Clemson prepares for rivalry game against USC

by Press Release - Fri Nov 15 13:54:20 GMT-04:00 2013

CLEMSON — As the annual football game against the University of South Carolina approaches, Clemson University will participate in several time-honored traditions to prepare for the rivalry matchup on Saturday, Nov. 30, in Columbia.

Clemson-USC Blood Bowl

Clemson University looks to break its 14 to 14 tie in the 29th annual Blood Bowl that takes place Nov. 18-22 at both schools.

“The Blood Bowl is a part of Clemson tradition that embraces the USC-Clemson rivalry to unite students in service to help save lives,” said Lindsay LeGrand, vice president of public relations for Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity.

Bloodmobiles will be located behind Hendrix Student Center, behind Edwards Hall, in front of Vickery Hall, near the P&A Building, beside Bowman Field, behind the Edgar A. Brown University Union, in front of Brackett Hall, outside Lee Hall and in front of Fernow Street Café throughout the week. Indoor locations will also be available in the Hendrix Student Center ballrooms and in the Edgar A. Brown University Union Palmetto Ballroom. Each location will be open for donations from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

“We are extremely excited about this year's competition, and we encourage everyone who can to come out and support Clemson's efforts to beat USC,” said LeGrand.

All donors will receive a long sleeve T-shirt and special offers from local sponsors, including TDs, Wingin’ It, Subway, McAlister’s Deli, 356, The Bronze Tiger, Tiger Town Tavern, McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, Spill the Beans and Pizza Hut.

The annual Blood Bowl competition is organized at Clemson by the Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity. In the last 28 years, the drive has collected more than 200,000 units of blood, enough to save more than 600,000 lives.

Sigma Nu Game Ball Run

Sigma Nu fraternity will also uphold tradition by holding the annual Game Ball Run. In the run, which was first held in 1977, members from both the Clemson and USC chapters of Sigma Nu carry the ball that will be used in the rivalry game on the 138-mile route between the schools. The ball will leave Clemson’s Esso Club at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21. At 4 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22, the ball will be passed to a USC member of Sigma Nu at the halfway mark in Greenwood. USC’s chapter will run the remainder of the distance to Columbia.

This year, the run will benefit Dabo Swinney’s All in Team Foundation, which supports breast cancer research, The Family Effect, the Call Me MISTER program and the RISE program.

Cocky’s Funeral

The Cocky’s Funeral pep rally will be held on Monday, Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. at the amphitheater. Students attend the event each year to see the USC mascot’s mock funeral. Clemson’s ROTC Tiger Platoon leads the funeral procession and Col. Sandy Edge delivers Cocky’s eulogy and conducts his “cremation.”

The pep rally will also feature performances by the Clemson cheerleaders and Rally Cats and the Tiger and Tiger Cub mascots.