Clemson vs. Texas A&M Coin Toss from Baghdad

Sept. 2, 2005

The coin toss for the Clemson vs. Texas A&M game on Saturday will be performed live from Baghdad. The coin toss is expected just after 8:00 PM eastern time, which will be just after 4:00 AM on September 4 in Baghdad.

This is believed to be the first time a live coin toss from Iraq has taken place for a college football game. United States military personal who are supporters of either Clemson or Texas A&M will be in attendance for the coin toss, which will be shown on ABC and in the stadium over Clemson’s new video board.

The live coin toss from Baghdad has been coordinated by Captain Bill Parker, a former Clemson professor of Military Science, who is now stationed in Iraq.

The event is all part of Military Appreciation Day, which will be celebrated at Saturday night’s game. Each year Clemson honors its military heritage at a football game. Clemson University was a military school until 1955. Texas A&M and Clemson ranked one-two nationally in alumni who served as officers in the United States Army in World War II.

• The person doing the coin toss is Clemson graduate LT Jimmy Sanders, Class of 2003.
• The coin –  (HEADS) One side says Multi-National Force-Iraq and has the outline of Iraq in the background with two crossed sabers and a winged horse with a mans head.
• The other side (TAILS) – says Multi-National Corps-Iraq with red around the edges with a lion with a large arrow behind it.

Those in attendance will be: COL Ronald Dykstra      A & M Brett Burroughs         A & M MAJ Christopher Leist   A & M MAJ Paul McKenna        A & M LTC Dwight Mentzer      A & M MAJ John Athey          A & M COL Peter Neilsen       A & M 1LT Jeff Loarin-Clark   A & M 1LT Sarah Hawkins       Clemson Charles K. Bush         Clemson MSG Levi Kenner         Clemson Sgt Terence D’Alesandro Clemson