Hold That Tiger

(The Tiger, my cousin Laura, my cousin Jennifer, and me)

If the stars line up right, I'll be attending the Clemson vs. USC game this Saturday. Granted, tickets are extremely difficult to come by when the teams suck, so with Clemson at 8-3 and the chickens at 6-5, at least one team as a shot at a decent bowl. And regardless of how each team has performed during the season, the game is always hugely exciting. Clemson has won many more than they have lost during my lifetime (and in the series overall), but every year it's all on the line for state pride. It's very rare that you run across a palmetto state native who doesn't align themselves with either school, even if he or she is not a graduate of one of the state's two largest schools. Look at me, for an example. I grew up in a die-hard Clemson family although only a few of my relatives attended Clemson themselves. Granted, none of us went to Carolina.

The University of South Carolina itself is not a bad school at all, and I wouldn't balk at attending the place were circumstances to dictate that it would be the best option for me. You can go to Carolina without having to become a chicken fan. Columbia's big enough to have transient students, and you don't have to have allegiance to the school if you attend. However, that's tougher at Clemson, as the town is small and school spirit is intertwined and evident around every corner. It's rare that you meet a Clemson grad who is not a Clemson fan. I don't think I ever have. Quite the contrary, most people who attended Clemson loved it and are huge Tiger fans. Their "blood runneth orange" as the saying goes.

This rivalry is as heated, tradition-steeped, and energetic as any in the country, despite not getting the media attention that many other rivalries receive. I think a lot of it comes from the size of the State of South Carolina. At just over four million people, the palmetto state sits in the dead-center, 25th, in population rankings. There are no intrastate rivalries in smaller states that garner more national attention. In fact, the only intrastate rivalry in a state of similar size that gets a lot of attention is Auburn - Alabama, and that's because at one time or another one or both of the programs have been very, very successful. Were it not for Bear Bryant, this game would be relegated to regional tv coverage year-in and year-out. The other big national rivalries are among very large schools and/or are in very large states (Texas - Texas A&M, Cal - Stanford, Southern Cal - Notre Dame, Ohio State-Michigan, Florida - Florida State, Southern Cal - UCLA, Michigan - Michigan State), Notre Dame being the exception, and there aren't words to describe how much I hate them or the amount of bullshit free attention they get from the national sports media.

Provided T-Bird gets over his bronchitis (which he will, I know it!!!), he will joining me, as well as my wonderful friend Rich (well, he is one of those Carolina grads and chicken fans) and his boyfriend Curry (an Alabama grad, but chicken fan by association, I'm sure). The latter two have tickets, T-Bird and I do not. Now it's time for my dad, the ticket man with all the connections, to come through. As of this morning he didn't have any yet (for us or even for himself), but a lot can happen between now and Saturday.

I'm flying home on Thanksgiving morning, nonstop to GSP, so I'll be home in time for lunch. I'll be returning to DC on Tuesday morning, November 28, on the first flight back. It should be a lovely time back at the homestead.

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!