The Tigers and the Gamecocks won’t face off on the football field until Nov. 24, but Clemson University students already are gearing up for the game with a number of events, including a blood drive, Sigma Nu’s annual game ball run and Cocky’s Funeral.
Clemson/USC Blood Bowl
Clemson students are rolling up their sleeves for a pre-game competition with the University of South Carolina in the 28th annual Clemson/USC Blood Bowl Nov. 12-16.
Sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, the blood drive is the largest in the state, pitting Clemson against USC to see which school can collect the most donations. Donations at Clemson will benefit The Blood Connection and the AnMed Blood Center.
Donations can be made from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day at the Palmetto Ballroom in the University Union, the Hendrix Student Center ballroom or at a number of bloodmobiles located around campus. Bloodmobiles will be located at Vickery Hall, Edward Hall, the R.M. Cooper Library on Fernow Street and near Fike Recreation Center.
All donors will receive free long-sleeved T-shirts and coupons to local restaurants and businesses.
More than 95,000 pints of blood have been collected by the two schools since the competition began in 1985. Since each pint of blood can potentially save up to three lives, more than 285,000 lives may have been saved by the blood drive competition.
Game Ball Run
The brothers of Sigma Nu fraternity at Clemson and USC will come together for a good cause during the annual Game Ball Run Thursday and Friday, Nov. 15 and 16. The two chapters will run the ball for the game from Columbia to Clemson, a 138-mile trip.
USC’s chapter will begin the run in Columbia Thursday evening. They will meet the Clemson chapter early Friday morning in Greenwood, where they will hand the ball off for the rest of the journey. The ball will arrive at the Esso Club in Clemson Friday afternoon.
Both fraternity chapters seek pledges and donations to sponsor the run. Money raised by the event benefits the fraternity’s philanthropy, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Cocky’s Funeral
On Monday, Nov. 19, Clemson students will “mourn” for USC’s Cocky mascot at the annual Cocky’s Funeral pep rally at 5 p.m. in the outdoor amphitheater. Clemson’s ROTC Tiger Platoon will lead a funeral procession, and Col. Sandy Edge will deliver the eulogy before Cocky’s “cremation” on stage.
The pep rally will feature performances by the Clemson cheerleaders and Rally Cats, the Tiger and Tiger Cub mascots and remarks by President James F. Barker.
Attendees will receive free Chick-fil-A chicken sandwiches, while supplies last.
