|
|
Death Valley
Name synonymous with Clemson Memorial Stadium. The Stadium was dubbed this affectionate title by the late Lonnie
McMillian, a former coach at Presbyterian. He used to take his teams to play at Clemson, and they rarely scored,
never mind gained a victory. Once he told the writers he was going to play Clemson up at Death Valley because his
teams always got killed. It stuck somewhat, but when Frank Howard start calling it that in the fifties, the term
really caught on. It is now in its 54th year.
Many people think the name is derived from the fact that there rests a cemetary outside the fence on the press box site
of the stadium. But, although it would make sense, the name was first coined by Lonnie McMillian.
Howard's Rock
Originally in Death Valley, this rock made its way
to Clemson in 1966 via 1919 Alumnus S. C. Jones. It was placed on the top of the hill, by the
football stadium. Coach Frank Howard told his players before a Wake Forest game that if they
gave more than their best effort that they could touch the rock. With a victory of 26-3, the
players all rubbed the rock. Ever since then, it has been a tradition to rub Howard's Rock
before every home game.
|
|
|
|
