Thursday 09/20/2001
Sept. 20, 2001
Clemson will play the Cavaliers of the University of Virginia Saturday, Sept. 22, at 5:45 p.m. in a game to be broadcast on ESPN2. With previously planned “Military Appreciation Day” activities and a special patriotic half-time show, featuring The Tiger Band and the combined voices of Women’s Glee, Men’s Glee and the Clemson University Singers, this is sure to be an event to remember.
1. CLEMSON STEPS UP SECURITY MEASURES TO NEW LEVEL Leave your backpacks and purses in the car 2. MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY HONORS SACRIFICES PAST AND PRESENT Show your colors … red, white and blue 3. CLEMSON STUDENTS TO COLLECT FUNDS FOR DISASTER RELIEF Give generously for Red Cross efforts 4. SPIRIT BLITZ WEEK TAKES OVER CLEMSON Getting into the spirit takes many forms 5. RESERVED LOTS TO BE CLEARED 12 HOURS BEFORE GAME Move cars by 5:45 a.m. to avoid towing 6. MANEUVERING AROUND ROAD CONSTRUCTION CALLS FOR PATIENCE Allow extra time for the trip
1. CLEMSON STEPS UP SECURITY MEASURES TO NEW LEVEL
Increased security efforts resulting from last week’s terrorist attacks will change a few Clemson football routines and traditions.
For the rest of the season, backpacks, tote bags and other carryalls will not be allowed in Memorial Stadium. In fact, fans are discouraged from even bringing purses because any bag, including diaper bags, will be subject to search.
Once inside the football stadium, fans will not be allowed to exit and return. The change in allowing “pass-outs” is initially for this Saturday only but may be extended. “We understand that this changes a long-standing Clemson tradition, but we hope all of our fans will understand why this is necessary,” said Athletic Director Bobby Robinson.
Bomb squad experts and bomb-sniffing dogs from the City of Anderson will be on hand to check the stadium and cars parked near it.
Everyone attending the game should have an official form of photo identification with them at all times.
Planes will be restricted from flying over the stadium, and there will be no thru-traffic on roads in the vicinity during the game.
“These measures are purely precautionary to ensure that everyone can come to the game and enjoy themselves,” said Mary Poore, associate vice president for municipal services.
2. MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY HONORS SACRIFICES PAST AND PRESENT
Military Appreciation Day at Clemson couldn’t come at a better time. With the nation gearing up for a war on terrorism, Americans and Tiger football fans Saturday will show their colors — red, white, blue … and orange.
The Clemson Corps and the Army and Air Force ROTC detachments at Clemson University have designated Sept. 22 as Military Appreciation Day. The original plan of activities has been amended in remembrance of those victimized by last week’s terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.
The program will start with a moment of silence at the beginning of the football game. Seventy Army and Air Force cadets, who are recipients of Clemson Corps scholarships, will unfurl a giant American flag during halftime. Pershing Rifles will fire a 21-gun salute, followed by the playing of Taps.
The event will include a pre-game appearance by some Clemson alumni who were once held as prisoners of war and a military equipment display on Bowman Field. More than 10,000 Clemson alumni have served during major conflicts including the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Korean War, Vietnam War and Desert Storm. Nearly 500 of these alumni sacrificed their lives when their nation called them to duty.
“Thousands of Clemson men and women have served in the Armed Forces,” said Dawson Luke, a Clemson Corps board member and chairman of the corps’ operations committee. “Military Appreciation Day will recognize the contributions of the Clemson military personnel.”
The Clemson alumni and former prisoners of war scheduled to participate in Saturday’s events are:
Retired Army Col. Ben Skardon, Class of 1938, is a survivor ofthe Bataan Death March. Col. Skardon spent three years and fourmonths as a prisoner of war in the Philippines, Japan and ChinaFormer Army 1st Lt. Bill Funchess, Class of 1948, spent two yearsand 10 months as a prisoner of war in Korea Retired Air Force Col.Bill Austin, Class of 1959, spent five years and six months as aprisoner of war in Vietnam Retired Navy Cmdr. Bob Fant, Class of1960, spent four years and eight months as a prisoner of war inVietnam.
Nearly 1,000 Junior ROTC cadets from South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia are expected to attend the game. Various pieces of Army equipment will be on display on Bowman Field, including a military chemical detection system and an “Army of One” recruiting “HUMMWV” vehicle.
The football game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 Saturday evening, and fans are encouraged to replace the usual sea of orange in the stadium with the patriotic colors of red, white and blue. Organizers encourage game-goers to bring small American flags and to be in the stands by 5:15 p.m.
3. CLEMSON STUDENTS TO COLLECT FUNDS FOR DISASTER RELIEF
Fans enjoying a Saturday of Clemson football will have an opportunity to help the thousands of families dealing with the aftermath of last week’s terrorist attacks.
Clemson students and volunteers from the Pickens and Oconee County chapters of the American Red Cross will collect donations before Saturday’s game as part of “South Carolina Cares,” a statewide effort organized by Gov. Jim Hodges to raise money for victims of the Sept. 11 attack on America.
From 3 to 6:30 p.m., volunteers recognizable by special t-shirts will be stationed at all gates of Memorial Stadium to accept donations to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Public donations can be made only with cash or check, but students may use their TigerStripe accounts for donations at gate 1.
The idea to have a fund raiser at the game stemmed from a discussion between a small group of Clemson students and staff who wanted to do something to help the victims of the tragedies in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. When the group got word of a press release from the governor asking high schools and colleges around the state to collect money for the South Carolina Cares Fund, they knew what they could do. The fund has already raised more than $325,000 for the Red Cross, and Clemson hopes to add significantly to that total.
