Class at Clemson

Clemson has a old tradition of preaching a funeral over a dead rooster before the Carolina game. In memory of the six USC students who died in a beach house fire October 28, Clemson students are not going to do the funeral nor burn the Gamecock in effigy this year. WLTX (channel 19 in Columbia, SC) reports:

In place of 'Big Thursday,' the school will hold what they're calling a "Fowl Fest" at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 15. The event will be held on the lawn of the school president's home.

School officials said they felt that something different would be more appropriate this year.

“After hearing the news of everything that happened, and especially being at the vigil that brought so many people together to mourn, the decision was obvious,” said Anastasia Thyroff, a senior marketing major from Pittsford, N.Y., and co-chair of Fowl Fest in a written release. “During this time of grieving, there needs to be a time of celebration, not a time of rivalry. We look forward to having the traditional Big Thursday come back next year, but this year was definitely not the right time.”

The event is called 'Fowl Fest' because both of Clemson's final opponents, Boston College and USC, feature bird mascots.

Good decision, Tigers. Don't sheath any claws on the football field, of course, but fires and funerals aren't funny this year.

UPDATE 11/13/07: Carolina cancels "Tiger Burn" too

I'm relieved to see the students at USC came to the same conclusion as Clemson. Frankly, WLTX's story yesterday didn't do them any favors, but today brought the right response: credit where credit is due. I'll even be nice and write it in their school color, too.