAHAM NEFF NAMED SHAWN POPPIE AS CLEMSON'S EIGHTH HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH ON MARCH 26, 2024.
BY AUSTIN CHRISTENSEN
SHAWN POPPIE HAS BEEN NAMED THE EIGHTH HEAD WOMEN’S basketball coach at Clemson University, Athletic Director Graham Neff announced on Tuesday, March 26. The move was approved by the Board of Trustees Compensation Committee.
Poppie, the 2023-24 Southern Conference Coach of the Year, joins the Clemson Family from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he compiled a 48-18 record in his two seasons with the Mocs, including a 28-win season this year en route to Chattanooga’s second-consecutive Southern Conference championship.
Poppie also spent six seasons as an assistant and associate head coach at Virginia Tech, where he helped lead the Hokies’ turnaround to a top-ten national program, and also spent time at Furman as an assistant coach.
“We are thrilled to welcome Shawn and his family to Clemson,” said Neff. “As we worked through our search process, his name kept coming up in several circles, and the on-court results speak for themselves. He’s coached and recruited at a high level, has experience in the ACC and in the Upstate, and we are confident in his ability to get our program to the next level.”
“I am beyond excited to be joining the Clemson Tiger family as the next head women’s basketball coach,” said Poppie. “I am thankful to Graham Neff, Stephanie Ellison-Johnson and the Clemson University administration for making our family feel welcome. It truly has been a humbling experience getting to know why Clemson is so special – it’s the people. With the resources in place and everyone moving in synergy together, I believe we can compete in the ACC, the best women’s basketball conference in the country.”
During his time at Chattanooga, Poppie was the architect of one of the most impressive program turnarounds in the nation. The year prior to his arrival, the Mocs won just seven games. In Poppie’s first season on the sidelines, however, Chattanooga recorded a 20-win season and won the SoCon tournament. Poppie received national recognition and received the 2023 Spalding Maggie Dixon NCAA Division I Rookie Coach of the Year award.
Poppie is one of the brightest up-and-coming head coaches in the nation and will be at the helm for the 50th season of Clemson Women’s Basketball in 2024-25.
COACHING CAREER
Poppie was named the seventh head coach in Chattanooga history on March 30, 2022. In his two seasons with the Mocs, he orchestrated an unbelievable turnaround which resulted in a 22-6 record in the SoCon, and a 21-6 record at home, ultimately bringing two SoCon titles back to Chattanooga and making back-to-back trips to the NCAA tournament.
He coached the 2022-23 SoCon Freshman of the Year, and his players received eight All-Conference selections, and two All-SoCon Freshman Team selections. The SoCon coaches selected Poppie as the 2023-24 coach of the year in the conference.
Prior to his time at UTC, Poppie was an assistant coach at Virginia Tech under head coach Kenny Brooks from 20162021. He was ultimately promoted to associate head coach for the Hokies and helped guide VT to six consecutive winning seasons. The Tigers’ new head coach oversaw the Hokie backcourt and guided Aisha Sheppard and Taylor Emery to All-ACC First Team selections. Poppie was on staff for the Hokie teams that set records for wins over ranked opponents, most conference wins, and having the first player in VT history to be named to the AP All-America Team (Elizabeth Kitley).
Before making his move to Blacksburg, Virginia, Poppie was an assistant at Furman. During his three-season stint with the Paladins, Poppie was elevated to associate head coach under Jackie Carson. He assisted in guiding Furman to a pair of postseason trips. He also spent two seasons on the coaching staff at USC Upstate.
He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Limestone College where he worked as the program’s recruiting coordinator. In his time with the Saints, he recruited and signed three all-conference players and the Saints advanced to the 2012 national tournament following a 25-win season.
PLAYING CAREER
Poppie played collegiately at Limestone where he graduated in 2007 with a degree in sports management. He was a two-time All-Conference player for the Saints and was the program’s all-time leader assists (602) and steals (168), and finished in third place in scoring (1,246). Poppie was inducted into Limestone’s Hall of Fame in 2017.
PERSONAL
He is originally from Crescent City, Illinois. He is married to his wife, Regina, and the couple has three sons, Kai, Cayden, and Cameron.
TICKETS
Tickets to see the Shawn Poppie-led Tigers are available now by calling the Clemson ticket office at 1-800-CLEMSON or by scanning the QR code below. Take advantage of receiving season tickets for just $50 to start the Poppie Era!
YOUR TICKETS NOW!
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING KENNY
BROOKS
KENTUCKY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH
“I’m incredibly proud of Coach Poppie and his accomplishments as a head coach. There is no doubt in my mind that he will bring that competitive spirit to Clemson and make them a force in the ACC.”
“I am thrilled for Shawn, his family, and the future of Clemson Women’s Basketball. Shawn is an amazing tactician of the game and will fit in immediately with the level of women’s basketball coaches that we have in the ACC. He contributed to the monumental success of the Virginia Tech program, reinvigorated the Chattanooga program, and will now bring those same blueprints of success to Clemson. The future is bright for the Tigers!”
KELLY GRAMLICH
ACC NETWORK
“This is a phenomenal hire by Graham Neff & his team. Shawn Poppie is one of the best young head coaches in women’s hoops & now he’s a Clemson Tiger! He’s a proven winner & I can’t wait to see where he takes Clemson.”
FROM THE BROADCAST BOOTH
BY DON MUNSON
APRIL HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE MONTHS. FOR ONE, THE weather is changing. Gone is the cold weather and then it is the warmth of spring. Secondly, the 30 days that make up the fourth month of the year are generally a sports smorgasbord. As you pick up your plate and travel down the line, there are many different choices. You will find good choices, some will be disappointing in the end, and others will be pleasant surprises. April is the month of the crowning of the NCAA basketball champ, the baseball and softball seasons hit full speed, and The Masters is followed by The Heritage for the golf enthusiasts.
April of 2023 was the turning point for our Clemson Baseball team. The Tigers were 16-13 overall and just two and six under first-year Head Coach Eric Bakich as they entered the month of April last year. The month did not get off to a roaring start as our Tigers dropped a 6-5 home contest to Wake Forest. The defeat gave the Demon Deacons a sweep over Clemson. Coach Bakich would see his team bounce back with a 16-6 seven-inning run-rule win over Coastal Carolina in Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The run-rule win took place before the team headed to Tallahassee, Fla. for a three-game ACC series with Florida State. Game one did not go well, to put it mildly. The Seminoles prevailed 5-1 to drop Clemson to 2-7 in the league. At breakfast the next morning, Coach Bakich delivered the proverbial “Come to Jesus” talk. He demanded more toughness, more accountability, more discipline, and more competitive spirit from his squad. The team responded with an 8-1 triumph and that fed into a 6-2 series clinching win the next day. Coach Backich’s talk and series turned out to be the turning point of the entire year.
The next contest was a mid-week showdown with the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Ga. Clemson won that game handily 8-1. Next up it was back to ACC play as Notre Dame came to town. The Fighting Irish offense, backed by solid pitching allowed them to take game one 10-4. The question in everyone’s mind was, how would this Clemson squad respond? The answer was well, very well. Clemson came back to win the series thanks to a 5-1 win on Saturday and a 6-4 victory on Sunday powered by two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning that broke a 4-4 tie. Clemson Baseball now posted a 22-15 overall record and stood 6-9 in ACC play.
When Clemson left Raleigh, N.C. the next weekend they were .500 in the league at 9-9, thanks to a sweep of the North Carolina State Wolfpack by scores of 10-2, 9-7, and 8-5. The confidence was growing not only among the squad but also within the fan base. Clemson came back from Raleigh for a midweek game in Doug Kingsmore Stadium versus Kennesaw State. Just like the squad had done earlier in the month to Coastal Carolina, the offense exploded in a 15-5 seven-inning run-rule win. Now the baseball team had won 10 of their first 14 games in April and headed to Chestnut Hill, Mass. to see what their fortunes would be against Boston College. As the story had been the previous three weekends, Clemson would pick up another series win in the league winning the first game of a doubleheader on Friday 9-7 and the final game of the series on Saturday 6-3.
The Clemson Baseball team had turned their season completely around in April. They would not lose a single game in May as they finished the month off winning an Atlantic Coast Conference Championship. The fun is in the winning. Here’s to hoping April is a fun month for all Clemson fans.
All God’s children say, “Go Tigers!”
NEW STAFF MEMBERS
WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THREE NEW MEMBERS TO THE IPTAY STAFF.
JOANNA NEAL
Joanna comes to IPTAY in April after serving as Assistant to the Vice President for Athletics/Business Coordinator at Anderson University. Joanna previously held a stint as Guest Services Director for NewSpring Church and spent time as a middle school English teacher. She will now serve as the next Executive Administrative Assistant at IPTAY.
Joanna is a double graduate of the University of South Carolina, receiving a Bachelor’s in English and a Master of Education in Teaching. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Philosophy in Education here at Clemson.
ASHBY BURTON
Ashby came to Clemson in June of 2019 on IPTAY’s Marketing and Communication staff and now serves as the Director of Strategic Communication for IPTAY after spending time as Clemson Athletics’ Director of Marketing and Fan Experience. Ashby oversees IPTAY’s communication efforts, including email, social media, and Orange: The Experience magazine.
Ashby graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2018 with degrees in Business Administration and Communication Studies and completed a M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communication in August of 2022.
MAC MCALHANY
Mac joined IPTAY’s Development and Member Services team in February after working with the Tennessee Fund in Knoxville, T.N., for the last year as a Development Assistant. Mac’s role works with IPTAY donors at all levels, helping manage donations and service donors and their benefits.
Originally from North Carolina, Mac graduated from Wofford College in 2023 with a degree in Humanities. He plans to obtain an MBA from Clemson University in the coming year.
