Wedding & Event Venue near Clemson, SC

SMU free agent RB Chris Johnson Jr. visited Clemson Saturday (6-0 184) per TigerNet. Johnson also visited the end zone in Death Valley on October 18 with a six-yard run with 1:03 to play to clinch the win for the Mustangs. He had 59 yards on six carries that day. On the season, Johnson rushed for 479 yards and four touchdowns, and averaged 7.1 yards per carry. Johnson was recruited by Clemson out of high school in Fort Lauderdale. He originally committed to Rutgers. He later made official visits to Clemson and Miami. He eventually signed with the Hurricanes and spent two seasons there. Johnson is one of the fastest players in college football.

Free agent DE CJ Wesley (6-2 240) of Howard was offered by Clemson on Saturday. He was in for a visit on Friday. This season, he had 33 tackles with 5.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. He also forced two fumbles and recovered one. He also visited Texas Tech this week.

Clemson target LB Matai Tagoa’I visited Arizona on Saturday. He’s also been to Colorado and Clemson.

Clemson target DT Francis Brewu of Pitt visited Ohio State on Saturday.

Pete Nakos reported Clemson DT Caden Story withdrew from the Transfer Portal.

South Carolina added long snapper Emmett Rhodes (5-10 225) out of the free agent market from Western Carolina. He’s a Chicago native who has also snapped at Florida A&M and Akron. He is the Gamecocks’ 13 take from the Portal.

South Carolina targets DE Drew Collins and his brother, DT Kelby Collins, could be ready to make their decisions known based on a post Saturday night by Drew on X. The pair visited South Carolina, Auburn, Kentucky and Mississippi State.

South Carolina free agent target DE Chaz Coleman agreed to contract terms with Tennessee, according to On3.

Former South Carolina WR Vandrevius Jacobs to Miami.

Former South Carolina WR Brian Rowe has reached a free agent agreement with UCLA.

Former South Carolina QB Air Noland visited Memphis on Saturday. He began his career at Ohio State before spending last season as a reserve at USC. (Pete Nakos)

Former Clemson OL Rowan Byrne has signed a free agent deal with North Carolina.

Greenwood native RB Jaylen Foster of Itawamba JC, MS committed to Southern Miss.

South Carolina commitment CB Aamaury Fountain visited Florida on Saturday. He was offered by Ohio State earlier in the week.

Catawba Ridge CB Joshua Dobson visited Auburn on Saturday.

You don't have to be from South Carolina to know the unbridled enthusiasm that consumes the Clemson club. Any Georgian or Alabamian has lost at least one of their own to the renowned public institution after high school, and those kids have been bleeding orange ever since. Out-of-staters don't mind, typically. Who cares? The Gamecocks. The state rivalry between the two colleges is legendary, but we're not here to dive into the intricacies of the Palmetto Bowl.

Collegiate football aside, Clemson, South Carolina, is just a small mountain town nestled in the Blue Ridge foothills. Sure, it's home to the Clemson University Tigers and Death Valley, but there also happens to be plenty of other cool things worth checking out while you're there.

Here are the best things to do on your visit to Clemson, South Carolina.

Walk Around The Picturesque Campus Grounds

Regularly named one of the prettiest college towns in the South, Clemson makes the most of its generous placement on the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and right up against the shores of Lake Hartwell. The campus is set on 17,000 acres (with plenty of green space) and is located only a mile from the main town district, making it perfect for those who love to have an afternoon walk or spend time outdoors. The grounds are synonymous with the scenery of the town, and you'll also find outdoor pastimes to explore. Favorite local activities include kayaking on Lake Hartwell or exploring the trails that lie along the Blue Ridge Parkway about two hours north of town.

Visit The Iconic Esso Club

People have been watching games and having fun at this dive bar for decades, making it one of the most legendary spots in town. At Esso Club, you'll find memorabilia on the walls and diehard alums lined up at the bar. Hit it early on game days for its signature "Build Your Own" Bloody Mary bar.

Enjoy The Shade Of The Centennial Oak

Sit back and relax for a spell underneath the wide shadow of this century-old oak tree, the largest bur oak in the state of South Carolina. The landmark is a beloved meeting place and must-see stop.

Attend The Clemson Festival Of Arts Aach Spring

Every spring, Clemson's arts culture is on full display at the annual Clemson Festival of Arts, which is held around downtown Clemson in late May. The free-admission event makes a great outing to view and participate in art-making projects, listen to musicians, enjoy local vendors, and find a new piece of artwork to take home.

