Photos: USC hosts annual Clemson tiger burn in preparation for rivalry game

The University of South Carolina held its annual Tiger Burning ceremony at the Bluff Road Intermural Field on Nov. 21, 2022. The USC American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers constructed the 32.5-foot-tall Clemson Tiger statue that was burned in preparation for the USC-Clemson Rivalry game on Nov. 26, 2022.

This year’s festivities included performances from the South Carolina marching band, color guard, and cheer team. Vice president for student affairs and academic support J. Rex Tolliver and head football coach Shane Beamer made speeches on stage prior to lighting the flame.

Photos by: Xavier Martin, Jaylen Anderson, Sydney Connor, and Esha Ahir

The blaze begins as the flames quickly catch and spread throughout the 32.5-foot-tall Celmson Tiger Statue. Fireworks are set off in the background for added effect.

The Clemson Tiger statue was set ablaze during the Tiger Burning ceremony and within five minutes was nearly entirely burnt. The firework show rages on in the background as the crowd cheers.

USC football head coach Shane Beamer was the special guest at the annual tiger burn event on Nov. 21, 2022. UofSC students watched proudly as Beamer riled up the crowd to signal the start of the annual Tiger Burn ceremony.

Head coach Shane Beamer takes the stage during the opening ceremony of the annual USC Tiger Burn on Nov. 21, 2022. Beamer gets the crowd amped up in preparation for the Tiger Burn and the upcoming South Carolia-Clemson rivalry match on Nov. 26, 2022.

The Clemson Tiger statue stands at 32.5-feet tall before the blaze begins. This year the the engineering team wrnt with a rounder face than the previous octagonal models in previous years.

The 30-foot tall, orange and white, Clemson Tiger statue towers over a large crowd of USC students on Nov. 21, 2022. The tiger was constructed in the middle of the Bluff Road Intermural field by the USC American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers constructed the effigy for this year's event.

UofSC engineering students set fire to the tiger at the annual Tiger Burn at Bluff Road Intermural Field on Nov. 21, 2022.. Doors opened at 5:30, and the fire began promptly at 7:00 p.m.

Students watch as the giant wood and steel-beam Clemson Tiger bursts into flames during the USC Tiger Burning Ceremony on Nov. 21, 2022. USC hosts this event annually during the week leading up to the South Carolina-Clemson football rival match the following Saturday. This year Clemson is hosting the game at their field, "Death Valley" on Nov. 26, 2022.

USC students and fans watch as the 30-foot Clemson Tiger effigy bursts into flames and fireworks launch into the air on Nov. 21, 2022. The annual Tiger Burning ceremony takes place during rivaly week and sets the stage for the upcoming USC-Clemson rivalry match on Nov. 26, 2022.

Third-year nursing major Rose Ferguson plays the air-guitar with Cockey during the playing of "Eye of the Tiger" after the USC Tiger Burning on Nov. 21, 2022. USC hosts this event annually during the week leading up to the South Carolina-Clemson football rival match the following Saturday. This year Clemson is hosting the game at their field, "Death Valley."

Freshman biomedical engineering students Gabby Cordell (on left) and Chloe Quinton (on right) pose in front of the burned-down Clemson Tiger statue on Nov. 21, 2022. USC hosts this event annually during the week leading up to the South Carolina-Clemson football rival match the following Saturday. This year Clemson is hosting the game at their field, "Death Valley" on Nov. 26, 2022.

Twyla Wafford Stowe, a 2005 USC graduate and former Cocky mascot introduces her seven-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Sarah Jo Stowe to Cocky after the USC Tiger Burning ceremony on Nov. 21, 2022. USC hosts this event annually during the week leading up to the South Carolina-Clemson football rival match the following Saturday. This year Clemson is hosting the game at their field, "Death Valley" on Nov. 26, 2022.