BROOK T. SMITH APPLIED SCIENCE LAB RIBBON CUTTING
CLEMSON FOOTBALL AND IPTAY CELEBRATED THE COMPLETION OF BROOK T. SMITH APPLIED SCIENCE LAB WITH A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY.
BY ASHBY BURTON
ON TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2024, CLEMSON ATHLETICS OFFICIALLY cut the ribbon at the Brook T. Smith Applied Science Lab in the Billy and Betty Poe Indoor Football Facility. Brook T. Smith continues to be an innovator for Clemson University with continued investments in the betterment of the University and Clemson Athletics.
In 2021, Brook T. Smith gave $2.5 million to launch a firstof-its-kind entrepreneurship space at Clemson University, now known as the Brook T. Smith Launchpad. The Launchpad provides multiple support programs and resources like workspace, networking and educational opportunities, and mentoring and training.
Continuing his investment in Clemson University, Smith made his second Cornerstone commitment to Clemson Athletics. Like the video team provides data for the coaching
staff to make informed decisions on appropriate schemes and personnel, the data collected in the Brook T. Smith Applied Science Lab informs the decisions made by the strength and conditioning, sports medicine, nutrition, and behavioral health staff.
Additionally, a goal of the Brook T. Smith Applied Science Lab is to quantify the physical demand placed on studentathletes to inform the student-athlete on the benefits different recovery modalities can have on their performance. The recovery center will feature cutting-edge technology to support athlete physical and mental recovery.
Brook T. Smith graduated from Clemson University in 1989 and is married to Pamela (DuRant) Smith ('89). The Brook and Pamela have three children: Reed ('26), Mac ('22) and Grayson ('21).
CLEMSON 2024 PRO DAY RESULTS
CLEMSON FOOTBALL HOSTED A PRO DAY FOR 10 STUDENT-ATHLETES TO SHOWCASE THEIR INCREDIBLE SKILLS AND TALENT.
BY ROSS TAYLOR
**Note(s): Heights are listed in four-digit format, with the first digit representing feet, the middle digits representing inches, and the final digit representing eighths of an inch. 40-yard dash times are consensus times from NFL scouting personnel in attendance (not unofficial times aired on live broadcast). Combine statistics are included (and denoted by asterisk) for those who participated at the NFL Scouting Combine in lieu of participating in Pro Day testing.
NATIONAL SIGNING DAY IN REVIEW
NATIONAL SIGNING DAY WAS DRAMA-FREE FOR CLEMSON FOOTBALL, AS ITS ENTIRE 2024 CLASS SIGNED EARLY AND SET ITS SIGHTS ON MAKING AN EARLY IMPACT.
BY ROSS TAYLOR
RECENT CHANGES IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL LANDSCAPE HAVE ALL but rendered National Signing Day in February a mere formality.
For the most part, gone are the days of bombshell National Signing Day announcements like the one C.J. Spiller delivered on Feb. 1, 2006. The advent of the early signing period by the NCAA has meant that most signings are completed quietly in December while teams are in the midst of bowl preparation and the holidays.
But the steep decline in the drama of February National Signing Days has done nothing to stem Clemson’s excitement for its 2024 signing class, most of whom were quickly convicted that they were destined to become Tigers. The notion that a group of young men with numerous options chose to come to Clemson was not lost on Head Coach Dabo Swinney.
“The cool thing about this day is people have to choose you,” Swinney said in a December press conference announcing the class. “And that never gets old for me. It’s a blessing when a young man and his family say, ‘Hey, that’s what I want to be a part of.’”
Clemson’s entire signing class was secured in the NCAA’s early signing period in December. Fifteen of Clemson’s 22 signees in the group enrolled at Clemson in January, and a handful of that group joined the team for practices and team activities for the Gator Bowl against Kentucky.
excitement of Signing Day was heightened by Clemson’s success with its preceding class. Asked if Swinney pitches or promises playing time for freshmen on the recruiting trail, he answered resoundingly.
“I don’t promise anybody anything other than I’m going to love them, I’m going to challenge them, I’m going to hold them accountable,” Swinney said. “We’re going to give them all the resources they need to be successful. We’re going to value them and their education and make sure they understand what the priorities of our program are.”
According to data from Pro Football Focus, Clemson’s 2023 freshman class played more snaps than other freshman classes in the Power Five. Four true freshmen from that group — safety Khalil Barnes, wide receiver Tyler Brown, defensive end T.J. Parker, and defensive tackle Peter Woods — collected Freshman All-America honors from various organizations for their contributions.
“I’ve started freshmen at every position. I’ve started freshman quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends, linemen, receivers, linebackers, defensive linemen, corners, safeties,” Swinney said. “We’re going to play the guy that deserves it. And the guy that deserves it and earns it is what we see in practice… We want to win. Trust me. It doesn’t matter. We’ve had freshmen beat out veteran quarterbacks, we’ve had freshmen D-linemen beat out veteran D-linemen, we’ve had it all across the board. Ultimately that’s just the game of football. It’s competitive, but what we promise them is ‘You have an opportunity to come in and compete.’”
The
DID YOU KNOW?
· Clemson’s recruiting classes have finished in the top 15 of at least one primary recruiting service (ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports) every year since 2011. Clemson is one of only seven schools to produce a Top 15 class in each of the previous 14 recruiting cycles, a group that also includes Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame and Ohio State.
· Georgia (eight) produced the most players of any state in Clemson’s signing class for the fifth time in the last six years and the seventh time in the last nine years.
· After signing only one player from Texas from 2004-19, Clemson’s additions of CB Corian Gipson and WR Bryant Wesco Jr. have Clemson at least one signee from Texas in five consecutive classes, the Tigers’ longest streak on record.
· With five signees from Florida, Clemson has signed 26 players from Florida in the last six years. Clemson has now signed multiple players from Florida in six straight classes for the first time since the 1992-97 recruiting cycles.
· Clemson signed both DE Darien Mayo and LB CJ KubahTaylor out of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Maryland. Clemson has signed at least one pair of high school teammates in five out of its last seven classes.
· OL Watson Young signed to become the first fourthgeneration Clemson Football player on record. He is the son of multi-time All-American Kyle Young, the nephew of offensive lineman Will Young, the grandson of linebacker Ben Watson and the great grandson of Ed McLendon, who was a member of Clemson’s first bowl team in 1939.
· PK Nolan Hauser is the son of former Clemson women’s soccer player and Clemson Athletic Hall of Famer Sheri Hauser (née Beuter) and former Clemson baseball player Scott Hauser. Sheri played on Clemson’s inaugural women’s soccer team in 1994 and the U.S. National Team in 1998, and she remains the school record holder for both singleseason and career assists.
· TE Christian Bentancur became Clemson’s first signing from Illinois since 2006, becoming Clemson’s first Illinois signee in Dabo Swinney’s head coaching tenure.
2024 SIGNING CLASS
CLEMSON BASEBALL WALK-OFF
2, 2024.
Andrew Ciufo hit a walk-off solo homer with two outs in the 12th inning to lift No. 10 Clemson to a 5-4 win over No. 12 South Carolina at Segra Park on March
PHOTO BY PETE MCLEAN, CLEMSON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA
CLEMSON LACROSSE REACHES MILESTONE MOMENTS AS THEY COMPETE IN THE NEW CLEMSON LACROSSE COMPLEX FOR THE FIRST TIME.
BY MEGAN KINNER
THIS YEAR, CLEMSON BECAME THE ONLY UNIVERSITY IN THE COUNTRY
to have a stadium and facility solely dedicated to their women’s lacrosse program. The Clemson Lacrosse Stadium, lacrosse operations building, and the Athletic Recovery Center sit adjacent to Lake Hartwell.
The stunning new complex is a part of Clemson’s $37M Women’s Athletics Facility Expansion Project that features lakefront facilities for Clemson’s Lacrosse, Gymnastics, and Rowing programs. Clemson Lacrosse’s new stadium includes bleacher seating for 2,000 fans and a women's lacrosse lined artificial turf field. The 9,000-square-foot operations complex includes coaches offices, locker rooms, a player lounge, and other new amenities.
The Women’s Athletics Facility Expansion Project was first announced on January 28, 2022. About six months later, on December 7, 2022, Clemson held a formal groundbreaking ceremony to officially commence the project. The Women’s Athletics Facility Expansion Project was completed in just over a year as Clemson and IPTAY celebrated the completion of its new lakefront facilities with a ribbon cutting ceremony on January 12, 2024.
Before the new lacrosse facility was built, Clemson Lacrosse spent their first year practicing at LoConte Family Field and playing their games at Historic Riggs Field. They went 12-6 in their inaugural season, including a 9-1 run at home.
Clemson returned 17 players and added nine transfers and eight freshmen in the offseason going into their second year. The star-studded freshmen group was named the No. 4 overall class in the country by Inside Lacrosse, featuring the No. 2 overall freshman Natalie Shurtleff. Inside Lacrosse also featured freshmen Regan Byrne, Blair Byrne, and Jasmine Stanton being named in the top 50 and Kayla Macleod and Camryn Pfundstein being named to the watchlist. The transfers join Clemson from some of the top programs in the country, including Maryland, Boston College, Syracuse, UConn, Cornell, JMU, and UMBC.
For the first time, Clemson is selling tickets to attend their lacrosse games. In the preseason, fans were able to purchase season tickets and through the rest of the season, fans have the option to purchase single-game tickets. In addition, to enhance the gameday lakefront experience, Clemson made available a unique tailgating experience as an add-on to season tickets.
