Clemson's Homecoming History
Homecoming at Clemson is a sight to behold. More people pack into the tiny little town of Clemson than usual, there are a myriad of creative floats on campus and the vibe, in general, is more festive than any other football Saturday, which is saying something. But how did this all start? Clemson historian Sam Blackman broke it down for us on Clemson Sports Talk.
"It has been a big part of Clemson. Homecoming, the people really get excited about this event. It starts during the week when the various fraternities and student groups build big floats on Bowman field," says Blackman. "Of course TIgerama is on Friday night, that's being held again this year for the 61st time. It was first started in 1956. It was a brainchild of Joe Sherman."
Sherman was responsible for creating the Clemson News Bureau, the communications center, and the sports information office. But Sherman also helped shape homecoming weekend into what it is today according to Blackman.
"They planned the first Tigerama to be in the amphitheater in the center of campus, but because of heavy rains in the afternoon that were going to last through the night, they held Tigerama in the ballroom of the Clemson house and had about 200 people in attendance. It started out modestly, and then, of course, it's grown where scores of people come, thousands of people attend Tigerama, and it's finished off with fireworks. So it is good entertainment and a lot of good family entertainment as well. But the float displays on Bowman field are very much a part of the homecoming festivities, and they have contests on who has the best...it's a busy time, and they work very hard on these things."
According to Blackman, the first homecoming game for Clemson took place in 1922 against
Centre College as a way to bring alumni back to campus. Clemson plays Wake Forest this weekend for homecoming; however, an opponent the Tigers are very familiar with.
"It's been a good series, we've had good athletic relations with Wake Forest and we have a lot of respect for Wake Forest," states Blackman. "Coach Howard and Peahead Walker were best buddies. Peahead Walker was the coach at Wake Forest and they were both very similar. Both Coach Howard and Peahead Walker were from Alabama. Peahead Walker coached at Wake Forest from 1937 to about 1950 or so... he and Coach Howard, they loved taking jabs at each other. They were sought after speakers. Banquets and touchdown clubs loved having both of them there, and they would just go back and forth at each other."
The two enjoyed going at each other so much that Coach Howard even once pulled a prank on Peahead Walker.
"One game, Wake Forest came to Clemson and on Friday when Wake Forest came to work out just a little bit on the field, Coach Howard had two highway patrolmen in on this gag. As soon as Peahead Walker stepped off the bus, Coach Howard hollered 'There's the fugitive, that's who you want, that's the man that escaped,' so the highway patrolmen handcuffed him to a telephone pole and he stayed there for several minutes."
As you take in the sights and sounds of homecoming this weekend, soak up every moment. It has a long, rich history and nobody does it quite like Clemson.
Listen to the full interview here: https://www.spreaker.com/user/9808867/sam-blackman-10-4-17