Clemson Celebrates 50th Tigerama

by Andrew Moore - Correspondent - Wed Oct 11 08:51:04 GMT-04:00 2006

CLEMSON - Fifty years ago, Clemson alumnus Joe Sherman started one of Clemson's grandest traditions - Tigerama. This year, Blue Key Honor Society pays tribute to Sherman at Tigerama on Friday, Oct. 20, in Littlejohn Coliseum with the theme "There's something in these hills," a line taken from a speech Sherman once gave.

The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. on the coliseum lawn with music from Clemson's student a cappella groups and games for the kids. Tigerama starts at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door. Tickets are available on campus at the Hendrix Student Center, the University Union, the athletic ticket office at Memorial Stadium, Littlejohn Coliseum box office and the Alumni Center. Tickets are available in downtown Clemson at Mr. Knickerbockers, The Athletic Department and Tiger Sports Shop.

Tigerama will feature skits from student organizations, the Clemson cheerleaders and Rally Cats, Tiger Band, Pershing Rifles, the crowning of Miss Homecoming and the Rally Boys, a comical male counterpart of the Rally Cats.

Emcees for the evening will be Clemson alumni Jane Robelot, former co-anchor of the CBS Morning Show, and Brian O'Rourke, Clemson's director of development and alumni affairs. The homecoming event will conclude with extra-special fireworks to commemorate the anniversary, said Tigerama director Katie Spearman.

"There's just something about Tigerama that makes it such a special tradition for the Clemson family," said Spearman, a senior civil engineering major from Saluda. "For 50 years, it has been filled with the enthusiasm for Clemson football, the pride in displaying student talent and the excitement behind an awesome fireworks show that, when put all together with thousands of your closest Clemson friends, make a night to remember."

Sherman, who became Clemson's public relations and alumni association director, got the inspiration for Tigerama from the University of Florida's homecoming pep rally, Gator Growl. He presented the idea to Blue Key, and the group has been coordinating Tigerama ever since. The first Tigerama drew a crowd of about 10,000 people and featured a fire-eater, a juggler, majorettes and a jazz band. It also featured some elements that continue today, such as the crowning of Miss Homecoming, the skit competition and a fireworks finale.

This year also marks Blue Key's 75th anniversary, making it one of the oldest chapters in the nation.