The Tigers officially moved into their new home on January
10, 2024, and began practicing there immediately. A month later on February 10, 2024, Clemson played their first-ever game at the state-of-the-art complex and defeated Davidson 19-10 in front of a sellout crowd of 1,246 people. Clemson’s newcomers put on a show as they made up seven of the eight goal-scorers. During this historic game, 18 out of the 19 goals were scored by players wearing the Clemson uniform for the first time. After the historic game for the lacrosse program, Head Coach Allison Kwolek commented “It was really just fantastic and really great energy. I love the fans here, the community, and I appreciate them coming out and supporting us. I’m proud of how the team came out today. Their effort was phenomenal all over the field and I love how we distributed the ball on the offensive end. It was a great way to start the season.”
The game began with an honorary draw from Sandy Campbell from the Army Corps of Engineers who played an integral role in building our new Lacrosse Complex. The first Tiger to officially record a goal in the complex was Regan Byrne, the first to officially record an assist was Emma Tilson and the first to officially record a save was Emily Lamparter. Regan Byrne, showed why she was the 13th-ranked freshman in the country by Inside Lacrosse, scoring the first goal of the game and going on to finish with a team-high six goals, while also adding two assists on the day. The six goals tied for the second-most in a single game in Clemson’s young program history. Graduate transfer Claire Bockstie claimed Clemson’s school record with nine total points, coming on four goals and five assists.
While Davidson would score first early in the first quarter, Clemson responded with 11 of the next 12 goals, taking an 11-2 lead 19 minutes into the game. The Tigers continued to set the tone for the rest of the game and would stretch the lead to 11 when Bockstie scored her fourth of the game with 9:21 minutes on the clock left to play. In the cage, Emily Lamparter totaled six saves in the 51 minutes she played.
Clemson Lacrosse outshot the Wildcats, 37-23, putting in 19 of those goal attempts. The Tigers also successfully cleared 19 of their 20 chances. Clemson Lacrosse’s firstever game at the new Clemson Lacrosse Stadium defeating Davidson 19-10 in front of a sellout crowd will be a game to remember for this year's lacrosse team and fans.
THE LAST INNING
HOW TWO LIFE-LONG GEORGIA NATIVES BUILT A LEGACY WITH CLEMSON SOFTBALL.
BY CECELIA MACCHIONE
ALMOST 100 MILES FROM CLEMSON’S CAMPUS SITS BUFORD, GEORGIA - home of two of Clemson’s sixth-year softball stars, JoJo Hyatt and Arielle Oda. The dynamic duo predates their high school days at Buford High School as their softball careers started together at the age of 12 in a recreational league. With over 200 games played, while amassing a 16548 record through the 2024 preseason and during the first five years in program history, Hyatt and Oda are destined to leave a lasting legacy on the Clemson Softball program.
Over their 10-year friendship, the bond is unlike any other. For many athletes, it is hard to replicate this type of bond with teammates they don’t meet until they reach campus as freshmen. “JoJo understands me, and I understand her on a different level than everyone else,” said Oda. The duo has been there for each other through all the ups and downs that come with an extensive playing career. “It has been pretty cool to see Arielle grow into the young woman she is now. We have been through so much together, whether it is personal or on the field, we can count on each other no matter what,” said Hyatt.
During their six years at Clemson, Hyatt and Oda have made many memories. Highlights of their time in the Orange and Regalia include playing in the program’s inaugural game, winning the ACC Regular Season Championship in 2021, advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals in back-to-back seasons, and making three NCAA Tournament appearances. “As a program that was just starting, when we won the ACC Regular Season Championship, it was so amazing,” said
Hyatt. For Oda, her favorite memory came in the program’s third season. “Our first time hosting and winning regionals was really special. Experiencing it with the girls on the field and having all the fans here, with the berm and concourse packed to the brink at McWhorter Stadium, was really special.”
When asked what they hoped their lasting legacy would be, it was the idea of, “being known by leading by example. The chemistry that is needed for a team to be successful takes a lot of work that we have invested into this program. Women need to have fun to win. Men have to win to have fun. There needs to be passion and purpose with each teammate on the field and off. Be excited for the little moments that both the team and individuals accomplish,” said Hyatt. While Oda hopes to encourage future softball players to, “do things the right way. Be a team with great chemistry and want what is best for the team. Obviously, everyone wants to play; that is what we came here to do, but only nine people can be in that lineup. If you think about what is best for this team and for the program to grow, whether that be helping your pitcher get ready, talking to your batters, or watching film… encompassing that the team comes first and not yourself leads to success where it matters.”
“Absolutely incredible” is the phrase repeated by the duo when describing every aspect of their experience in the Orange and Regalia. Building a program from the ground up is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and to amass the resume they have is even more impressive. “Seeing the team and culture grow from the ground up is not something very many people get to be a part of these days. Nobody ever expected
us to be where we are this quickly,” said Oda. This team has come a long way, “In the first year, there were only seven of us that made up ‘Team 0’, and it was hard to trust the process and know that ‘Team 1’ was right around the corner. To see not only a stadium but truly a program, built from the ground up with new players joining the Tiger Family to allow it to blossom is amazing,” said Hyatt.
While Hyatt and Oda only have the 2024 season left, they are prepared to soak in every second this season and the team has to offer. “The season goes by really fast, and the past six years for us have flown by…we’re never going to forget these memories,” stated Oda. Do not be surprised if you see these seniors lingering around the softball facilities after games or practice, as Hyatt intends to, “embrace every second from the locker room music to the training room talks, pregame bullpen warmups, bus rides, all the travel, and everything in between.”
When Head Coach John Rittman built this program, Oda, “didn’t really know where the program was headed…it has now become more realistic as time has passed over the years to set those big goals of wanting to win the World Series and the ACC Tournament. It has been incredible seeing us compete with the best teams in the country and be named alongside them when talking about elite softball programs.” Since the team’s inception, Hyatt has reaffirmed that, “to see the success has been absolutely incredible. We set the foundation with our core values and built upon those while setting that standard, which has attested to our success.”
Needless to say, JoJo Hyatt and Arielle Oda have always been All In during their Clemson Experience. Their final months as Tigers will not be taken for granted, as they are prepared to knock down the door and bring success to Clemson.
WILL TAYLOR: A TRUE TIGER TEAMMATE
THE TIGER BASEBALL STANDOUT EXCELLED IN MANY SPORTS AS A YOUTH, BUT HAS FOUND HIS TRUE CALLING ON THE DIAMOND WHILE MAKING SACRIFICES.
BY CHRIS PERRY
TO A PALMETTO STATE SPORTS FANATIC, THE LAST NAME “TAYLOR” needs no introduction.
Clemson outfielder Will Taylor grew up in Irmo, right outside of Columbia. He attended Dutch Fork High School and Ben Lippen School, as he lettered five times in baseball, five times in track & field, four times in football, and four times in wrestling. Taylor was a three-time state champion in wrestling, a member of the state title football team, and a member of the state championship track & field squad.
While these accolades may seem impressive, they come as no surprise to anyone who knows the family. Taylor’s sister, Erin, was a state champion herself, as she holds the state long-jump record. His brother, Paul, is a freshman outfielder for The Citadel. His father, Eddie, was a wrestler at The Citadel. Above all, Taylor credits his family’s interest in sports to their late grandfather, Ed, who played baseball and football at The Citadel.
“I come from a really athletic family. We get most of our athleticism from our grandfather. I have two older sisters who are really competitive and a younger brother who is 17 months younger than I am. My brother and I grew up the same size, same height, and same weight.”
While Taylor committed to Clemson for baseball following his sophomore year at Ben Lippen School, he was always set on playing two sports in college. Even after his baseball
commitment, Taylor continued to excel in football, and through attending Clemson Football camps, he was able to catch the eye of Head Coach Dabo Swinney, who offered him a scholarship on the Tiger football team.
“I’ve always had a dream to play two sports, so I wrote it down on my goals list. My family and I have a goals list every year that we put on the kitchen door. Looking at that every day inspired and motivated me. I called up Coach (Monte) Lee and Coach Swinney and was asking if it was possible to do both, and they were very encouraging and supportive.”
Many spectators began to believe Taylor’s plans of enrolling at Clemson might shift when he was projected as one of the top MLB draft prospects heading into his senior season at Dutch Fork High School. Taylor was eventually drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 19th round of the 2021 MLB draft, although he had the opportunity to be drafted in the first round if he so desired. However, Taylor remained firm on attending Clemson and earning his degree.
“For me, it wasn’t about the money. I believed there was no better opportunity than here at Clemson to play two sports, grow up in my faith, grow up as a man and also get my degree at such a prestigious university. As soon as the draft was over, I never looked back. I’ve had so many great memories and opportunities here that I could have never paid for.”
Upon a highly anticipated arrival onto the college football scene in the fall of 2021, Taylor was struck with adversity
when he tore his ACL in an early-season game. This was the first time Taylor dealt with an injury this severe, and he credited his resilience to the work ethic that he instilled in himself from a young age.
“It was the first time I had to overcome something in my life. It was the first time I had to dig deep as a person and as an athlete, so it challenged me in all areas of my life, on the field and off the field, physically and mentally. It was finding the good in everything that happens and finding the good in all the bad that happens.”
Taylor’s resilience and perseverance through injury eventually paid off following a historic sophomore campaign, when he became the first college athlete since 1989 to be an ACC champion as a member of both a football and baseball team. Taylor led the Tiger baseball team to becoming not only the ACC champion, but a regional host of the NCAA Tournament. He was awarded with the team’s Most Improved Award for his efforts.
“It goes to show that there’s a lot of great coaches and a lot of great players here who I’m surrounded by. I’m just a small part of both teams. It’s fun because winning is fun. That’s what we do a lot of here at Clemson, and that’s why we play to win for this University and these fans.”
Following the 2023 baseball season, Taylor decided he would focus all his attention on baseball for the remainder of
Clemson and his athletic career. While an important decision, it was one that Taylor believed he had to make. It also allowed him to go through a fall baseball season for the first time in his life.
