<p>My2Angels and septembermom</p>
<p>Here is the perfect Christmas gift for your boys to wear to Clemson games next year!</p>
<p>Motherdear,
Oh my goodness! I thought the sweatshirt son bought was bright, but those pants take the cake. Will send site to some friends whose daughter attends Clemson. They have become diehard Tiger fans. Think they went to game against BC yesterday, although Clemson did not win I heard.</p>
<p>Just went to your link ,motherdear and saw the Gamecocks version as well. Kind of liked them....hmmmm, my husbands birthday is coming up, wonder what he would think if I gave those to him LOL (I think my daughter would die if he wore them)</p>
<p>Hi PA Mom,</p>
<p>IMHO, PA Dad would fit right in with the alumni and students! </p>
<p>I pm'ed you with a b'day suggestion. :)</p>
<p>Please remember that there is a variety of types of colleges in the south as in the north. My son goes to a small liberal arts college in the south that has no fraternities and no football team and where most students wouldn't be caught dead in a popped collar polo. I believe that northern students are more than welcomed - they are desireable to the school and other students. I simply could not imagine a northern student being anything other than warmly welcomed and most southern students would think it a plus to have a northern roommate. Again, if your student is not comfortable with certain aspects of a school, find another. But not because the majority of students are southern.</p>
<p>As a lifelong Southerner I've lived, worked and studied with people from all over the country. I don't think geographic origin affects how a person is accepted as much as his or her attitude.</p>
<p>There are northerners I've lived and worked with for years, and never thought twice about where they came from, or if I did, I enjoyed and appreciated their differences, as they did mine.</p>
<p>But...there are some people who move to the South with a huge chip on their shoulder about it. You constantly hear from them about how backwards we are, about how frightened they are of us, how stupid we sound when we talk, how much they hate our food, how much better everything is back home, etc. (There are people who move from the South to the North who do the exact same thing, of course, but that's not what you asked.)</p>
<p>I'd say, think about what attitudes your child has about the South now, and in general, how he reacts to new situations. Some kids have a harder time adjusting to change than others or have strong biases toward their own region; those kids, wherever they come from, are probably happier sticking with the familiar.</p>
<p>Also, if your child is a very private person, he may not like the South (at least not New Orleans). People have a much closer conversational distance (one to two feet), touch more in conversation, and may have fewer "out of bounds" topics.* For example, it's pretty normal down here to inquire about people's families, even if you've never met them. How's your mom? She get that operation yet? What's she think about XYZ? Your baby brother, how's the new school working out? For us, not probing these issues in minute detail is considered borderline rude, but to people not used to our ways, it can seem overwhelmingly intrusive.</p>
<p>*When my sister had breast cancer, it was pretty common for people I barely knew to ask me "Have you had yours checked yet?"</p>
<p>I have no experience with other southern schools but Clemson has to be one of the most friendly places on earth. If school spirit is important to you, then Clemson should most definitley be on your list.</p>
<p>My best friend's son is at Clemson. He likes it a lot, but did say that when it came time to fraternity rushing/pledging, there were quite a few fraternities that didn't warm to northerners. He also found the dorm rules, especially re. visiting girls' rooms, a little conservative, so moved off campus his sophomore year.</p>
<p>Wow - all this talk of buttoned down shirts and ties. My son HATES dressing up so I guess it's a good thing he didn't end up choosing one of the fine southern schools on our list. He is also quite private and not at all religious. I'm sure he would find his place but it might be a bit harder. And he would avoid all football games if a tie was required.