Ben Walker, a Clemson senior involved with the Student Union, was one of the students who initiated the plan. “We wanted to show our Clemson unity, to show that the Clemson family is part of the American family,” Walker said.
Gary Kirby, student body president, said that the fund raiser is a way for students who felt the need to do something to “apply action to their feelings.” He also spoke about Clemson’s strong military heritage. “Clemson has a lot of links to history, and particularly because of our military legacy, we have a strong feeling of responsibility to do something,” said Kirby. “We’ve all heard of past generations at Clemson taking action, such as our grandparents in World War II. This is our generation’s time to do what we know we can do.”
Among the student organizations involved are Tigers Who Care, Alpha Phi Omega, Alpha Epsilon Delta and Omicron Delta Kappa. The last time donations were taken at a football game at Clemson was in 1989, the funds were targeted for the victims of Hurricane Hugo.
4. SPIRIT BLITZ WEEK TAKES OVER CLEMSON
A week awash in orange will end in a flourish of red, white and blue. As the finale for Spirit Blitz Week, Central Spirit student organization is urging fans to wear the colors of our country to Clemson’s football game against the University of Virginia this Saturday.
Originally, the day was to be declared “Orange Out” day, when fans were supposed to wear as much orange as possible. However, the organizations involved in Spirit Blitz decided that red, white and blue would be more appropriate this week, in light of the tragic events of Sept. 11. All fans, from both teams, are asked to wear patriotic colors.
Barry Jones, president of Central Spirit, said the stadium, which was originally supposed to be a “sea of orange,” will now be a “sea of patriotism.” Central Spirit will inflate red, white and blue balloons at the game, instead of the usual orange balloons.
Spirit Blitz Week, an entire week devoted to Clemson spirit, rouses fans everywhere to show their Tiger pride. The celebrations kicked off on Monday, which was declared “Paint the Town Orange” day.
Students and fans across the state are urged to decorate the campus and their homes in Clemson colors all week long. The best photos submitted to IPTAY’s “The Orange & White” will be printed in that publication.
The canned food drive, sponsored by Tigers Who Care, is another Spirit Blitz event. Volunteers collect canned goods at the Bi-Lo in Clemson, the Hendrix Student Center atrium and the University Union.
Highlighting the week is the Bowman Blitz Bash on Friday at 9 p.m. The public is invited to this free concert and pep rally, featuring five bands, the Clemson cheerleaders and the Rally Cats. There will be games and prizes, and lots of Clemson spirit.
Central Spirit started Spirit Blitz in 1984, and it continued in 1985, 1988 and 1990. Last year, the tradition was revived, and Jones says this year’s celebration is bigger and better than ever, largely because several other campus organizations have become involved. The Union Programs and Activities Council, IPTAY Collegiate Club, Tigers Who Care, Student Government, the athletic department and the Clemson Cable Network all pitched in to help Central Spirit plan this year’s events.
5. RESERVED LOTS TO BE CLEARED 12 HOURS BEFORE GAME
All vehicles parked in lots and numbered spaces reserved for football parking must be moved no later than 5:45 a.m. Saturday morning (Sept. 22) for Clemson’s game with Virginia, which has a 5:45 p.m. kickoff. Cars remaining in reserved spaces 12 hours prior to games are subject to towing.
This longstanding practice, which frees up parking for IPTAY members attending football games, applies to the following student and employee parking lots: C-3, C-4, C-5, C-6, C-7, C-9, C-10, C-12, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-7, E-14, P-3, P-4, R-2, R-3. Parking is also reserved on Ravenel Road, Avenue of Champions, Centennial Boulevard, Williamson Road, Heisman Street, and on South Palmetto Boulevard, from Williamson Road to Fernow Street.
Resident students, whose vehicles must be moved from R-2 and R-3 parking lots, are reminded that the grassy area at “Kite Hill” — NOT P-1 LOT — is the designated campus alternative. “Kite Hill” is accessible via the entrance from Perimeter Road near the U.S. 76 intersection. Students may park in P-1 during the day on Friday, but this lot must be clear by Saturday for general football parking.
CUPD will have personnel at “Kite Hill” on football Fridays 4-7 p.m. to assist students relocating their vehicles. Clemson Area Transit will provide transit service on home-football Friday and Sunday evenings for those who relocate their cars to Kite Hill. CAT will operate two special buses for three hours each day on Friday and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. After 7 p.m., students may ride the Campus Connector route to travel between the P-1 lot and West Campus. CAT route schedules are published on the Web at:www.catbus.com
In addition to the parking alternative for R-2 and R-3 mentioned above, all federal, state and university vehicles are also expected to be moved to the grassy area at “Kite Hill,” off McMillan Road near the Fire Station. All cars parked on these grassy areas during home football games must be moved no later than Monday morning.
There will be no parking allowed on the band practice field, south of the Brooks Center and adjacent to C-11 parking lot.
6. MANEUVERING AROUND ROAD CONSTRUCTION CALLS FOR PATIENCE
Traffic to Saturday’s game will follow about the same patterns as that of the Wofford game. The South Carolina Department of Transportation says improvements in traffic flow will continue to be made as construction progresses in the weeks ahead.
If you are going to the game or you have family and friends coming to Clemson on Saturday, the University encourages you and your visitors to:
allow extra time for the trip, pay special attention to signs,directional signals and instructions given by State Troopers andother law enforcement officers coordinating traffic control,exercise caution on roads into Clemson where some lanes are closedand surfaces may be uneven, accept that traffic will move slowerthan on past football Saturdays and that you may not be able totake your usual route to the stadium, and be patient.
Compiled by the Clemson University Department of News Services. Contact Inside Clemson for faculty and staff communications. E-mail: inside@clemson.edu ** FAX: 864/656-0812 ** Phone: 864/656-3860
December 8, 2024