“It was a very tough decision. I knew I would have to make a decision at some point in my life but just didn’t know when. When you have to make a decision, you always have to sacrifice something in order to gain something, so I knew I'd have to sacrifice the opportunity with Coach Swinney and the football team.
Sacrifice is an apt description in another way because Taylor offered to become a walk-on with the baseball team and receive no scholarship money in 2024.
As a member of the football team, Taylor was on a full scholarship. With the limitation of only 11.7 scholarships allotted for baseball programs, Taylor and his family did not insist on receiving part of that amount, which allowed his teammates to maintain their scholarship levels.
“I was excited to be a part of Team 127 full-time. I’m really trying to contribute as much as possible to this team and this University to help us get to where we want to be in the end.”
While it might not be clear where Will Taylor will land next in his athletic career, there is no doubt he and his family have left a lasting impact on the Clemson Baseball program.
PROGRESSING FORWARD
BY MEGAN KINNER
FOUNDED IN 1998, THE CLEMSON ROWING TEAM IS CELEBRATING ITS 26th season during the 2023-2024 academic year. Head Coach Stephen Frazier Wong returns for his ninth season with the Tigers. Joining Head Coach Stephen Frazier Wong is Associate Head Coach Ted Nagorsen, Assistant Coach Mandy Merritt, and Graduate Assistant Coach Ciera Devenuto-Wyeth. Also joining the coaching squad this season is recently hired Assistant Coach Amy Hildebrandt. Hildebrandt joins Clemson from Seattle Pacific University where she served as the Assistant Coach for six years.
Clemson Rowing is led by veteran captains Caroline Emerson and Kristen Dutkin. Emerson, a graduate rower from Moore, S.C., entered the 2024 spring season on the ACC Preseason Watch List. Meanwhile, Dutkin is a junior coxswain from Niles, Ill. who has served a crucial role in the Tiger's success over the past two years. Emerson and Dutkin are joined by Julia Walsh, Amelia Anglin, and Abby Dutton to make up the 2023-2024 Leadership Council. Coxswain Julia Walsh is a proven leader on and off the water as she also serves as the two-time President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
The Tigers wrapped up their 2023 spring season in Raleigh, N.C., at the ACC Championship where they finished sixth with 41 points. In the offseason, 10 student-athletes were named CRCA Scholar-Athletes: Izzy Velasquez, Caroline Emerson, Karli Robinson, Rachel Twitty, Amelia Anglin, Christina Minyo, Emery Sampson, Lori Belanger, Julia Walsh and Claudia Scherbin. 24 Tigers were also named to the ACC AllAcademic Team, setting a program record and breaking the previous record of 11. Clemson’s Rowing team set another program record in the Fall of 2023 as they recorded a 3.47 GPA. The rowing program has recorded above a 3.0 GPA in 27 straight semesters and recorded its 50th 3.0 GPA or better in 51 total semesters since joining in the fall of 1998.
This past fall, Clemson raced in the Head of the Oklahoma and the Secret City Head Race. At the Head of the Oklahoma, Clemson’s Varsity Eights took home first place. Meanwhile,
the Novice 8+ defeated all four Tennessee boats to win first place at the Secret City Head Race.
This spring, Clemson Rowing gets to enjoy its newly renovated boathouse with a state-of-the-art athletic training room. Clemson Rowing also utilizes the Athletic Recovery Center adjacent to the boathouse. The new training room is state-of-the-art and solely for use by the Clemson Rowing team in their boathouse. The newly built 10,000-square-foot Athletic Recovery Center sits next to the rowing facilities and features a designed space for sports science, nutrition, and sports medicine.
The 2024 spring roster is made up of 66 total studentathletes, comprising nine coxswain and 57 rowers. The sophomore class is the largest and is comprised of 19 student-athletes. To follow are 18 freshmen, 16 seniors, and two graduate students. In addition, the team has four international students, hailing from Australia and South Africa.
Clemson opened its spring season with two home scrimmages on Lake Hartwell, starting with an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, March 2, and then a scrimmage against Boston College on Saturday, March 9. The Tigers then traveled to Oak Ridge, Tenn. to compete in the Cardinal Invite on March 16 and 17. Clemson Rowing will race in the Big Ten Invite on April 19 & 20 in Sarasota, Fla. Clemson is once again set to finish its regular season at the Lake Wheeler Invite in Raleigh, N.C. on April 26 & 27. The Tigers will return to Raleigh, N.C. for the ACC Championship races on May 17 & 18.
Relying on the coaching staff and team captains, Clemson Rowing is excited to take on this year's competitions. They look forward to another chance at the NCAA Rowing Championships later this spring. After missing a bid to the NCAA Rowing Championship last year, Clemson hopes to earn a spot in Bethel, Ohio to compete in this year’s championship that will take place May 31 through June 2.
INSIDE THE 2024 INDOOR SEASON
THIS SEASON’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CAMPAIGN PROVED TO be quite a success for the Clemson Tigers as the team recorded a large number of top-ten marks, broke three school records, brought home 18 ACC medals, and had 10 Tigers qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Between the talented returners and a few all-star transfers, the Tigers and Track and Field Director Mark Elliot created a recipe that was built toward success. On the men’s side, Clemson was coming off a 2023 ACC Outdoor Championship title so the team had their eyes on the prize going into the indoor season.
During the regular season, Clemson hosted four total meets as both the men and women put in the work to place themselves at the national level. Throughout the campaign, 20 Tigers added or moved up their places on Clemson's topten list as they continued to improve after every meet.
While athletes inked their names on the all-time list, three athletes were able to place their name at the very top as they broke and set new school records in three different events in the indoor campaign.
Opening up the season with the Clemson Opener, freshman Blaik Slavinski made his mark in his Tiger debut as he set the school record in the men’s 1000 meter. Running a 2:20.52, Slavinski broke the previous record which was held by John Lewis (2:21.96) who set the time in 2018.
At the Clemson Invitational, senior Tarees Rhoden set the new school record in the men’s 600 meters as he crossed the line with a time of 1:16.10. Rhoden broke the previous record of 1:18.18 which was set by Aman Thorton in the 2021 season. Breaking the third and final school record of the season was senior Daniel Cope as he set the new top mark in the men’s weight throw. Cope threw 22.75 meters to place himself at No. 1 on Clemson’s all-time list.
As they wrapped up the regular season, the Tigers shifted their focus on the ACC Indoor Championships as they looked to secure top finishes and improve their times and marks to qualify for the NCAA Indoor National Championship.
At the ACC Championships, the Tigers were nothing less than impressive as they secured 18 total medals with 15 athletes placing within the top three in 16 different events. Senior Cameron Rose shined on the men’s side as he earned gold medals in both the 60-meter dash and the 200-meter dash, becoming the fourth Tiger in program history to win both events at the indoor championships.
On the women’s side, Oneka Wilson was crowned the ACC champion in the 60-meter hurdles for the second consecutive season as she took first place and the gold medal in that event for Clemson. Earning another gold medal for Clemson was sophomore Shantae Foreman as her mark of 13.68 meters in the women’s triple jump helped her secure the top place on the podium and be named the ACC Champion.
Capturing the final gold medal for Clemson was Rhoden as he became a three-time champion in the men’s 800-meter after being the first to cross the finish line for the third consecutive season.
With impressive performances in a variety of events, the Clemson women earned a second-place overall finish at the ACC Championships with a total of 80.5 points. This marked the women’s highest indoor finish since 2017. The men earned a fourth-place overall finish with 81 points.
Following their performances both in-season and during the conference championships, ten Tigers were tabbed national qualifiers and were allowed to represent Clemson on the biggest stage. For the second consecutive season, both Rhoden (800m) and senior Marie Forbes (weight throw) placed within the top eight in their events to be named First Team All-Americans. The other eight Tigers were named Second Team All-Americans and finished out the indoor season on a high note.
With the indoor portion of the season complete, the Tigers are ready to take on the outdoor season and showcase their talents on a national level. Clemson is set to compete in six meets throughout the outdoor regular season as they will look to record top marks and bring home another ACC Outdoor title for the men and secure an outdoor title for the women.
IN THE BLOODLINE: MAX DAMM
SENIOR MAX DAMM TALKS THROUGH HIS TENNIS-INFLUENCED CHILDHOOD AND DISCUSSES THE BATTLE OF COMING BACK FROM INJURY AND “LEARNING HOW TO PLAY TENNIS AGAIN”.
BY AUTUMN FROITLAND
SINCE THE AGE OF THREE, MAX DAMM HAS HAD HIS MIND SET ON tennis. Between growing up with guidance from his father Martin, a professional tennis player, and playing the game with his younger brother, the sport has been etched into his story since the start. After battling through injury and being introduced to a whole new coaching staff and team, he is ready to continue that story but this time, while wearing the Tiger Paw.
Born and raised in the Czech Republic, Damm’s father Martin decided to move to the United States at the age of 20 to help advance his career and improve his overall game. With an impressive career, Martin Damm was ranked as high as No. 5 in the world in doubles as he and his doubles partner, Leander Paes won the U.S. Open in 2006.
With his father’s legacy on his shoulders, Damm felt the pressure at a young age that he had to create a career similar to his dad’s. As he has grown up and developed his game, he and his father have been able to enhance their relationship and talk about tennis without all the pressure.
“With our relationship now, we leave tennis out of it for the most part,” Damm said. “We talk about how the matches went but he doesn’t coach me or anything like that. I don’t have aspirations of going pro, I just wanted to play in college so now we are able to talk about tennis but without the pressure of feeling like you need to succeed.”
As the sport of tennis was an influential part of Damm’s life, it also impacted his younger brother Martin Jr. as he is currently playing professional tennis at the age of 20. At his young age, Martin Jr. has been ranked as high as No. 222 in the world in singles as he continues his career with the support of Damm. Growing up, the two would always compete with one another and while it was fun, it was never not competitive.
