Howard’s Rock, the iconic chunk of stone sitting atop a pedestal at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium, was vandalized on June 2 or 3, according to a statement from Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich:
Howard’s Rock Vandalized
The iconic Clemson football landmark was damaged by vandals earlier this month.
Joshua S. Kelly-US PRESSWIRE
A small portion of the Rock was broken off of its pedestal after vandals broke the casing that protects the artifact.
“We take vandalism, especially of such an important part of our history, very seriously,” said Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich. “Police are investigating.”
Orange and White, a Clemson news site, published pictures of the damaged rock on Twitter:
Football: Before/after pic of Howard's Rock - orangeandwhite.com/photos/2013/ju… #Clemson twitter.com/orangeandwhite…
— Orange and White (@orangeandwhite) June 13, 2013
Howard’s Rock, originally used by former Tigers coach Frank Howard as a doorstop, has been at the top of a hill near the stadium’s eastern end zone for 47 years. Howard had been sent the rock by an alum, who claimed it came from Death Valley, Calif. Players touch the rock before they sprint down the hill onto the field.
The Clemson ROTC have been charged with protecting Howard’s Rock before the Tigers’ annual game with South Carolina since it was vandalized in 1992, but there is no full-time security for the stone.
In April, paw prints reminiscent of the Clemson logo appeared on South Carolina’s football turf. If this was retaliation for that affront, no one would be surprised.
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