It actually was 1977, the latest week of your own yearly competition recreations video game anywhere between Clemson and you will new College of South carolina, the year out-of “New Hook,” whenever Steve Thicker ’79 hit Jerry Butler ’80 so you can win into the the previous couple of moments.

Zan Wells nevertheless becomes delighted whenever she discusses it. “It had been my suggestion,” she says, “color Tiger Paws away from Greenville all the way to Columbia.”

Their own husband, Joel Wells ’57, bought to the idea, and so they come performs. Zan made stencils out-of brown kraft report; they determined a correct Sherwin-Williams paint shade of lime. It checked-out out of the idea within their garage.

Joel stored a conference regarding almost every other alumni and you can friends who were similarly eager – during the Getaway Inn toward I-twenty six inside the Clinton. He and Zan delivered kraft papers themes of your Tiger Paw along with decorate demands. A few days through to the video game, this new layouts was shared with a much bigger group that have rigid guidelines.

50 short teams was in fact assigned either one or two odd-numbered distance indicators anywhere between Mauldin and Columbia, that have tips as on the appointed distance marker in the 2 an effective.yards., ready to painting a good Tiger Paw in the middle of the right-give lane of I-385 and i also-twenty-six.

The original paw when you look at the Mauldin was actually assigned to Joel’s sis Jimmy Wells ’54. Considering Zan, Jimmy and you may Pal Wallace ’56 achieved its appeal, parked and you can got the equipment aside if the Mauldin Police drove up and asked about whatever they was indeed starting.

“Altering motorists” is the newest short response, as well as threw what you back into the car. A little while spooked, it did not come back to finish.

Just after one, my personal cell phone rang, and you may trustee emeritus Allen Timber requested, “But what are the facts in the whenever Tiger Paws was indeed coated completely away from Greenville so you can Columbia?

So Zan and you will Joel coated that one after they accomplished the own project. “Then i drove of up to Columbia to be sure these were the decorated,” claims Zan.

Cal McMeekin ’65 had been assigned the very last kilometer marker upcoming to your Columbia with the I-twenty six. He had been waiting. He previously taken a good jigsaw and you will a layer away from step 3/4-inches plywood and you can made use of the brownish paper stencil to manufacture an effective durable plywood stencil. “With a paint roller,” according to him, “you could potentially lay one upon the brand new path and have now it carried out in fifteen to twenty seconds.”

You to basic paw ran so fast they made a decision to endure – “off Huger Street, so you can Bluff Road, and on towards stadium.”

They were armed with CB radios, each group got a single-time “handle” to determine their area and you will statement completion

“I coated the next paw after We-126 where Elmwood Path forks off to this new left,” miksi ei kokeilla tГ¤tГ¤ says McMeekin. “From the a mile off Huger Road i place a third paw.” As they were completing you to third paw, it realized that they certainly were nearly in direct front of the Richland Condition Sheriff’s Service and you will condition jail.

“I ran across it was not new best material having a 34-year-dated that have a partner and friends becoming undertaking,” claims McMeekin. “A day later, the last paw into the Huger Road appeared in The official magazine plus a story regarding illustrations.” One to images still hangs from inside the McMeekin’s place of work at the their house.

Simple fact is that form of prank you might assume away from a group off people. But, McMeekin states, “These types of paws weren’t painted by pupils, but by the thirty five- so you can 50-year-olds which have a passion for Clemson and you will a spirit of experiencing enjoyable.”

Editor’s note: About slide 2022 issue, we went a narrative concerning first Tiger Paws decorated to the the road leading to Clemson. You will want to talk with Cal McMeekin.”

One call been a process that is finished with this specific tale – and you can all of our appreciation to help you Allen Wood to have giving us a guideline.