From the Desk of Dan Radakovich

May 13, 2013

Hello Tiger fans!

I am headed off to the ACC spring meetings this week in Florida. In my next writing, I hope to have much content to discuss as a result of those meetings. In the meantime, I thought it would be appropriate to focus this space on the student-athletes that graduated from Clemson last Friday. I had the privilege to be on hand for each of the three ceremonies as part of the president’s administrative council. It was wonderful to see so many orange stoles, which are worn to signify student-athletes, in each ceremony!

I thought I would share the wonderful success stories of a few of them. In all, 49 student-athletes walked across the stage in Littlejohn Coliseum to receive their degrees from President Barker. (See complete list of 2013 spring graduates below). It was particularly heart-warming to see some of our student-athletes who returned to earn degrees several years after their Tiger careers ended. [Read more...]

Brownell, Swinney give updates on their programs

Clemson head basketball coach Brad Brownell, right, responds to a question from the audience as head football coach Dabo Swinney looks on during Thursday's Prowl and Growl Coaches Tour event in Greenville. (Photo by Rex Brown/IPTAY Media)By Steven Bradley

IPTAY Media

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Brad Brownell admits sometimes the questions posed at Prowl and Growl Coaches Tour events can rival the ones he faces from the media after a tough night on the basketball court.

“They can ask some pretty good questions,” the Clemson head coach said. “The fans are very knowledgeable, and you can tell which fans follow exactly what’s going on and have some good questions for what you’re thinking about personnel, recruiting or scheduling or anything.”

The man he shared the dais with at Friday’s tour stop in Greenville, Dabo Swinney, got a taste of just such a direct line of questioning when a young Tiger fan asked, “When are we going to beat Carolina?” [Read more...]

Student-athletes walk orange carpet for CLEMMYs

Boyd, Adeleye named top male, female athletes

Clemson football players, from left, Quandon Christian, Tajh Boyd and Chandler Catanzaro pose for pictures before the inaugural CLEMMYs on April 15 at Littlejohn Coliseum. (Photo by Dawson Powers)

Photo Gallery

By Steven Bradley

IPTAY Media

CLEMSON — At most major award shows, the stars walk the red carpet and proceed into a ballroom where awards are handed out for the year’s best performances. That was also the case at the inaugural CLEMMYs April 15, only the stars were Clemson’s student-athletes, the carpet was orange and the ballroom was Littlejohn Coliseum.

The CLEMMYs were modeled after the ESPYs as a comprehensive year-end awards show encompassing athletic and academic achievement. They replaced the Athletic Department’s annual honor banquet, which was an academic-focused event where only student-athletes with at least a 3.0 GPA had been invited.

“It’s all about the student-athletes. This is a night for them to have fun and just get together and celebrate,” Assistant Director for Athletic Academic Services Lindsey Ricketts said. [Read more...]

From the Desk of Dan Radakovich

April 22, 2013

Hello Tiger fans!

I thought this would be a good time to reflect on the tremendous success enjoyed by our athletic teams on what was dubbed “Solid Orange Weekend,” April 12-14 in Clemson. Our teams not only went undefeated, but IPTAY members and Tiger fans were able to gather and participate in fellowship on what turned out to be a beautiful weekend in the Upstate.

We had over 140 former letterwinners participate in our spring golf outing at the Walker Course and Cross Creek Plantation on Friday afternoon, and then over 300 were on hand for the awards dinner that night. It was great to spend time with some of our alumni and their families. Dabo Swinney also held his All-In Ball at the new indoor practice facility on Friday, and over $250,000 was raised for his foundation, which focuses support toward a number of worthy causes. [Read more...]

McIntyre pledges significant contribution to basketball facility

CLEMSON — Former Tiger point guard Terrell McIntyre has pledged a significant contribution to be used toward enhancements to Clemson’s basketball facilities. McIntyre served as Clemson’s ACC Legend at the conference tournament in Greensboro, NC this past March.

“I wanted to give back because the university really did a lot for me,” McIntyre said. “I was in a situation where I was able to donate and help the basketball program, but that would not have been possible without my experiences at Clemson.