Try Clemson's Cult-Fave Blue Cheese

They had us at, "cheese research project." A venture first started in the 1940s, Clemson's blue cheese is an artisanal cheese made the old-fashioned way—in 288-gallon vats that each produce batches of about 240 pounds of blue cheese, which is then salted, waxed, aged for six months, and packaged by hand. And it's good, y'all. You can find it at the '55 Exchange on campus. Make sure to rack up a batch to take home in the cooler. They even ship.

Pay A Visit To The South Carolina Botanical Garden

This 230-acre sanctuary really sings in the springtime. What began as a humble camellia garden in the 1950s has become an outdoor gardener's paradise. You'll find garden expeditions, pruning classes, lunch-and-learn meetings, and more on the docket.

The South Carolina Botanical Garden hosts semi-annual plant sales each year, in April and either September or October. The spring 2026 sale will be held on April 10, 11, and 25.

Visit The Student-Run '55 Exchange

We all scream for...ice cream! Speaking of '55 Exchange, this student-run business makes, serves, and sells Clemson's beloved ice cream (and milkshakes), as well as other in-house Clemson products like the famous blue cheese. The ice-cream tradition has been going strong since the 1920s.

Make A Stop At Judge Keller's Store

This three-generation institution has been around for over 100 years, and you'll find it has come a long way since its humble beginnings carrying cadet uniforms to now selling bright-orange school apparel.

Take A Detour To Sassafras Mountain

This is a popular weekend destination for Clemson students and locals to take advantage of the surrounding mountain landscape. Sassafras Mountain is home to the highest point in the state of South Carolina, and it offers a rare glimpse at the cotton-candy sunsets that fall over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Make it a quick detour on your way in or out of town, and you won't be sorry.

Grab A Bagel At Pot Belly Deli

There hasn't been a breakfast craving or raging hangover that couldn't be cured with a bagel sandwich from Pot Belly Deli, a town favorite of students and locals alike. Safe to say, this casual spot feeds its fair share of fans on a game day morning. Ask for the Taylor H-E-C.

Catch The Town Covered In Clemson Orange Every Friday

If there's one thing Clemson students, faculty members, and alums all know, it's that Fridays are about going "Solid Orange." Every week, you'll catch the whole town teeming with folks decked out in Clemson orange—like, all the way decked out. It takes loyal fandom to a whole new level.

Book A Room At The Inn At Patrick Square

Embarking on all of these adventures requires at least a night's stay. For that, visit one of Southern Living Hotel Collection members, The Inn at Patrick Square. With historic charm and a walkable location, you'll be well-taken-care-of.

Get Dressed Up For A Night Out

Head to Pixie & Bills for fine dining in a cozy and romantic dining room with a fireplace. Specialities include lobster bisque, prime rib, and Grand Marnier crepes for dessert.

(WACH) — The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of South Carolina announced that an assistant professor at Clemson University's Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences has won a settlement after he was fired over a social media post.

In a mediated settlement agreement, Clemson University reversed its September 2025 firing of assistant professor Dr. Joshua Bregy, who shared another person's Facebook post via his personal account that was critical of the conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated at a college event in Utah last year.

According to the ACLU, Dr. Bregy will continue to receive pay and benefits throughout the original term of his employment, and Provost Robert H. Jones has agreed to provide positive letters of recommendation to potential employers based on Dr. Bregy’s classroom teaching.

We were honored to represent Dr. Bregy and to reach an agreement that restores his employment, allows him to continue to pursue research funding, and deters the university from violating the First Amendment rights of its faculty in the future,” ACLU of South Carolina Legal Director Allen Chaney said. “

Politicians and university administrators come and go, but years from now we will still be here. So will the U.S. Constitution.

The university's decision to fire Dr. Bregy came after an effort by state and national politicians who threatened to defund the university.

As referenced in the initial lawsuit filed Oct. 3, 2025, faculty at Clemson said that the firing “sent shockwaves through the faculty, triggered an emergency meeting of the faculty senate, and has fractured the faculty’s trust and confidence in the Provost, University President, and Board of Trustees.”

