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Coach Swinney and players at the National Championship prior to the game

B-Note January 16, 2020

January 16, 2020

Greetings fellow Tigers!

What an amazing season for our Clemson Tigers! It certainly wasn’t the outcome that any of us had hoped for, but the results of the National Championship game can in no way diminish the feelings of pride and overwhelming respect the Clemson family has for our players and coaches. It speaks to the special culture of Clemson that even when we suffer a great defeat, our players react with grace and a level of humility. In times of adversity, we become more determined to hold our heads up and start working with perseverance and grit to come back stronger than ever. As difficult as the loss was, we have to give credit and admiration to the LSU Tigers on their victory and amazing season.

LSU may have won the battle on the football field, but Clemson is a clear winner in the classroom after a decade of crippling budget cuts to higher education in Louisiana. Whether it is the annual rankings by U.S. News & World Report, spending per student, student/teacher ratios, graduation rates or admissions selectivity, Clemson consistently ranks higher than LSU. Click here to read the entire article, “LSU vs. Clemson in the classroom: There’s a crystal clear winner in that matchup.”

Regardless of who is winning in what categories, Clemson is working with the LSU Tigers to make significant impacts across the globe. Leading up to the Championship game, President Clements and Interim LSU President Galligan joined together to write a wonderful article highlighting the academic achievements of our two great universities. Clemson and LSU – both championship universities – are serving the states of South Carolina and Louisiana and beyond through their students, faculty, staff and alumni.

“If there’s good work being done, especially in South Carolina and Louisiana, don’t be surprised if there’s a ‘tiger’ leading the way. And, in a number of ways, Tigers are working with Tigers to make the world a better place.” Click here to read more about how our two universities are working together in academics to make an impact on the world.

Join me in congratulating our men’s basketball team. Fresh off a noteworthy win over the North Carolina Tar Heels, the Clemson University men’s basketball team took down another ACC rival on Tuesday, as the Tigers upset No. 3 Duke. Clemson downed the Blue Devils 79-72 at Littlejohn Coliseum, leading to a court storming and marking the first time since the 1995-96 campaign that the Tigers defeated Duke and North Carolina in the same season. This marked Clemson Head Coach Brad Brownell’s 178th victory at the helm of the Tiger program, making him the all-time winningest head coach in Clemson men’s basketball history. Congratulations, Tigers! The Tigers head to Raleigh this Saturday to face North Carolina State. Your next opportunity to watch the Tigers at home is Tuesday, January 21 against Wake Forest. Go Tigers!

Clemson basketball team celebrates win against Duke

B-Hopeful for the Future!
In the face of defeat, the true nature of the Clemson Tiger is more evident than ever. Clemson is special, and we continue to show the world why. It’s the people – our students, our alumni, our faculty and staff, our donors. It’s the Clemson family. Whether we win or lose, we do it with honor. Even during the most difficult losses, we are forever hopeful for the future, and that’s because of the support of each of you. Thank you for everything you do for Clemson – today, tomorrow and forever.

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke