Clemson is home to many traditions and superstitions. The University has a rich history that could honestly be its own class, but to save you the time and the money — here is a quick crash course to most of Clemson’s iconic traditions — let’s get you up to speed!
Solid Orange Friday
To showcase their Clemson pride and spirit, every Friday, Clemson students, staff and even alumni near and far sport Clemson orange. This symbolism represents the sense of family that Clemson is known for. So, grab your orange T-shirt and wear it proudly!
Howard’s Rock 
The iconic rock that sits atop The Hill at Memorial Stadium was initially placed on its pedestal in 1966. However, rubbing the rock by the team did not become a Clemson tradition until the following year when the Tigers faced off against Wake Forest in 1967. Before that game, coach Frank Howard told his team that if, and only if, they gave 110% on the field, they could receive the privilege of rubbing the rock. The Tigers proved victorious in that matchup, and ever since then, each player on the team rubs the rock before heading down The Hill to start every home game. And, of course, the rock is originally from Death Valley, California. 
Running Down the Hill 
Also known as the most exciting 25 seconds in college football! Before each football game at Death Valley, the Tigers are bused to the student entrance of the stadium and led by head coach Dabo Swinney, surrounded by a crowd of Clemson students; the team runs down the iconic Hill and takes the field. The tradition, now a highly anticipated and exciting show, began out of practicality — the team used to dress out at Fike Field and would run from there to the gates, down The Hill and onto the field to begin each home game.
$2 Bills 
Planning on traveling to any away games this season? If you are, don’t forget to pack your paw-stamped two-dollar bills! Spending Clemson-branded $2 bills at away-game venues is a tradition of Tiger fans that dates back to the 1970s. In 1977, Georgia Tech announced they would no longer play Clemson in football. As a sign of protest against the team, Clemson students and alumni began stamping $2 bills with the Tiger Paws and spending them in Atlanta to show the constant presence of Clemson in the city. To this day, Tiger fans still spend $2 bills at away games to illustrate the Clemson Family nationwide. 
Tiger Rag
Known as “the song that shakes the Southland!” the Tiger Rag is definitely a tune you’re going to want to learn! Played throughout Tiger sporting events, thousands of fans spell out “C-L-E-M-S-O … N” to the sound of the Tiger Band. The song was initially recorded in 1917, and in the 1940s, the cadet bandmaster of the Clemson Corps band, Dean Ross, brought the tune back to Clemson as the school’s “fight song.” To this day, when Tiger Band plays those first few recognizable notes, it does indeed shake the Southland, or at the very least, Clemson, South Carolina.
First Friday Parade 
Held each year on the Friday afternoon before the Tiger’s first home football game, the First Friday Parade never fails to draw a crowd. Students, alumni and local residents fill the streets of Clemson stretching from Douhit Hills, where the parade begins, past the intramural fields all the way to the Fike Recreation Center, where the parade commences. The First Friday Parade has kicked off each football season since 1974; be sure to make it to this year’s parade on Sept. 8! 
Homecoming and Tigerama
Homecoming is one of the most exciting weeks at Clemson, a tradition that dates back to 1914! Students from various organizations come together on Bowman Field to build huge Homecoming floats and construct a house for Habitat for Humanity. Clemson alumni return to campus and are celebrated at that week’s football game. The week’s final event is Tigerama, one of the nation’s largest student-run pep rallies. Tigerama began in 1957 and includes skits, fireworks and the crowning of Miss Homecoming. Mark your calendars; this year’s Homecoming festivities will take place Oct. 2-7! 
Alma Mater Salute
Clemson was originally a military school, and during the college’s early military days, first-year students wore rat caps and waved them in the air during every football game. Today, after singing the alma mater, students and alumni still wave their hands in the air with thumbs folded underneath as though holding a cap.
Clemson Ring 
The iconic Clemson Ring, branded by the palmetto tree and Clemson C, is earned by all students once they complete 90 credit hours and has seen no change since 1939. Out of the thousands of colleges and universities nationwide, Clemson University has the second-highest ring purchase rate, falling second only to Texas A&M, which has more than triple the number of students. A Ring Ceremony is held each semester where students earning their Rings are celebrated. Although the ring has been around since the 1800s, the ceremony is relatively new. The tradition began in the spring of 2000. Attendance at the first Ring Ceremony totaled approximately 30 students. Twenty-three years later, that number has increased by more than 700%, as thousands of Clemson students will receive their ring this fall on Oct. 29! 
Senior Sidewalks 
As you take your first steps around campus, make sure to look down and pay special attention to the sidewalks under your feet. Look close enough, and you’ll spot names engraved on the paths you walk on. These are the names of alumni who were once exactly in your shoes! In the 1950s, graduating seniors began raising money to build sidewalks and carved their names into the bricks to leave their forever imprint on Clemson. Today, the names of more than 53,000 alumni have been engraved.
Clemson Blue Cheese
Whether you’re a blue cheese fan or not, you must at least try a taste of Clemson’s famous homemade brand! The University has been producing its own blue cheese on campus since the 1950s. Today you can purchase Clemson blue cheese in the Hendrix Student Center on campus, in local grocery stores and even online. 
Clemson Ice Cream
If you have a sweet tooth, there is no better cure than the ice cream at Clemson’s ‘55 Exchange. The ‘55 Exchange was a gift from the class of 1955 and is an entirely student-run enterprise that sells, makes and markets various Clemson dairy products. The shop’s ice cream was voted #1 Ranked University Ice Cream in the country by College Magazine, so make sure to grab a scoop or two this year!