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...]

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...]

Beyond Clemson: Soccer stars Vandenbergh, Savage sign pro deals

By Schuyler Easterling

Like the strand of pines standing around the rim of Historic Riggs Field, the legacies of former Clemson stars Lydia Vandenbergh (2002-05) and Austin Savage (2009-12) continue to grow and stand out amongst the landscape.

In official announcements the past two weeks, Vandenbergh and Savage were given the opportunity to extend their soccer careers, signing contracts to play the game professionally.

Vandenbergh will be headed to the Windy City after signing with the Chicago Red Stars, a member of the newly formed National Women’s Soccer League. Savage will stay in the Palmetto State and travel southeast to Charleston, signing with the Charleston Battery of the USL PRO League. [Read more...]

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...]

From the Desk of Dan Radakovich

March 25, 2013

Hello Tiger fans!

I wanted to first give an update on our search for a new head coach for women’s basketball.  We have had a very enthusiastic and positive reception from a number of quality candidates.  They all understand it is a great opportunity, but currently a challenging position.  The ACC is not getting any easier, and we must provide the program with additional tools to make sure we progress in the right direction.  It will be a difficult decision, but we are confident in finding the right person to accept the challenge.

A number of our spring sports are ranked in the top 25 currently and are just a few weeks away from competing for ACC Championships.  Both tennis programs have gotten off to a great start.  The men are ranked in the top 15 for the first time since 2006.  Our golf program is still very much in the hunt from an ACC and national standpoint.  Outdoor track & field has just begun, and our rowing team has produced solid results.  We look forward to Robbie Tenenbaum’s team playing host to the ACC Championships on Lake Hartwell next month. [Read more...]

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