“Clemson is in the top conference in college basketball, and you want to be able to compete with other schools in recruiting. You want to have the best facilities. As a former player and as someone who is in position to help, I want to see Clemson be the best. Facilities play a big role, because prospects dream of playing in the best arenas.”

McIntyre, who played at Clemson from 1995-99, is No. 2 in school history with 1,839 points, 577 assists and 259 three-point goals. He earned All-ACC honors three different seasons and led the league in scoring at 17.9 points per game as a senior. He helped Clemson to three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths, including a Sweet 16 appearance as a sophomore in 1996-97. He has been inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame and was also named to the 100th anniversary team in 2012.

He went on to a decorated and lengthy professional career overseas. He was named first-team All-Euroleauge on two occasions and led Montepaschi Siena to the Italian A Series Championship four straight years. A three-time Finals MVP, McIntyre’s jersey was retired by Siena last September.

“Since I arrived on campus in 2010, we have worked hard to strengthen relationships with our alumni,” said Clemson Head Coach Brad Brownell. “I’m very excited by Terrell’s generous contribution. Like many former players, Terrell recognizes the significance Clemson has played in his life.”

Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich, who first met McIntyre this January at the program’s alumni reunion, hopes McIntyre’s gift is one of many toward the planned basketball facility enhancements.

“I am grateful to Terrell for his gift,” Radakovich said. “Anytime student-athletes who have been a part of our program give back, it is special. I look forward to thanking Terrell in person for this tremendous gift.”

Student-athletes take time out to say thanks to donors

Clemson women's golfer Taylor Ramsey calls an IPTAY donor during the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Thank-a-Thon on April 1 at the University Foundation building on campus. (Photo by Rex Brown/IPTAY Media)

Photo Gallery

By Steven Bradley

IPTAY Media

CLEMSON — One of the purposes of Clemson’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is to give the university’s athletes a voice when it comes to issues that affect them, and last week that voice was used to say thanks.

This year’s SAAC Thank-a-Thon began April 1 and continued April 2 at the University Foundation building on campus with 100 Clemson athletes — 50 each day — taking time out to call as many IPTAY donors as possible to express their gratitude for the ways those donations have enriched their college experiences.

“That’s the great thing about IPTAY — we don’t hear a lot about IPTAY as far as our everyday lives,” said Brittney Waller, a senior thrower on the track & field team who helped head the initiative. “We don’t think about our facilities and how we’re able to do a lot of the things we do — traveling, maintenance, construction, those kind of things — so it is very nice to have IPTAY, and we’re really thankful to have donors who do support us and who do want us to be successful on and off the field.” [Read more...]

From the Desk of Dan Radakovich

Ricketts

April 8, 2013

Hello Tiger fans!

At the end of May, one of the fixtures in Clemson’s athletic department over the last 28 years, Robert Ricketts, will be retiring. Robert has dedicated most of his professional life to Clemson, and in the process has worn many different hats, first at the university and then within the athletic department. We are indebted to he and his wife, Kathey, for all they have done for Clemson Athletics. With that in mind, I asked Associate Sports Information Director Philip Sikes to sit down with Robert for a question and answer session to reflect on his experiences at Clemson.

Dan Radakovich [Read more...]

Beyond Clemson: Tiger legends become SC Hall of Famers

Homer Jordan will always be remembered as the quarterback that led Clemson to the 1981 National Championship and Atlantic Coast Conference crown. (Courtesy of Clemson Athletics)

By Schuyler Easterling

In the proud history of Clemson University athletics, glories on the field of competition helped transform Clemson from a small agricultural/military school to a nationally known power. Through tireless hard work and dedication, individuals driven by the uniquely Clemson Spirit made contributions to Tiger Athletics that completely changed the landscape of the university they so dearly loved.

On Monday, three such Clemson men were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments with an announcement of their induction into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.

Former Clemson athletic director Bill McLellan, quarterback Homer Jordan and former “Voice of the Tigers” Jim Phillips are members of the 2013 Class, the Palmetto State’s highest athletic honor continuing to add to their incredibly rich legacies. [Read more...]

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