There are plenty of reasons why this Clemson Tigers fan is thankful.
I’m thankful that William Christopher Swinney is the head coach of my alma mater’s football team.
I’m thankful Terry Don Phillips had the stones to hire William Christopher Swinney. Dabo built the program over the past decade plus, but the single best decision in Clemson sports history was Phillips’ decision to promote him.
I’m thankful Clemson’s mascot is a Tiger. Cringey might be a word that is a product of my children’s generation, but I’m pretty sure it was created when someone heard that rooster crow they play over and over at Williams-Brice Stadium.
I’m thankful I have so many friends who attended the University of South Carolina that tolerate my jokes and don’t get mad. Nearly half the people I grew up with got college educations in Columbia. I’m thankful they make jokes right back at me with a smile.
I’m thankful that Clemson is not a one-trick-pony. I know it is a football school, but I love the other Tiger teams too. I lived right next to Riggs Field as a freshman, I could hear the soccer games from my open window. Today I take my daughters to see the women’s soccer team play.
I’m thankful that Clemson wasn’t forced to permanently eliminate any programs due to the COVID shutdown, and they have been able to add softball, gymnastics and lacrosse on the women’s side.
I’m thankful that there are so many Clemson Tigers fans who care about athletics
Last year I was researching fanbases and I realized how many schools’ fans can’t even manage to get a few Facebook groups together to talk about their teams. There are some Power Five schools that barely have fan communities on social media at all. If you search for Clemson groups on Facebook, you’ll find a few dozen.
I’m thankful that there are fans that care enough about Clemson that I am afforded the opportunity to contribute content like this article to Rubbing The Rock. I do this primarily for fun and I am lucky to be able to do it. I am also a graduate of Winthrop University. It has a good following for a school with a smaller enrollment and alumni base, but there is no market for this kind of creativity for Eagle sports.
I’m thankful I’ve met as many good people as I have the past couple years of contributing Clemson Tigers content, even though I haven’t met most of them in person.
I’m thankful that I have more to contribute. Happy Thanksgiving!