“We used to play all the same tournaments because we are only a year and a bit apart so sometimes we would end up playing each other in the finals and our parents had to stop us from fighting,” Damm said. “It was always super competitive and fun, it wasn’t ever too serious. We always had to ride back home together at the end of the tournament too so we couldn’t fight too much.”
Playing his first few seasons at Florida Gulf Coast University, Damm had found success on the court and was ready to bring his game to another level. In March of 2023, Damm had officially committed to Clemson and was ready to join the Tigers in the upcoming fall, until he was presented with a new challenge of “learning how to play tennis again”.
“My senior year at FGCU, I tore my ACL during one of our matches,” Damm said. “It was brutal. I actually didn’t know I tore it, I kept playing for a few more points. It was tough, I didn’t know if Clemson would still want me. It was a really tough situation and the rehab was such a grind; learning how to walk again, how to run again. Even coming here, the whole fall I wasn’t practicing I was just rehabbing. Not being able to travel with the guys and having to stay here and do physical therapy was super tough.
With his body back to full strength, Damm has made his impact known this season for Clemson. In doubles, Damm has won eight matches this season with his partner Wissam Abderrahman. With his father's undeniable success in doubles and his younger brother's growing success, one could argue that Damm’s ability to be victorious while playing doubles is ingrained in his DNA.
“I feel like doubles makes you think a little bit more, it’s less space and you have to be a little more creative. It’s just always been something that I have had a knack for because I serve pretty well, I volley pretty well,” Damm said. “I love doubles, I think it really makes me think and I think that is my best asset of being a smart player on the court.”
Through the guidance of his father and the support of his brother, Damm has found his space in collegiate tennis. The journey hasn’t always been easy but the lessons learned and the strength he has gained has allowed Damm to improve his game and create lifelong memories alongside his teammates. Damm has brought his knowledge and experience to Clemson and with it, has and will continue to impact the tennis program while wearing the Tiger uniform.
“My legacy is, I was the first person in my family to go to college in the states which was big for my family,” Damm said. “With tennis, I think I just have it in my genes. I just have a really good understanding of the game, which comes partially from my dad, and which gives me a different advantage."
THROUGH THE TENNIS RANKS
ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH ASHLEIGH ANTAL’S JOURNEY AND IMPACT ON WOMEN'S TENNIS.
BY CARSON RILEY
IN COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS, FEW INDIVIDUALS HAVE A PERSPECTIVE like Ashleigh Antal, the Associate Head Coach of Clemson Women's Tennis. With a background that intertwines her experiences as a former student-athlete, a head coach, and now an Associate Head Coach at Clemson University, Antal brings a unique lens as Clemson is set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of women's sports - and the 50th season of women’s tennis - during the 2024-25 athletic year.
Antal's journey illustrates the evolution and progress witnessed in women's athletics over the decades. As a former student-athlete herself, she navigated the competitive landscape of collegiate tennis, honing her skills and carving out her identity within the sport at Vanderbilt University.
For four seasons, Antal played a pivotal role in the Commodores' first national championship in 2015 and the 2015 SEC title. She was an ITA-All-American in 2015 and served as the team captain from 2013-15. Antal was a fouryear starter and a two-year captain, achieving a career-high ranking of No. 9 in doubles and No. 101 in singles. She reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA doubles tournament and was named an NCAA Doubles All-American her senior season.
Antal finished with 204 total singles and doubles wins, including 19 nationally-ranked wins. She won at least 20
singles and doubles contests every season, including a careerhigh 35 doubles and 28 singles wins her senior year. Her milestone 100th career singles win was key, as she posted the first Commodores point in their 4-2 win over UCLA in the national championship match.
Following her notable playing career, Antal began coaching women's tennis at California State University Long Beach from 2018-20, where her team won the 2019 Big West title.
In November 2020, she took over as Appalachian State's head women's tennis coach. She led the team to its first NIT selection, marking the first time the program has played postseason.
In June 2023, she joined an all-new women’s tennis staff at Clemson as the Associate Head Coach under Head Coach Boomer Saia.
Transitioning from player to coach, Antal's passion for tennis and commitment to empowering female athletes found a new outlet. Now, as an integral part of Clemson's coaching staff, she stands at the forefront of shaping the next generation of tennis athletes.
With the upcoming milestone of 50 years of women's sports at Clemson, Antal reflects on the changes she's witnessed in the game of tennis and the broader landscape of women's collegiate athletics. She shares her insights on the evolution of the sport and the ongoing journey towards gender equality in athletics.
"The game has changed as well as the landscape of women's college athletics as a whole," Antal remarks. "It's exciting to see more top junior players elect to go the college route as opposed to heading straight to the pro tour now, which makes college tennis an even better product."
Antal acknowledges the transformative influence of trailblazers like Serena and Venus Williams in reshaping the narrative around female athletes. "Venus and Serena have not just been pivotal in bringing tennis to the forefront of American sports but also in increasing the popularity of all women's sports as a whole," she explains. “Their impact extends beyond the court, advocating for equal pay and challenging societal perceptions of women in sports.”
As a coach, Antal leverages her experiences to foster strong relationships with her athletes, understanding the challenges and triumphs they encounter. "Being in a position of leadership has really helped me connect with my athletes on another level," she shares. "I get to be their voice and advocate for them in spaces that have the potential to create real change."
When reflecting on Clemson's role in supporting women's sports, Antal highlights the institution's unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation. "Clemson is unlike any other institution that I have been a part of," she emphasizes. "The funding, facilities, and resources for women's sports are incredible."
POWER Women's Leadership Academy is an excellent example of how Clemson brings women's sports to the forefront of collegiate athletics. This one-of-a-kind program is helping student-athletes in a year-long curriculum develop their identity, professional presence, and self-leadership and foster a community. Two women's tennis players, Daniella Medvedeva (2021-24) and Makayla Mills (2020-22), were a part of the inaugural cohort.
Despite the progress made in recent years, Antal believes there is still room to enhance women's acceptance, appreciation, and support in sports. "We have made so much progress over the last ten years since I was a student-athlete, but there is still room to grow in getting our product in front of fans," she observes.
As Clemson prepares to commemorate 50 years of women's sports, Antal's journey stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of female athletes. Through her leadership and advocacy, she continues to inspire the next generation to strive for greatness both on and off the court.
In the upcoming celebration of this milestone, Clemson honors its past and reaffirms its commitment to championing the legacy of women's sports for generations to come. With individuals like Ashleigh Antal leading the way, the future of women's athletics at Clemson shines bright with promise and possibility.
DESTINED FOR CLEMSON
STEPHANIE ELLISON-JOHNSON’S JOURNEY HAS LED HER BACK TO HER ORIGINAL HOME WHERE SHE HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL MEMBER OF CLEMSON ATHLETICS FOR 20 YEARS AND COUNTING.
BY JONATHAN FRANCHI
HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR AN ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP OFFER BY Clemson, Stephanie Ellison-Johnson may not be in her current position at Clemson University. When deciding on college, the Pendleton, S.C. native had expressed a desire to move away from the area and go somewhere different even though she grew up as a Clemson fan. Two degrees and 20-plus years of work in the Clemson Athletic Department later, it is safe to say that Ellison-Johnson was destined for Clemson.
After deciding to attend Clemson, Ellison-Johnson fell in love with the school and became involved with the football program. She finished her undergraduate degree while working in the recruiting department and ended up applying for a graduate assistant position in the compliance office based on some recommendations of others. She spent two years at Clemson in this graduate assistant position while finishing her master’s degree. Ellison-Johnson then accepted a job as the Director of Compliance at George Mason University and spent two years in that role. However, landing such a high-level position in athletics was not always a top priority for Ellison-Johnson. Having grown up playing sports and getting involved in recruiting with football, EllisonJohnson was unsure which area within athletics to pursue.
“I kind of fell into athletics, and then even once I was in it, I was not really sure of what I wanted to do in athletics. So obviously, getting the opportunity to work in compliance, I tell people naturally, ‘I've always been a rule follower,’ so it kind of became a good fit for me. So that's kind of how it happened, and I'm still here.”
After spending two and a half years at George Mason, Ellison-Johnson wanted the opportunity to work in a conference office rather than a campus life setting. She settled in as the Special Assistant to the Commissioner and Director of Legislative Services for the Southern Conference and loved her time there but noticed there was an element that was not the same. When presented with an opportunity to return to Clemson, Ellison-Johnson was excited to be back in such a great atmosphere.
“What brought me back to Clemson is I realized I needed a team to cheer for and just the campus environment. I missed that. As a student worker here at Clemson, I was very spoiled in terms of just the environment, the real community, and the people generally like each other. Then to leave, and to see that that is missing and how much that really makes your work environment.”
Having been at Clemson for 20 years, Ellison-Johnson has been in several roles including the Director of Compliance services from 2006-17, and is in her fifth
year as the Executive Senior Associate AD for Sport Administration and the Senior Woman Administrator. In her current positions, Ellison-Johnson has four essential responsibilities to help the betterment of Clemson Athletics. For sport administration, she currently oversees women’s basketball, gymnastics, lacrosse, and rowing. As the Senior Woman Administrator, Ellison-Johnson works with all the athletic programs to ensure that there is compliance with Title IX legislation and gender equity. In this position, Ellison-Johnson also works with ACC Governance to oversee the Olympic sports along with other schools’ senior woman administrators. Lastly, she has recently taken on the role of supervising Clemson’s student-athlete development area.
A big part of her job is her role as the Senior Woman Administrator. Ellison-Johnson has played a huge role in the development of Clemson’s newest sports of lacrosse, softball, and gymnastics. All three of these sports have seen immediate national success and have become big hits in the Clemson community. Clemson has shown great dedication to advancing women’s sports, and it has been a great process to observe from Ellison-Johnson’s perspective.
