3,653 Days

May 13, 2004, 9:09 AM

10 years ago today, a 21 year old man walked across the stage in Littlejohn, shook Max Lennon's hand, and received his degree from Clemson University. What a day that was. After all but flunking out of school my freshman year, I made it. On that May 13, 1994, the world was at my feet and I was ready for anything, or so I thought.

As I drove home with my fiance that afternoon, the future could not have seemed brighter. I had accepted a management position with a large company; I was getting married soon; and I had been accepted into graduate school at Clemson.

Unfortunately, though I was in graduate school,in the 5-6 years following graduation, Clemson just wasn't a priority. Though I lived in Greenville, I rarely made it over for a game, ice cream, or anything else.

By April 1999, I was living in (gasp) Columbia, a first year student in law school. I followed all of the Clemson goings-on and kept my IPTAY membership going, but still had not been on campus since leaving the upstate. On the day of my first of end of the semester exams, which are a bit stressful (in law school, you have one exam and that's your grade), I took the exam with tears in my eyes, left the law school and drove home to load my soon to be ex-wife's "half" in a Uhaul truck and watched her drive away. I've never felt as alone as I did that day. All of my friends and family were in the upstate. I was a student at USC, not Clemson. No money, so how could I get through two more years of law school?

In the fall of 1999, I made it back to campus for the Marshall game. I've missed one home game since then. That night, I realized that I was back home. Tears came as 82,000 people sang our alma mater. Though I had neglected Clemson, Clemson was still there.

Now everything has come full circle. Last Thanksgiving day in the Military Heritage Plaza overlooking Bowman Field, I dropped to one knee and said "Rebecca Smith, will you marry me?" I got it right this time.

Now, though I live in Columbia, I visit Clemson 20-25 times each year. I love to walk under the great oaks and remember all of the wonderful memories that Clemson gave me from 1990-94.

Clemson is a very special place to me. This isn't a post about how I miss all of the good times I had as a a college student. It is about the place in my life and my heart that Clemson University occupies. For me, Clemson is home and will always be.

Happy 10 years to all in the May 1994 class. Sorry to ramble this morning. tgrdiver

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3,653 Days

My condolences on having to shake Max Lennon's hand.***

I'll bet you enjoyed shaking Holderman's hand

Nope. Enjoyed shaking R.C. Edwards ' though.

You're absolutely right about that !!!!***

And so did he as he probably stole your watch***

you saw some good football, and then you went out......

That post went over your head like an F 15 flying over a

great post!***

I walked across the stage that same day

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