The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum today unveiled an officially licensed, limited-edition Clemson Tigers Stripe the Valley Bobblehead featuring Clemson’s mascot, The Tiger. On Saturday, September 12th, Clemson will hold the school’s first “Stripe the Valley” event ever for the Tigers’ non-conference home opener against Georgia Southern under the lights at Memorial Stadium. The special edition bobblehead is being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of Clemson University.
Proudly wearing a No. 1 orange football jersey, The Tiger bobblehead is standing on an orange and purple “Stripe the Valley” logo base. Each bobblehead is individually numbered to 2,026 and they are available exclusively through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The bobbleheads, which are expected to ship in February, are $40 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.
Fans heading to the game will need to check their section and make sure they’re wearing the right color which could be orange, purple, or white. The look is designed to visually replicate the distinct white and purple stripe on Clemson’s orange football helmet in the middle sections of Death Valley. It is the first time in school history that Clemson will attempt this level of color-coordinated crowd participation at a football game.
Clemson’s iconic orange and purple colors are the result of an administrative change led by Dr. Walter Merritt Riggs, the university’s first football coach. Originally, the first class of 1896 chose garnet and navy blue as the first colors of Clemson. Because those colors were easily confused with their rival, the University of South Carolina, Riggs changed them to gold (which transitioned to orange) and purple. As a graduate and former athlete at Auburn, Riggs based Clemson’s new look on Auburn’s orange and blue colors. According to popular football legend, the orange and purple color scheme occurred because coach Riggs brought old, sun-faded blue and orange practice jerseys from Auburn to Clemson. The blue jerseys had faded so badly in the sun that they appeared purple.
"We are excited to unveil this bobblehead commemorating Clemson’s first ‘Stripe the Valley’ game for their home opener against Georgia Southern this Saturday at Memorial Stadium,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “Death Valley will certainly be a sight to behold when the Tigers kick off a night to remember. This bobblehead is sure to be a must-have for fans of the Clemson Tigers and those who attend the game!”