Clemson Baseball Hats Tell Tigers’ Tale

June 9, 2000

By Mark Long Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. – The Clemson Tigers, like every other team in the nation, had high expectations for this season. Unlike anyone else, though, the Tigers put their postseason hopes in writing.

Clemson emblazoned the words “Omaha” on the back of its hats. The home of the College World Series is printed inside one of the school’s logos, a tiger’s paw print.

In recent years, coach Jack Leggett has created a slogan and put it on the back of the hats. One season, it was “Team.”

This year, taking a page from the 1996 team that also advanced to the CWS, Leggett went back to “Omaha.” And so did Clemson.

“I waited four years to get here, and it’s everything I expected,” said RHP Ryan Mottl, who earned the victory in Clemson’s 10-6 win over San Jose State in Friday’s opening game of the CWS.

The Tigers have won six consecutive postseason games.