“Just to kind of see where we started with those and even going through the process of like, ‘Hey, what are the sports we're going to add?’ Then you add the programs and start talking about facilities, building those, and design meetings and all of those things. Then we do the groundbreaking, and then you walk into a brand new
facility. And then to see the success that they've had in a very short period of time, it makes you feel really good. It's been a lot of fun.”
When asked about the favorite part of her positions, Ellison-Johnson cited the bonds built between all of the people she has come across while working in the Clemson Athletic Department.
“You get an opportunity to come in contact with people that you may have never crossed paths with. People generally become part of your family, and they're your friends. Just bringing different people together under one roof with one mission, one goal.”
In addition to the tight bonds that Ellison-Johnson has created with others she has worked alongside, she has also loved to see the journey and growth that studentathletes have taken from starting as prospective students to then living out their college dreams playing their sport, and then ultimately returning to Clemson as matured individuals with families after they have graduated.
It is no secret that the Clemson campus atmosphere and community is second to none. It can turn even those who are initially skeptical into lifelong Tigers. Stephanie Ellison-Johnson experienced that firsthand as a student which has resulted in her working for Clemson Athletics since 2003. With 20-plus years under her belt with Clemson, Ellison-Johnson has made a strong, positive impact on all of Clemson’s sports teams and looks to continue her efforts for years to come.
DRÉ MOXIE
A NATURAL LEADER, IPTAY STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER DRÉ MOXIE IS ELECTED CLEMSON UNIVERSITY STUDENT BODY VICE PRESIDENT.
BY ASHBY BURTON
DRÉ MOXIE IS A JUNIOR PARKS, RECREATION, AND TOURISM
Management major from Atlanta, Georgia, concluding his second year as a member of the IPTAY Student Advisory Board (ISAB). In March, Dré was elected by Clemson students as the Clemson University Student Body Vice President.
Dré becomes the second ISAB member in three years to win a student body-elected role, joining now ISAB graduate student Malik Balogan, who served a year as the Clemson University Student Body President. ISAB continues to recruit and retain 25 of Clemson’s best students, and Dré is another example of why ISAB students are among Clemson’s finest.
“Dré is easily the most positive and fun-loving person I have ever been around,” said Ashby Burton, one of ISAB’s staff advisors. “He truly lights up every room he enters and is a natural leader. It’s no surprise to me that his peers elected him to serve Clemson University. I’m excited to see him excel
in this role, and I can’t wait to work with him during his senior year on ISAB.”
ISAB meets every Wednesday at 7:30 PM at the McCarter Family IPTAY Center. At these meetings, the Board hears from various coaches and speakers and engages in discussions about how IPTAY and Clemson Athletics can best serve the student body. “Dré always brings a positive outlook and great ideas to the board room,” said Kelly Geiger, ISAB Staff Advisor. “There’s a lot that goes into serving on ISAB and certainly a lot of time that has to be committed to being Student Body Vice President. I do not doubt that Dré will excel at both. When Malik (Balogan) served as Student Body President, he did a phenomenal job balancing his commitments – especially his commitment to ISAB. I know Dré will do the same, and I look forward to supporting him over the next year.”
To learn more about Dré Moxie and his vision as Student Body Vice President, read the Q&A with Dré:
WHAT IS YOUR CLEMSON BACKGROUND, AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO COME TO CLEMSON?
DM: I had no family or friends come to Clemson growing up. During the pandemic, I did an unofficial tour where my family and I walked around the campus. Clemson was the only school where people, on their own accord, came up to my family to make sure we were okay and cared for. After feeling the family environment and seeing the beauty of athletics here, I knew it was the place for me.
WHAT MAKES CLEMSON SPECIAL TO YOU?
DM: Clemson is special to me because of the people. There truly is no other place like it, and I can’t imagine myself anywhere else in the world.
WHAT WOULD YOU WANT SOMEONE TO KNOW ABOUT DRE MOXIE THE PERSON?
DM: I want people to know that I’m a guy who cares for and enjoys being around people. I love learning and experiencing new things. I enjoy playing soccer, watching movies, reading, and traveling in new environments. Please say what’s up if you see me; I’d love to talk!
WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE A MEMBER OF THE IPTAY STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD?
DM: I wanted to join ISAB because I wanted to get more involved in the Clemson community. I saw how ISAB passionately serves the Clemson community and athletes, and I wanted to pour my time and effort into a board of like-minded servant leaders.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE ISAB MOMENT SO FAR?
DM: My favorite ISAB moment has to be after our Collegiate Club Classic (basketball event for IPTAY Collegiate Club members) this year. It was a great event, and it was even better when we watched our men’s basketball team win at UNC on the video board. After the game, we had a great moment storming the Littlejohn floor as Pursuit of Happiness played on the sound system. It was a great bonding experience that reminded all of us of the beauty of being part of such an amazing group.
AS A MEMBER OF ISAB, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE CALIBER OF STUDENT LEADERS WHO SERVE ISAB EACH YEAR?
DM: ISAB undoubtedly has some of the highest caliber leaders on campus. ISAB has CREATIVE leaders who push the boundaries of what it means to provide opportunities for students and athletes alike.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO RUN FOR STUDENT BODY VICE PRESIDENT?
DM: My desire to run for study body vice president stemmed from the love for Clemson I gained after I joined ISAB and the insatiable need to serve this campus. Being vice president allows me to culminate all of the lessons I’ve learned from my various involvements and use these teachings to help make Clemson the best place it can be. After meeting Kellan (my running mate and student body president), who had a like-minded vision for Clemson, I knew this opportunity was perfect for me.
WHAT LEGACY DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE AT CLEMSON THROUGH BEING STUDENT BODY VICE PRESIDENT AND A MEMBER OF ISAB?
DM: I want my legacy to be that I built a “village” that thrives even after I’m gone. One of the best things about Clemson is its family atmosphere. I want to combine that with involvement to help all the people of Clemson feel more connected. From faculty and staff to students to athletes, I want all people who step foot on this campus to know that they’re not alone and that there are endless opportunities for them here. My dream is that we come together and grow together.
IPTAY LEGACY: CATHY HILL'S STORY
SUSTAINING STUDENT-ATHLETE SUPPORT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
BY ASHBY BURTON
PLANNED GIFTS ARE A MEANS OF ENSURING THE PRIORITIES OF IPTAY continue for the foreseeable future and beyond. These visionary gifts strengthen the opportunities available to generations of student-athletes through bequests, life insurance, charitable gift annuities, charitable lead trusts, and a number of other instruments that continue long into the future.
Our reimagined Planned Giving program, IPTAY Legacy, includes an emphasis on support toward the IPTAY Athletic Endowment. The IPTAY Athletic Endowment provides a constant source of financial support through continued investments and earnings. With an ambitious goal to build our endowment to $100 million by IPTAY's 100th anniversary in 2034, we are counting on the generosity of the Clemson faithful to help us continue building upon the success of our 21-sport program and ensuring a bright future.
As IPTAY Legacy continues to become an integral part of IPTAY’s future success, there are many stories that showcase the legacy that can be left at Clemson. Cathy Hill, a 1976 graduate of Clemson, is committed to leaving her legacy on the Clemson Tigers for years to come. Her story, the why, and the legacy she hopes to leave at Clemson will be a key reason for the future success of women’s athletics at Clemson.
WHAT IS YOUR CLEMSON BACKGROUND?
CH: My father was hired to be an assistant basketball coach at Clemson, and that’s where our family’s association with Clemson began. I attended Clemson University from 1972-1976 and then began working for the Department of Social Services in Aiken, S.C. My family and I lost touch with Clemson for a short period. The 1981 football National Championship is what got us involved again. There was another caseworker who was a Clemson graduate there with me in Aiken. We traveled together to Miami to watch the Tigers beat Nebraska for the National Championship. My Clemson involvement continued to grow after this, really taking off in 1984.
I moved to Greensboro, N.C., to take a job with Aetna, and our family decided to extend our involvement with football, baseball, and basketball season tickets. Aetna participated in matching grants, which was a big reason for starting membership with IPTAY. My dad and I started a Life Membership in 1991 when those first began, and I was the beneficiary. I met my husband, Glenn, in Greensboro in 1994, and he became involved with Clemson Athletics along with us.
In recent years, we have added to our football, baseball, and basketball season tickets with softball and, most recently, gymnastics. We have bought tickets as a family, including my siblings and their families. Over the years, Clemson (specifically Clemson Athletics) has become our family's easy and central meeting spot.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE CLEMSON ATHLETIC MEMORIES?
CH: It all stems back to the 1981 football National Championship that re-involved us with Clemson. Some of our favorite memories now include the recent travels with groups to College Football Playoff National Championship games, away game football travel, encouraging friends and family to return for Homecoming, and other events surrounding football games. Another key memory is attending the ACC Men’s Basketball tournament with my mom, dad, and siblings. While I was living in Greensboro, my parents relocated to nearby Burlington, N.C. The ACC Tournament was always in Greensboro, and we made a tradition of attending those games together. We have recently enjoyed the rise of women’s athletics at Clemson. We’ve enjoyed becoming involved with Clemson Softball and Clemson Gymnastics and seeing the growth around women’s athletics at Clemson.
YOUR GIFT IS DESIGNATED TO BENEFIT THE FUTURE OF WOMEN’S ATHLETICS AT CLEMSON. WHAT LED YOU TO THAT CHOICE?
CH: I grew up around sports. I played tennis, basketball, volleyball, and swam competitively from age five into high school. I’ve enjoyed watching
women’s sports grow in recent years at Clemson and nationally. It’s been fun to watch women get the attention that men’s sports have gotten for many years. I want to see women, especially Clemson student-athletes, have the same opportunities as men: opportunities within their education at Clemson University, the option to continue playing their sport professionally, have a career in sports, and the same support in the stands. My hope is that this designation will help propel women forward in these areas.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE CONSIDERING PLANNED GIFTS THROUGH IPTAY LEGACY?
