May 06, 1998 - 10 years gone

May 6, 2008, 11:58 AM

I was born a Clemson Tiger. Some of my earliest memories are of sitting in Death Valley and watching football with my family. My Dad is a Clemson man and my sister went to Clemson as well, so in the early 90s when I was graduating from high school there was really no question where I was headed.

And so in August of 93 I was lucky enough to finally be attending Clemson.

I can remember Johnstone smelling like heck, but not caring. I can remember a complete lack of AC for 2 weeks that first month. I don't know if I've ever been hotter. I can remember my first "first Friday" and in fact I still have the horribly thin T-shirt they handed out for the first game. And that game... I can remember sitting on the hill for the first time and being a part of a lightning delay. We slid up and down on that hill in the pouring rain while waiting for us to get back to barely beating a UNLV team we should've crushed.

The years passed. I co-op'd up in RTP every other Semester, but drove back to Clemson every weekend in order to be there as much as possible. I remember ignoring due dates for projects until the last possible minute and then staying up 24 hours and finishing them. I spent many a night studying at the American Waffle. I went 3 Summers in a row in a car with no Air conditioning... a car which could barely make it up the hill by Earle. I was passed on the hill almost daily as I crept up it hoping my car wouldn't stall again. I remember walking campus daily, and only later realizing, when I was locked behind a desk at work, how good I had it back on campus. I remember barely passing courses until I found who I was and learned what I really wanted to do. I remember Thursday night Chemistry tests, and Friday morning 6AM postings of the grades. I remember finally realizing Clemson had *changed* me when I actually accidentally grew up a bit into someone capable of handling actual work. I remember friends I didn't deserve, and, no doubt, enemies I did. I wasn't a big partier, but I remember sitting on my porch with a few friends and learning how good a cigar could really be.

Then I remember May 06, 1998. Walking across the stage, hearing my name called, seeing my Dad cry (I defy anyone to not get a little broken up when you see a military man get emotional). I remember the roar of the final words of the ceremony. I remember the friends taking pictures afterwards. I remember that day so clearly.

And then, life happened.

I got a job in DC. Some good things happened, and some bad. I got married (good), I got fired (bad). I spent a good it of time trying (and failing) at starting my own business, but I learned who I was through it.

And all along the way Clemson was there. Not just sports, but my Clemson friends and family. When we were part of a small church plant in Charlotte I met a number of Clemson people who automatically became fast friends (RevMark I'm looking at ya). This has happened a million times over. I've had folks from Tigernet help me with reccomendations on everything from where to live in a new city to where to eat. Clemson Tigers helping Clemson Tigers, all because of a common bond.

And so, thank you Clemson. Thank you for all of this (and a thousand more things). 10 years gone from Clemson, and yet not day apart.

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May 06, 1998 - 10 years gone

25 years gone...

Nice rendering. Thanks for sharing the memories***

I never felt old until today

May 12, 1995

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