Well, let me tell ya, “A Clemson Man Needs No Introduction”, that’s what they sayin’, right? Sounds fancy, but what it really means is, if you’re from Clemson, everybody already knows you’re somethin’ special. Like, you don’t gotta go around braggin’ or nothin’. People just know. It’s like, you see a fella wearin’ that orange and purple, you think, “Yep, that’s a Clemson man right there.” And that’s all there is to it.
Now, they got these shirts, see? Says “A Clemson Man Needs No Introduction” right on ’em. Comes in gray or orange, I hear. Fifty percent cotton, they say. Keeps ya comfy, I guess. But it ain’t just about the shirt, mind you. It’s about what’s inside that shirt. It’s about that Clemson spirit.
- It’s about them young’uns, graduating in December. Smart as whips, they are. Folks are proud of ’em, real proud. They don’t need no fancy talkin’, ’cause their actions speak louder than words. Clemson taught ’em good, see?
- Then there’s that cheer they do. “C-L-E-M…”, somethin’ somethin’… All them Tigers, roarin’ and shoutin’. Gets the blood pumpin’, I tell ya. Don’t matter if you’re near or far, you hear that cheer, you know it’s Clemson time. It’s like a battle cry, but for football, you know?
- And them rings they wear. Got some fancy words on ’em, somethin’ about “who shall separate us now?” Sounds mighty important. Means them Clemson folks, they stick together, through thick and thin. Like a family, almost. They share somethin’ special, somethin’ only they understand.
Heard tell of a fella named Howard, a coach, I reckon. Had a rock, he did. Said if you wanted good luck, you rub that rock. But you gotta give it your all, 110 percent, he said. No half-steppin’ allowed. That’s the Clemson way, see? You ain’t just showin’ up, you’re workin’ for it. You gotta earn that right to call yourself a Clemson man or woman, I suppose. Ain’t nobody gonna hand it to ya on a silver platter. And them rings? Well, them rings are like a promise you are one of them, that you did that hard work
So, what’s it all mean, this “A Clemson Man Needs No Introduction” stuff? It means you’re part of somethin’ bigger than yourself. It means you’re tough, you’re proud, and you don’t back down from a challenge. It means you carry that Clemson spirit with you, wherever you go. You are dedicated and have what it takes. It’s somethin’ they teach you, somethin’ you do, and ain’t nobody needs to tell you, and you don’t have to tell nobody else, either. They just know.
It’s not just the boys, neither. Them Clemson gals, they’re just as tough and smart. They got that same fire in their bellies. So, maybe it should be “A Clemson Person Needs No Introduction”, but I guess that don’t roll off the tongue as easy.
Anyways, that’s what I make of it. It ain’t just words, it’s a feelin’. A way of life, maybe. And that, my friends, is why a Clemson man needs no introduction. They just… are. And that’s enough.
Tags: [Clemson University, Clemson Man, Clemson Pride, Clemson Spirit, Clemson Tigers, College Football, Graduation, Tradition]
