Local Entrepreneur Donates Profits Of Seasoning Sales To Clemson

Aug. 3, 2006

CLEMSON – A local entrepreneur is hoping his gift will add some spice to Clemson University athletics and the school’s Call Me MISTER program.

Seneca businessman Joe “Coach” Crosby, creator of Coach’s Low Country Boil Seasoning and owner of the T-60 Grill restaurant in Fair Play, is donating some of the profits from sales of his popular seasoning to Clemson University.

Special, officially licensed, containers of the seasoning, marked with the Clemson Tiger Paw, will soon be hitting the shelves in area Wal-Mart, Bi-Lo, White Jones Hardware, Piggly Wiggly and IGA stores. Two dollars from each jar sold will go to Clemson — $1 for athletics and $1 for academics. Of the money for academics, 75 percent will be unrestricted and 25 percent will go to Call Me MISTER, a program to put more African-American males in elementary classrooms as teachers.

The Clemson Tiger Paw Coach’s Low Country Boil will also be available online at www.coachslowcountryboil.com/.

Crosby created his seasoning and began selling it to tailgaters before Clemson football games. In January, the seasoning was carried in four stores in the Seneca area. Now, it is available in 700 stores around the state.

“When something like this happens, it doesn’t mean you’re that smart, you’re just blessed,” said Crosby. “You can’t just walk around with all that money in your pocket – you’ve got to give back. I wanted to do something big for the school in the community where I live.”

Crosby, who graduated from North Carolina A&T University, said he was inspired to give to the university by his good friend Jeff Davis, former Clemson football player and Clemson’s assistant athletic director for major gifts.

“Clemson University is very grateful for Joe’s generosity and his willingness to become a part of the Clemson family,” said Davis. “This gift exemplifies Joe Crosby’s passion and desire to make a difference in the lives of others.”

Crosby said the gift also makes his daughters, ages 4 and 8, very happy.

“Ever since we moved here in 2001, all they talk about is going to Clemson. We have two cats, named ‘Clemson’ and ‘Tiger,'” he said.

The gift is a win-win for Crosby and Clemson.

“Joe and I believe that in this game, everybody wins,” said Davis.

“Everybody benefits – the school, the retailers and my family,” Crosby said.