CH: My biggest advice is that any amount can make a considerable impact. It’s certainly a big decision to consider what level of support is possible. You can always start with a small commitment and consider options for increasing down the road. For my husband and I, it was an easy decision. Clemson has meant so much to my family for so long. We have fond memories of Clemson and Clemson Athletics, and Clemson is such a special place. We wanted to give back, and we decided anything that could be given was a benefit for the student-athletes it would ultimately impact.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR LEGACY WILL BE WITH
THIS GIFT?
CH: I hope that the female studentathletes who benefit from this gift will enjoy their Clemson experience the way that I have enjoyed mine. The opportunity to participate in athletics while obtaining a degree from Clemson University is so special. I hope that it will help provide opportunities to help prepare them for their careers beyond Clemson, whether that be setting them up to play professionally in their sport or for their future careers outside of sports. As women’s athletics continues to grow, I hope that this gift helps Clemson remain a leader in the industry in what it provides for women’s athletics. If anyone is considering their options, I hope you find your passion within Clemson Athletics and find the best place to leave your IPTAY Legacy.
To learn more about how you can leave your legacy, scan the QR code below.
IPTAY COLLEGIATE CLUB CLASSIC
ISAB HOSTS SECOND COLLEGIATE CLUB CLASSIC IN LITTLEJOHN COLISEUM.
BY ASHBY BURTON
ON FEBRUARY 6, 2024, THE IPTAY STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD (ISAB) hosted another successful event for the IPTAY Collegiate Club. Each year, ISAB explores innovative ways to offer unique benefits for IPTAY Collegiate Club members. Collegiate Club strives to provide an inside look into IPTAY membership while students are enrolled at Clemson. Benefits associated with membership include ticket priority, access to the IPTAY Discount Program, first accrual of IPTAY Priority Points, and invitations to events like the Collegiate Club Classic.
In 2023, ISAB hosted the inaugural Collegiate Club Classic, a basketball skills challenge hosted on the floor of Littlejohn Coliseum. For more than six years, ISAB has hosted the well-known Punt, Pass, and Kick Competition at the Billy and Betty Poe Indoor Football Facility. Going into 2022-23, then ISAB President Lucy Jennings saw an opportunity to add a new event to the benefits list. “I have always been a big basketball fan, have been a member of the women’s club team here at Clemson, and saw the excitement for basketball on campus,” said Jennings. “There’s always so much excitement around football and having the opportunity to go in the Poe Indoor Football Facility. I wanted to bring that same excitement to basketball and Littlejohn Coliseum.”
When Jennings ran for ISAB president for the 2022-23 academic year, the Collegiate Club Classic was at the top of her agenda. Jennings won the presidency (elected by her peers) and immediately began working on what a basketball event could be. “We came up with the idea of the Collegiate Club Classic, a model of the Skills Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend. We knew that was something that everyone could try, regardless of their basketball background.”
The event in year one was a success. Students participated, refreshments were served, prizes were awarded, and the women’s basketball game vs. Miami was played on the video board. With this success, sights were already set on the next year and how the event could grow. Lucy, who now serves
ISAB as a graduate student, saw the event’s continuation as the Board voted to make the Collegiate Club Classic an annual event.
Fast forward to 2023-24, and ISAB was eager to start planning the second annual event. Small tweaks were made, but the biggest change was capitalizing on the success of men’s basketball’s hot start to the 2023-24 season. The group opted to host the event the night that Clemson Men’s Basketball played North Carolina in Chapel Hill. It proved to be a great decision, as the crowd from the previous year grew. And, after students competed in the competition, almost all students filled the seats of the Littlejohn Coliseum Club to watch the Tigers take down the Tar Heels for just the second time in Chapel Hill.
“Not only was it fun to see how this event grew from one year to the next, but the excitement in Littlejohn from the event and the game was incredible,” said Maggie Andrews, current ISAB Secretary. “Moments like this is why I wanted to be a member of ISAB. Creating memories like this for IPTAY Collegiate Club members is so special, and this is what will make them want to return to the third annual edition of the (Collegiate Club) Classic. These experiences are so important while students are here to ensure they will want to continue their IPTAY membership after they graduate to continue having life-long memories like this.”
As the ISAB year nears its end, sights have already been set on the third annual IPTAY Collegiate Club Classic and how it will continue to grow and improve. This event, with others, can be added to the benefit of IPTAY Collegiate Club membership and the student experience with Clemson Athletics and IPTAY while at Clemson.
To follow along with the IPTAY Student Advisory Board, their projects, and how they serve the more than 8,000 student members of IPTAY, follow the IPTAY Collegiate Club on Instagram (@IPTAYCC).
YOUR MEMBERSHIP MATTERS!
$14,141.74
$4,006.60
$11,131.93
$5,029.66
$23,489.77
$27,909.09
$14,277.27 |
$13,536.38
$4,014.81 | STUDENT-ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT
$19,005.16 | TRAVEL STUDENT-ATHLETE EXPERIENCE
$136,542.41
Data based on the following projections: Average student-athlete expenses for FY24 based on 550 total student-athletes.
At every level, a gift to IPTAY aids in making a positive impact in the lives of Clemson student-athletes! The adjacent chart shows the annual average financial investment in each of our 550 student-athletes. Support of IPTAY helps Clemson Athletics compete and be successful on the national stage. Accomplishments in the classroom and athletic competition wouldn’t be possible without the loyalty of those who give generously to IPTAY.
The costs of transforming the lives of Clemson’s young men and women student-athletes continue to grow. During the latest 10-year period, the IPTAY student-athlete scholarship cost alone has risen 78% percent from $8.6M in FY14 to $15.35M in FY 24. To help meet these rising costs, we need all of those in the Clemson Family to be ALL-IN! This year, we hope you will consider increasing your donation or encourage a friend, family member, or neighbor to join the IPTAY team!
HOW ARE ANNUAL FUND CONTRIBUTIONS USED?
Scholarship funding for student-athletes has been a primary IPTAY initiative for decades. This cost also includes room and board, fees, and other expenses related to the University tuition costs. It is important to note that the IPTAY scholarship expense varies annually due to various factors, including the number of scholarships awarded, the ratio of in-state versus out-of-state students, summer school attendance, and major-specific fees.
In addition to student-athlete scholarships, annual donations to IPTAY support:
SPECIAL PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES | TIGER BAND | CHEER | MASCOTS
IPTAY Memorials
JANE TRUSSELL WEST passed away December 8, 2022. • She was an IPTAY member for 44 years.
MARY JANE ROWLEY passed away February 27, 2023. • She was an IPTAY member for 46 years.
ANNETTE WRIGHT passed away March 11, 2023. • She was an IPTAY member for 62 years.
JIMMY WHITE passed away March 24, 2023. • He was an IPTAY member for 55 years.
RICHARD TORBIK passed away May 3, 2023. • He was an IPTAY member for 45 years.
FURMAN ALEWINE passed away June 30, 2023. • He was an IPTAY member for 51 years.
BLAKE FULTON passed away August 22, 2023. • He was an IPTAY member for 21 years.
WALTER SMITH, JR. passed away September 1, 2023. • He was an IPTAY member for 54 years.
ALLISON JASINSKI passed away September 15, 2023. • She was an IPTAY member for 22 years.
GEORGE SINGLETON, JR. passed away September 27, 2023. • He was an IPTAY member for 52 years.
ALBERT TIMMERMAN, SR. passed away October 17, 2023. • He was an IPTAY member for 33 years.
JOHN B. CORNWELL, III passed away October 30, 2023. • He was and IPTAY member for 73 years.
SAMUEL PLOWDEN passed away November 5, 2023. • He was an IPTAY member for 58 years.
GILDER NEEL, JR. passed away November 12, 2023. • He was an IPTAY member for 45 years.
SARA MADDEN-MORRIS passed away November 26, 2023. • She was and IPTAY member for 48 years.
HAROLD D. KINGSMORE passed away December 5, 2023. • He was an IPTAY member for 47 years.
ALVIN BRYAN, SR. passed away December 9, 2023. • He was an IPTAY member for 56 years.
JAMES MAXWELL, JR. passed away December 14, 2023. • He was an IPTAY member for 42 years.
BRUCE KESLER passed away December 15, 2023. • He was an IPTAY member for 46 years.
HUBERT BROWN passed away December 18, 2023. • He was an IPTAY member for 38 years.
ROBERT LAKE passed away January 3, 2024. • He was an IPTAY member for 56 years.
SANDERS WATTS passed away January 9, 2024. • He was an IPTAY member for 49 years.
RUTH ABERNETHY passed away January 14, 2024. • She was an IPTAY member for 51 years.
SAMUEL GEORGE, II passed away January 17, 2024. • He was an IPTAY member for 67 years.
TONI ANDERSON passed away January 28, 2024. • She was an IPTAY member for 31 years.
JOSEPH NELSON passed away February 14, 2024. • He was an IPTAY member for 31 years.
BARBARA ANN COLEMAN passed away February 15, 2024. • She was an IPTAY member for 54 years.
DOYLE CARR passed away February 23, 2024. • He was an IPTAY member for 19 years.
THOMAS WEIR passed away February 23, 2024. • He was an IPTAY member for 76 years.
JOE BOLT, JR. passed away March 13, 2024. • He was an IPTAY member for 2 years.
Hello Tigers,
AS HEAD COACH DABO SWINNEY STATED A FEW WEEKS AGO DURING an address to the South Carolina State House lobbying for a state Name, Image, and Likeness law that would allow facilitation in South Carolina, “We believe it is vital for the state of South Carolina to lead the way and allow our institutions to fully serve our student-athletes in the NIL space by facilitating deals, providing protections against bad actors, and helping them maximize their NIL opportunities in the short window they have as student-athletes.
