NOTES: Arrive Early at Death Valley Saturday |
Clemson, SC-Clemson Ticket Manager Van Hilderbrand is urging fans to
arrive in Clemson early on Saturday for the Tigers football opener with Georgia. Over 83,000 fans are expected for the game, the largest home opener in Clemson history and the largest crowd ever to see a Clemson vs. Georgia game in Memorial Stadium. Saturdays game is a sellout. "The 12:00 noon start changes everything," said Hilderbrand. "We encourage people to get to the Clemson area early. We will have attendants in the parking lots starting at 6:00 AM." Two years ago Clemson had a 12:00 noon start for a Homecoming game with North Carolina and many fans missed the first quarter, never mind kickoff because of the large attendance for the early game. With an early kickoff, fans tend to arrive at the same time. Hilderbrand is urging everyone to adjust their departure time so they can get to Clemson in time for kickoff. University To Hold Solid Orange - One Clemson "A Sea of Orange" Weekend Parade, pep rally and athletic contests to highlight weekend CLEMSON, SC - Clemson is encouraging all Tiger fans to show their spirit and wear orange for the Solid Orange - One Clemson "A Sea of Orange" Weekend that will kickoff the 2003-04 year. Festivities will begin Friday, August 29th at 6:00 PM with the Central Spirit First Friday Parade and continue with a pep rally immediately following on Riggs Field. The women's soccer team will then take on South Carolina at 7:30 PM in the season opener at Riggs Field after the conclusion of the pep rally. The weekend continues on Saturday with the football season opener against Georgia at noon in Memorial Stadium. "With every Clemson fan wearing orange to the women's soccer match against South Carolina on Friday night, Aug. 29th and also to the football game against Georgia on Saturday, Aug. 30th we as a united front can increase our competitive home field advantage against our rivals," said Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips. The first 500 fans wearing orange to the soccer match will receive a free Solid Orange t-shirt with four of those shirts specially marked for additional prizes. Tiger Band, Cheerleaders, Rally Cats, the Tiger and Tiger Cub mascots and Central Spirit will be on hand to welcome fans to the electric atmosphere. "The Solid Orange - One Clemson principle promotes unity, spirit and oneness with the Clemson Family. Its goal is to build strong relationships throughout the state and assist Clemson in becoming a top 20 institution. One event per sport each year will be designated Solid Orange in order to recognize University wide accomplishments, promote all sports and show Clemson spirit," said Phillips. "A Sea of Orange" Weekend Schedule Friday, August 29th 6:00 PM Central Spirit First Friday Parade (Begins at President's Home) 7:00 PM Central Spirit First Friday Pep Rally (Riggs Field) 7:30 PM Women's Soccer - Clemson vs. South Carolina (Riggs Field) (First 500 fans wearing orange receive a FREE Solid Orange t-shirt) Saturday, August 30th Noon Football - Clemson vs. Georgia (Memorial Stadium) Former Clemson Star Passes Billy Hair was Captain of 1952 Clemson Team Clemson, SC--Billy Hair, captain of Clemson's 1952 football team, passes away on Sunday at the age of 74. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 3:00 PM at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Gilbert, SC Hair started at the key tailback position in Coach Frank Howard's single wing offense from mid-season 1950 through the final quarter of the sixth game in 1952. His play led the way to Clemson's first ever Associated Press "top ten" final ranking in 1950 and a "top twenty" follow-up in 1951. The undefeated 1950 Tigers edged the University of Miami,15-14 in the 17th annual Orange Bowl played Jan. 1, 1951, with Hair earning game MVP honors. Clemson's return match against Miami a year later in the seventh annual Gator Bowl resulted in a 14-0 Tiger loss, though again Hair was his team's MVP on offense. In late summer of 1952, Clemson's Office of Sports Information produced and circulated nationwide a brochure urging consideration of Billy Hair for the Heisman Trophy in the upcoming season. As fate would have it, Hair injured his shoulder in the season opener against Presbyterian College. He played hurt in the next five games, all losses; returned to form at Boston College on Halloween night only to injure his knee in the final quarter of the much needed win; and for all practical purposes his brilliant football career was over. He was a 13th round NFL draft pick of the Green Bay Packers, signed and worked out with them, but he did not make the final cut. Billy was born and grew up in the small town of Canadys, SC, and distinguished himself as one of South Carolina's finest prep players of 1947 for Walterboro High School. He entered Clemson in the fall of 1948 as a member of an outstanding recruiting class. Hair received limited playing time as Coach Howard's "dream backfield" rolled over the opposition. This all changed against nationally ranked Wake Forest in game number five, when both fullback Fred Cone and wingback Ray Mathews suffered cracked ribs in the first quarter. NEA first team All-American Jackie Calvert shifted to wingback, and Hair took over at tailback for the remainder of his career. Billy Hair made the All-Southern football teams of 1951 and 1952. In 1983 he was added to Clemson's Athletic Hall of Fame.
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