It absolutely was 1977, the few days of yearly competition football game anywhere between Clemson and you may the fresh new University out-of Sc, the season perulainen naiset regarding “The fresh Catch,” when Steve Fuller ’79 struck Jerry Butler ’80 to help you victory when you look at the the last few mere seconds.
Zan Wells still gets happy whenever she covers it. “It had been my personal tip,” she states, “painting Tiger Paws away from Greenville as much as Columbia.”
Their own husband, Joel Wells ’57, ordered on suggestion, plus they been performs. Zan produced stencils off brown kraft paper; they determined a correct Sherwin-Williams color color of lime. It tested the actual idea in their driveway.
Joel stored a meeting away from other alumni and nearest and dearest have been similarly enthusiastic – at Holiday Inn towards We-26 when you look at the Clinton. The guy and you can Zan distributed kraft report themes of one’s Tiger Paw including decorate demands. A few days till the games, the brand new templates was indeed distributed to a much bigger category having rigid advice.
50 quick teams was basically tasked either one or two weird-designated kilometer indicators between Mauldin and you may Columbia, which have information getting during the the designated kilometer marker within dos a great.meters., willing to paint a good Tiger Paw in the exact middle of the right-hands way out-of I-385 and i also-26.
The initial paw from inside the Mauldin ended up being assigned to Joel’s cousin Jimmy Wells ’54. Centered on Zan, Jimmy and you will Friend Wallace ’56 reached the interest, parked and you may got the machine out if the Mauldin Police drove up and asked about whatever they have been undertaking.
“Changing drivers” is the fresh new brief response, as well as tossed that which you back in the automobile. A little while spooked, it didn’t go back to end up.
Immediately following you to definitely, my personal mobile phone rang, and you can trustee emeritus Allen Wood requested, “However, exactly what are the facts about whenever Tiger Paws had been coated entirely from Greenville so you’re able to Columbia?
Therefore Zan and you can Joel painted this after they done the own assignment. “Next we drove as much as Columbia to be sure they certainly were the decorated,” claims Zan.
Cal McMeekin ’65 got assigned the past kilometer marker future towards Columbia to your We-26. He had been wishing. He had drawn a jigsaw and you will a piece of step 3/4-inch plywood and you will made use of the brown paper stencil to manufacture good durable plywood stencil. “With a painting roller,” he states, “you can place one to down on the newest highway and have now they carried out in fifteen to twenty mere seconds.”
That basic paw went rapidly they chose to endure – “down Huger Path, to help you Bluff Roadway, as well as on to your stadium.”
They were equipped with CB radios, and every party got a single-big date “handle” to identify its location and you can report completion
“I coated the second paw at the conclusion of I-126 where Elmwood Method forks out over this new kept,” claims McMeekin. “Regarding the a mile down Huger Roadway we put a 3rd paw.” As they were doing you to third paw, it noticed that these people were nearly directly in top of your own Richland Condition Sheriff’s Service and you may state prison.
“I ran across it was not this new wisest issue getting an excellent 34-year-old having a wife and family unit members to-be starting,” says McMeekin. “A day later, the final paw towards the Huger Highway appeared in The official newspaper in addition to a story in regards to the drawings.” One to photos nevertheless hangs inside the McMeekin’s workplace on their house.
It’s the form of prank you could potentially predict off a team off people. But, McMeekin says, “These paws weren’t decorated of the people, but of the 35- so you’re able to fifty-year-olds which have a passion for Clemson and you will a soul of experiencing fun.”
Editor’s notice: Regarding the slip 2022 material, we ran a story in regards to the earliest Tiger Paws coated towards the trail causing Clemson. You need to talk with Cal McMeekin.”
That phone call been a process that has ended using this type of tale – and you will our gratitude in order to Allen Wood to own giving us a guideline.