Though the 110 Society is a separate entity, contributing to NIL directly supports the mission that IPTAY has long led – “to provide resources to support the academic, athletic, and personal development of Clemson University studentathletes and the competitive success of Clemson Athletics.” That includes support through external NIL entities like the 110 Society, our internal NIL program, Reign, and the future landscape and rule changes. We must consider how we continue to make an impact.
Contributing to NIL directly supports the mission that IPTAY has long led – “to provide resources to support the academic, athletic, and personal development of Clemson University student-athletes and the competitive success of Clemson Athletics.” Ninety years ago, Rupert Fike and a team of visionary leaders who loved this University founded a little group and named it IPTAY. It was founded on the notion that many giving some would enable Clemson to better compete with schools with access to significantly greater resources. For those 90 years, the Clemson Family has generously and selflessly risen to the challenge and given to IPTAY to change countless lives. The mission today remains the same.
Here’s what I know - Clemson will remain Clemson, operating uniquely different from our competitors. A national leader in competition, including the success of our new programs - softball, lacrosse, and gymnastics - to football being one of only two schools in the country with nine or more wins 13 years in a row, men’s soccer winning two National Championships in three years, women’s soccer making their first-ever College Cup appearance, and our men’s basketball team making the big dance. However, Clemson is also a leader off-the-field, which is even rarer and more remarkable, as our Tiger athletes compiled a record 3.3 GPA during the fall semester and the 11th consecutive semester they achieved over a 3.0. Additionally, our student-athletes posted a 97.7 Graduation Success Rate (GSR), putting us at the very top of ALL Power 5 public institutions. A big driver of that number was our football program, currently boasting the highest graduation rate in all of college athletics (football) with a success rate of 99%, not just currently but of all time. Times are indeed changing. I see a strong parallel in business. Some companies are untethered and will shift and overcorrect to the whims of a changing economy or the slightest shift in market conditions. And other companies
will remain steadfast and true to a purpose while also being cognizant of changing dynamics outside of their control. It’s been proven repeatedly that the more successful companies over the long term are the ones that are tightly tethered and driven to support a common, internal purpose while knowing that they can only control what they can truly control. I firmly believe that the same will play out in collegiate athletics as NIL (and other factors) becomes a more prevalent part of how the game works.
Many programs in all sports have become transactional and drifted away from their purpose. But you don’t have to look any further than many of our Tigers to see that a large subset of top-tier prospects prioritize education, development, life skills and true personal growth. They know there are opportunities that can be achieved in addition to NIL opportunities. One of the more prominent examples is the “1Clem5on” endowment that KJ Henry and Will Shipley started with their NIL funds a little over a year ago while both were still active student-athletes. The endowment is structured to support our “Hear Her Roar” campaign to benefit female sports, and PAW Journey, supporting their fellow and future student-athletes. Or perhaps it’s the lesserknown examples that don’t garner any headlines.
We need you now more than ever to remain at our Clemson standard. I’d ask that you continue to show your support of Clemson University student-athletes. Please give just a little more and consider a donation to the 110 Society so that we can remain a national leader competitively, academically, and in service to society. As Coach Swinney mentioned, maximizing NIL opportunities in a short window is a key part of the student-athlete experience and allows student-athletes to pursue their passions. Student-athletes choose Clemson because it’s Clemson, which is why we are doing things the Clemson way. For more information on how you can support this critical initiative, please go to 110society.com
And most of all, Go Tigers!
The Clemson Men’s Basketball team was selected to its 14th NCAA Tournament in program history on March 17, 2024. The team celebrated while surrounded by friends, family, staff and donors.
PHOTO BY MAKENNA BIEHL
Sonya & Grant Goodman ('74) and Dee & Frank Lewis join friends Dave & Suzanne Pittard at the Buttonwood Grove Winery in the Finger Lakes District of upstate N.Y. before attending the Clemson vs. Syracuse game. Neal Sutker ('75) spending a nice evening with Lisa in Paris.
The 2023 Sigma Kappa Epsilon Alumni reunion during the Clemson Homecoming weekend. The Alumni group includes 17 former Clemson scholarship student-athletes.
Sydney, Australia in October 2023. In the background, you can see the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. Left to Right: Ben Adams ('85), daughter Katie Adams ('20) and wife Terri Adams.
Celebrating the Notre Dame victory with a pheasant hunt. Left to Right: Austin Powell ('16), Lee Powell ('88), Fred Gilmer ('86), Jim Riggs ('86), Ross Turner ('86), William Luce ('88).
Twenty years of season tickets. Four Clemson grads, two Clemson weddings, and four Tigers in training. Photo was from the Clemson win over UNC. Go Tigers!
Welcome the newest tiger! Anna Grace Thompson is the daughter of Jenks ('03) and Ashleigh ('04) Thompson and little sister to future Tigers Reagan and Ryleigh.
Miguel Valadez ('02). Seattle Space Needle in October 2023, while taking a vacation to Washington State. Stayed in Bellingham Washington while hiking in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
Jerry Pendleton at Mt. Fuji in Japan on December 1, 2023.
THE LAST WORD
IN THE EARLY 1960S ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR TELEVISION SHOWS
was the Dick Van Dyke Show, a CBS situation comedy that featured the legendary actor, who at age 98 is still with us today. One of my favorite episodes during the program’s fiveyear run was entitled, “Odd But True”.
That is an appropriate title for this month’s Last Word, which is an article about two of the most unusual athletic events in Clemson's history. Both of these events took place around this time of the year.
If you didn't already know, it might shock some of you to learn that the Tigers played football exhibition games against Duke in the spring of 1938 and 1939. Also, Clemson Baseball played a game in 1962 against Georgia where batters walked after three balls and struck out after two strikes.
This may sound made up, however I have first-person accounts.
The football exhibitions took place in March of 1938 and March of 1939. It is particularly interesting today because there has been talk about schools playing some type of exhibition game against outside competition during spring practice. Television networks would love to see this, giving them inventory in March, April, and May.
Clemson playing against Duke in 1938 and 1939, even in the spring, was a big deal because both teams were led by Hall of Fame coaches and All-America players. Jess Neely was the head coach for Clemson and Wallacer Wade at Duke. While both schools were in the Southern Conference, they did not play in 1938 or 1939.
When the two teams met in March of 1938, Duke was coming off a 9-1 season in which they shut out every opponent of the regular season. They lost in the Rose Bowl, 7-3 when Southern California scored a touchdown with under a minute left. Duke finished third in the final AP poll. Clemson was 7-1-1 in 1938 with the only loss coming to a Tennessee team that would finish second in the AP poll.
Duke won that March 1938 Spring Game 30-24 in a scoring fest for those days, as nine touchdowns were scored.
The Spring Game of March 17, 1939, was played in Durham as Duke won 26-20 in another entertaining game. That following fall season, Clemson and Duke both were ranked top 12 in the nation.
The 1939 Spring Game was a showcase for Clemson’s Banks McFadden and Duke’s George McAfee. Both players would go on to make the AP All-American team and be top four picks in the NFL draft, McAfee #2 and McFadden #4.
McAfee and McFadden had outstanding all-around games on this early spring day. McFadden threw two touchdown passes to Shad Bryant, including one of 55 yards. He had a 55-yard punt “against the wind” that set up another score and had a 30-yard run. McFaddden had an amazing performance considering he led the Clemson Basketball team to the Southern Conference Championship two weeks earlier.
BY TIM BOURRET
McAfee scored three touchdowns, including a 60-yard run, and had a punt return that set up what proved to be the winning score.
Both coaches felt this exhibition game benefited both teams and it showed the next fall. Clemson finished 9-1 in 1939 and beat Boston College in the Cotton Bowl for the school's first bowl win and first top-20 finish ranking. Duke went on to an 8-1 mark with a #8 final AP ranking. Duke’s only loss was to Pittsburgh by one point.
Fast Forward to April 3, 1962, as Clemson had another unusual athletic event. Earlier in the year the Atlantic Coast Conference approved a voluntary rule for non-conference games to speed up the pace of baseball games. The rule stated that its teams could play games where batters had just two strikes, but would walk once they reach three balls.
Clemson Head Coach Bill Wilhelm was ahead of his time in many ways and was not afraid to think outside the box. It was Wilhelm who devised the format for the ACC’s nine-team double-elimination tournament in the 1980s.
When the ACC allowed this “three ball, two strike rule” Wilhelm contacted Georgia’s Head Coach Jim Whatley and they agreed to use it for the game at Clemson on Tuesday afternoon of April 3.
Nick Lomax, who served Clemson with distinction in many leadership capacities, was Clemson’s starting left fielder that day. “I don’t exactly remember when he told us those were the rules for that game,” said Lomax. “We just took the news and prepared to play another regular season game."
“When I look back, I am not surprised Coach Wilhelm was in favor of trying this rule. He was always looking for ways to improve the game of baseball,” explained Lomax. “It certainly sped up the game.” The nine-inning game against Georgia with 22 hits only took an hour and 51 minutes to play.
Clemson won the game 6-3 and Lomax had a big impact with an eighth-inning home run that put the Tigers ahead, 4-3. Lomax doesn’t remember the count, we just know it was not a two-strike pitch.
Clemson’s Tommy Lyon was the starting pitcher for the Tigers and went the distance striking out six and no walks, although he gave up 13 hits.
I have not uncovered any other game in Clemson history where this three-ball, two-strike rule was used. The only other time I have seen one other reference to this fast-paced game was at an Independent league game that used it in 2015.
While Lomax, who was co-leader of the 1962 team in home runs with six, remembers playing in this game vividly. This game is not his top memory of the 1962 season. Lomax cherishes a different memory from that season that holds a large impact.
Lomax stated, “When we get together we talk much more about beating South Carolina, 27-17, in May of 1962.”
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