I don't mean this as a joke to those who feel offended by the intentions of the athletic department either. Obviously, this appears to be a hot button issue with many students considering the amount of press and posts on the subject.
Why not start a fundraising effort to supplement the new student cost in the form of corporate/personal sponsorship? After all, students and game days are the lifeblood of local business prosperity in and around Clemson. Approach the business school and make it a graduate student project or something. Create a non-profit, accumulate donations from area businesses to support the effort. Businesses and individuals can then claim a tax deduction as a charitable contribution and create some good publicity in the process.