2003

2003 in Clemson History

Events in 2003

• "Integration with Dignity: A Celebration of Harvey Gantt's Admission to Clemson", Eisiminger, Skip, editor, is published by the Clemson University Digital Press, Clemson, South Carolina, ISBN 0-9741516-1-0. Some information on the site is sourced from this volume.
• A documentary, "Carolina First Presents Bragging Rites: The Carolina-Clemson Rivalry", produced by Big Thursday Productions, is released.
• Hardin Hall reopens after a complete renovation.
• Hurricane's closes.
• January: The Cheap Seats Bus is built, and a new Clemson tradition begins.
• After Barbara Logan steps down as Director of the School of Nursing, Rosanne Pruitt fills the position as Interim Director.
• January 5: Littlejohn Coliseum reopens after its remodelling and expansion when the Tigers host Duke.
• February 1: The Space Shuttle Columbia, OV-102, is lost as it reenters after a two-week mission, STS-107. Damage to the shuttle's thermal protection system (TPS) leads to structural failure in the shuttle's left wing and, ultimately, the spacecraft breaking apart. Investigations after the tragedy reveal the damage to the reinforced carbon-carbon leading edge wing panel had resulted from a piece of insulation foam breaking away from the external tank during the launch and hitting shuttle's wing. All seven astronauts were killed.
• Spring: The Esso Club begins offering liquor.
• April 5: Oliver Purnell is named as the new Clemson head basketball coach.
• Spring: Clemson for Peace holds a series of peace rallies calling for a peaceful solution to the Iraq Crisis and ultimately second Persian Gulf War (now referred to as the "War in Iraq" by most media).
• Playboy comes to Clemson for the Women of the ACC. The photoshoot takes place at TD's and three women are chosen.
• June 26: Senator Strom Thurmond dies, age 100, after an illness of several weeks.
• August 22: The newly renovated Littlejohn Coliseum hosts its first concert, a show by Hank Williams, Jr.
• August 22-August 24: Spittoono XXIII, Massively Redneck, music festival held at the National Guard Armory baseball field.
• August 30: Clemson faces traditional rival Georgia, raked eleventh, in Death Valley for the last time for many years to come. Due to expanded Southeast Conference obligations, 2013 is the next time the Tigers can host the Bulldogs. Clemson is embarrassed by the eleventh-ranked Dawgs, 30-0. Tiger fans are NOT happy. Jim Phillips calls his 400th game for Clemson during this match.
• September 6: Clemson beats Furman, 28-17, in Memorial Stadium. Although no one knew it at the time, this is the last game covered by Jim Phillips, the radio voice of the Clemson Tigers.
• September 9: Jim Phillips dies in hospital after being admitted with chest pains on the night of September 8. He was 69, and had covered the Tigers for 36 years, broadcasting football, basketball, and baseball games. He died at Greenville Memorial Hospital following seven hours of surgery after his aorta burst, the school said. Outside Clemson's booster office, the team's orange Tiger paw flag flew at half staff. The Clemson football team will wear the initials "JP" on its helmets during Saturday's game. "There has been a lot of tradition and history at Clemson and he's definitely a big part of it," football coach Tommy Bowden said. Phillips was the dean of Atlantic Coast Conference broadcasters.
• September 13: The Tigers defeat Middle Tennessee, 37-14, in Death Valley.
• September 20: Clemson plays Georgia Tech in Atlanta night game, wins, 39-3.
• October 4: Maryland beats Clemson in College Park, 7-21.
• October 11: Clemson defeats twenty-fifth-ranked Virginia in Memorial Stadium, 30-27, in overtime.
• October 16: The Tigers play at N.C. State in a night game, losing, 15-17.
• October 25: Clemson defeats North Carolina, 36-28, in Memorial Stadium.
• November 1: Tigers are defeated at Wake Forest, 17-45.
• November 4: 311 concert in Littlejohn Coliseum with opening act Alien Ant Farm.
• November 8: Bowden Bowl V - The jinx is broken! Tommy Bowden finally defeats Bobby Bowden in Death Valley in the only father-son head coaching match-up in college football history, with the Tigers beating the third-ranked Seminoles, 26-10.
• November 14: Lynyrd Skynyrd performs in Littlejohn Coliseum.
• November 15: Clemson defeats Duke in Death Valley, 40-7.
• November 22: When the Tigers thrash Coach Lou Holtz's Gamecocks, 63-17, in Columbia night game, Tommy Bowden becomes the first coach ever in NCAA history to defeat two opponent coaches with 200-plus wins, in a single month.
• December: Carl Singmaster, owner of Manifest Records on College Avenue will close all locations and lay off all 100 of its employees. Opening his first store 19 years ago, Singmaster has seen his trade in Clemson dry up almost overnight when the University installed broadband cable access on campus.

2002

The 2000's

2004