It really depends on the kid - but I can see why some hesitate.</p>
<p>We were at the BC-Clemson football game yesterday (Go BC) and we were simply amazed by all those Tiger Paws and what seems to be every item of clothing being made in orange. Those Clemson fans were just awesome. I got into a conversation with several of them and guess what...they were commenting on how nice everyone in Boston was (except the "T" workers, but that's a whole other story!). Like I said earlier...nice people are everywhere. As a southern transplant to MA, I had culture shock when I first moved here, but have quickly learned to love New England. Our world is getting smaller everyday and differences are becoming less and less noticeable. Oh - and I love Chick fil a also.</p>
<p>At my S's school the only people who really dress up for the football games are mostly the fraternity and sorority members. My S is not in a frat. and regularly attends games in t-shirt, shorts, and his rainbows plus a hoody sweatshirt when the weather gets cooler.</p>
<p>Kathiep - I do not at all think Northerners are entirely cold and unfriendly! They are not as friendly as Southerners as a group. Also in cities, like NYC, for example, street smarts and perhaps the fallout from living in such close quarters, makes people less likely to make eye contact, and strike up casual conversations in the grocery line - very common in the South. But that doesn't mean they are unfriendly - last time I was in NYC, it was extremely cold, the city was virtually shut down by the cold and a moderate snowfall - New Yorkers were very helpful, and peole were talking to strangers about the weather, particularly when they realized I had picked this time to visit, etc.</p>
<p>Motherdear, thanks for the link on those pants. They were a bit too expensive for my taste, but I got a really good laugh anyway. Can't believe anyone would actually wear them!</p>
<p>Dogwood, how was the game? I was disappointed that ABC did not broadcast it here in NY. Must have been exciting... double overtime! My son was hoping he could have gone to the game with the Marching Band, but they only took 40 of the members. He said it was mainly Seniors that got to go. Two of his good friends from high school go to BC, so he would have enjoyed seeing them. Maybe in a few years.</p>
<p>Oh they are worn all right. In fact I want to see them at my kid's school with the university trident not just in men's slacks but a skirt version for women. I'm too old to look cute in a sundress!</p>
<p>My #1 son's old college roommate from NJ was just down to visit (NC). He's trying to find a job in the Carolinas because after going to school at Elon and then returning home he has found he misses the southern life too much. He also always leaves here with about 6 gallons of sweet tea from Bojangles in his car :).</p>
<p>As one who has visited several Southern colleges (including Clemson) where the students are really "into" their football teams, I can say that students do not walk around in ties or long sleeve button down shirts (unless it's a button down shirt worn loosely and open over a Tshirt -- like Ray Romano wears on TV). A few might have some short sleeve casual style button down shirts that they wear with khaki shorts or jeans. </p>
<p>Like most schools where kids live on campus, the southern kids fall out of bed and grab whatever is clean -- shorts, pants, jeans, Tshirts, polos, sweats, whatever.</p>
<p>Yes, the frat boys do wear khaki shorts, pricey polos (a few with popped collars), Rainbows and pricey sun glasses with a cord. </p>
<p>On game days, mostly everyone wears the school colors in Tshirts, hoodies, or regular sweatshirts.</p>
<p>
[quote]
appropriate dress for football games at Wake, Chapel Hill, Richmond, UVa and W&L is most definitely sundress for girls and oxford&tie for guys
[/quote]
</p>
<p>At Chapel Hill? Good lord no. Only the Greeks, and even then maybe just for homecoming.</p>
<p>I think the dress issue varies by southern school. I understand that they DID dress up at UVA football games in the past, but now, must students were orange tshirts. I'm not sure about Wake but we were told that formal dress for football was the norm at W&L. Of all the southern schools we visited, UNC-CH seemed to be the most casual.</p>
<p>Appropriate dress at Clemson games --- whatever is cool, comfortable & ORANGE :-) Frat boys stand out in shirts, ties, khaki pants and FLIP FLOPS.
Sorority girls are dressed up a bit more than the others but don't stand out so much.</p>
<p>Back in the day, appropriate fan attire for football games at that well-known NON-Southern school of Harvard was suit and tie for males and suit/dress, nylons and heels for females. I still remember the charming navy suit with yellow piping that I used to wear. I also wore my first (only?) Peck and Peck knit jacket/dress (cost: $70 in 1967!) to a game when it rained the whole time. Dress was ruined, but it never occurred to me to wear rain gear (I guess maybe we were just as lunatic as our own kids are now).</p>
<p><em>we now return you to your regularly scheduled thread on Southern schools</em></p>