2002

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2002 in Clemson History

Events in 2002

Clemson beats USC, 27-20
  • Mock Turtle Soup is founded.
  • January: Best Practices in Black Student Achievement conference founded to commemorate the 40th anniversary of desegregation of public higher education in South Carolina.
  • May 9: Clemson has its only commencement exercises in Memorial Stadium due to renovations at Littlejohn Coliseum. An unexpected thunderstorm abruptly ends the ceremony before it can be completed.
  • May 10: Clemson's 106th Commencement takes place in Memorial Stadium for the first and only time. Despite being considered a "rain or shine" event it is cut short by strong thunder and lightning. Students, faculty, and guests were asked to take shelter inside the stadium for their own safety and remaining diplomas were distributed. Although the storm passed and the sun was back out within an hour, the ceremony did not continue. President James F. Barker, however, made himself available on the stage for the many students who did not get to hear their name called to have their picture taken and shake his hand continuing a long standing Clemson tradition.
  • June 17: The two-mile portion of South Carolina Highway 93 that runs though the Clemson University campus is being named to honor a man who has been described as "the epitome of what love and loyalty for Clemson University are all about." "Walter T. Cox Boulevard" honors the university's 10th president and former dean of students. The boulevard will extend from the S.C 93 intersection with U.S. Highway 76 through campus to the Pickens-Oconee county line at the Lake Hartwell Seneca River bridge. A resolution, introduced in the S.C. House of Representatives by representatives Bud Webb, Rex Rice and Teddy Trotter, requested the state department of transportation name the stretch of highway for "Dean Cox," as he was known to generations of Clemson students. Senators Thomas Alexander and Larry Martin gained the concurrence of the state Senate for the resolution. Cox was informed of the resolution during a Clemson Reunion 2002 alumni luncheon this past weekend. "It's really a shocker, but one of the greatest honors one can have," the president emeritus said. "To have that highway that I travel every day called 'Cox Boulevard' --- I can't explain it." "I can't imagine a more appropriate name for the road that ties the Clemson campus together than the name of the man who has tied the Clemson community together for so many years," said Clemson University President James F. Barker. "I am grateful to the state for honoring Walter Cox in this way." "It's really important to recognize a community's icons, and think Walter Cox certainly qualifies as one," added Clemson Mayor Larry Abernathy. "He has worked tirelessly for every aspect of this community." Webb said naming S.C. 93 through campus after Cox is a fitting tribute to the former dean. "It's appropriate that the main entrances to the campus --- whether you come in from the east or west --- will bring up the fond memories that thousands of alumni have of Dean Cox," Webb said.
  • June 22: Clemson's fifteenth basketball coach Bobby Roberts, passes away at his home in Aiken, South Carolina, where he had battled lung cancer for several years. He was 74. During the 1966-1967 season, the Tigers went 17-8 - their best record in 63 years. Clemson went 9-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, including a streak of seven straight wins - a school record that still stands. The Tigers went 8-6 in the ACC the previous season, and Roberts remains the only Clemson coach to post consecutive winning conference records. He's also the only Clemson coach to defeat North Carolina four times in as many years. Roberts is survived by his wife Bobbie Ann, and children Mike, the men's basketball coach at South Carolina-Aiken, and Lessie.
  • June 27: Waffle House No. 1524 opens on Tiger Boulevard.
  • June 28: The two-year-old golf practice facility at Clemson is named the Bobby Robinson Golf Practice Facility in honor of the retiring director of athletics who served as head golf coach from 1974 to 1983.
  • June 30: Bobby Robinson retires after 17 years as Clemson Athletic Director. He first arrived at the university in 1970. Robinson is named the Senior Associate Director of Athletics at Georgia Tech on July 30, 2003, announced by Yellow Jacket Director of Athletics Dave Braine.
  • July 1: Terry Don Phillips takes over as Clemson Athletic Director.
  • Summer: The bulk of Johnstone Hall (sections D,E and F) is razed.
  • August 18: The clock in the Tillman Hall tower is currently not displaying the correct time due to a mechanical breakdown. A new mechanism has been ordered from the clockworks manufacturer. The University's facilities department anticipate the repairs will be completed in about two weeks.
  • August 31: The Tigers travel to Athens to meet number eight-ranked Georgia in a night game, losing, 28-31.
  • September 7: Clemson defeats Louisiana Tech at home, 33-13.
  • September 14: The Tigers down Georgia Tech, 24-19, in Memorial Stadium.
  • September 21: Clemson beats Ball State in Death Valley, 30-7.
  • October 3: Bowden Bowl IV - Son Tommy again loses to dad Bobby in the only father-son head coaching face-off in the history of college football as the Tigers go down in Tallahassee night game to eleventh-ranked FSU, 31-48.
  • October 12: Tigers road trip to Virginia, lose, 17-22.
  • October 18Eugene T. Moore School of Education on this date. With a new focus that is to enhance educational leadership and teacher education, the new name recognizes the 1950 graduate's important role in the lives of many young people in this state and the commitment during his adult life to education as a teacher, coach and principal in Florence County, South Carolina.
  • October 19: Clemson defeats Wake Forest in Death Valley, 31-23.
  • October 20: ClemsonTALK.com is founded.
  • Fall: The Esso Club changes hands, closes for remodelling.
  • October 24: The Tigers lose night game at N.C. State to ninth-ranked Wolfpack, 6-38.
  • November 2: Clemson travels to Duke, wins, 34-31.
  • November 5: Frasier is tricked into speaking Klingon at a Bar Mitzvah on the hit series "Frasier" episode Star Mitzvah. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGZV6fsotYo&feature=related
  • November 9: On a road trip, the Tigers defeat North Carolina, 42-12.
  • November 16: Clemson plays night game at nineteenth-ranked Maryland, losing, 12-30.
  • November 23: Clemson beats University of South Carolina, 27-20 at Clemson, S.C. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH4C5hN3aMI
  • December 23: Clemson takes on Texas Tech in the Mazda Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Florida but the Tigers fall to the Red Raiders, 15-55, to conclude a 7-6 season, 4-4 in conference for fifth place in the ACC.



2001 The 2000's 2003