The report that led to the firing was a critique of Kirk’s rhetoric and began with a condemnation of violence on a shared Facebook post Bregy shared:

Let me preface this post by saying that violence is never okay and as much as I dislike someone and their cruel ideas, I would never want their life to be taken in an act of violence. Democracy should be built on ideas, not force. But I AM going to say this: If anyone thinks that a reasonable price for the second amendment is countless innocent lives, and then that person has the cold-heartedness and audacity to say that empathy is likened to a social disease, they will get no protracted sympathy from me. Unfriend me if you don’t like hearing this simple truth. I’ll never advocate for violence in any form, but it sounds to me like karma is sometimes swift and ironic. As Kirk said, “play certain games, win certain prizes.”

Moreover, the disgusting double standard for those on the “other side of the political line” is insane. Where was the outrage from the conservatives when Melissa Hortman, her husband, and even their dog was murdered in an act of political violence? Where were the thoughts and prayers from those who are outraged now? And why is there already a call from certain conservatives for retribution and violence? Doesn’t that say too much about what cruelty awaits in their vengeance?

Maybe you think I’m cruel too, but I’ll say this also – I truly grieve for Kirk’s family and friends. No one deserves to go through tragic loss like that. No one should be gunned down – not a school child, not an influencer, not a politician – no one. But am I going to allow people to make a martyr out of a flawed human being whose rhetoric caused notable damage? Not a chance.

With the settlement agreement in place, Dr. Bregy has agreed to drop his lawsuit against the university and resign his employment effective May 15.

He will not have teaching, research, or faculty obligations through the spring semester.

CLEMSON, S.C. —

Clemson University and former assistant professor Dr. Joshua Bregy have settled a lawsuit after his termination following a social media post related to the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

The lawsuit alleged First Amendment speech retaliation and wrongful discharge.

According to court documents, on Jan. 5, 2026, the parties reached a mediated settlement and have 60 days to finalize it. An order of dismissal was filed on Jan. 6.

The American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina stated that Bregy will continue to receive pay and benefits throughout the original term of his employment.

Clemson University said he will have no classroom or student-facing duties through his resignation.

The original complaint, which was filed on Oct. 3, 2025, claims that Bregy's privacy settings on Facebook allowed only "friends" to see his posts. It also says that the post that led to Bregy's termination was a repost from another account. Because the original post was "public," Bregy's repost was similarly visible to all Facebook users.

The ACLU, who announced the lawsuit back in October, shared the post that was made on Facebook:

"Let me preface this post by saying that violence is never okay and as much as I dislike someone and their cruel ideas, I would never want their life to be taken in an act of violence. Democracy should be built on ideas, not force. But I AM going to say this: If anyone thinks that a reasonable price for the second amendment is countless innocent lives, and then that person has the cold-heartedness and audacity to say that empathy is likened to a social disease, they will get no protracted sympathy from me. Unfriend me if you don’t like hearing this simple truth. I’ll never advocate for violence in any form, but it sounds to me like karma is sometimes swift and ironic. As Kirk said, “play certain games, win certain prizes.”

Moreover, the disgusting double standard for those on the “other side of the political line” is insane. Where was the outrage from the conservatives when Melissa Hortman, her husband, and even their dog was murdered in an act of political violence? Where were the thoughts and prayers from those who are outraged now? And why is there already a call from certain conservatives for retribution and violence? Doesn’t that say too much about what cruelty awaits in their vengeance?

Maybe you think I’m cruel too, but I’ll say this also – I truly grieve for Kirk’s family and friends. No one deserves to go through tragic loss like that. No one should be gunned down – not a school child, not an influencer, not a politician – no one. But am I going to allow people to make a martyr out of a flawed human being whose rhetoric caused notable damage? Not a chance."

Dr. Bregy worked as an assistant professor in Clemson’s Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences from January 2023 until he was fired in September 2025.

CLEMSON – Clemson University has rescinded its firing of an assistant professor who shared another person's Facebook post via his personal account that was critical of the late conservative pundit Charlie Kirk.

In a mediated settlement agreement, Clemson has agreed to rescind Dr. Joshua Bregy’s September 26, 2025, termination. Dr. Bregy will continue to receive pay and benefits throughout the original term of his employment, and Provost Robert H. Jones has agreed to provide positive letters of recommendation to potential employers based on Dr. Bregy’s classroom teaching.

“We were honored to represent Dr. Bregy and to reach an agreement that restores his employment, allows him to continue to pursue research funding, and deters the university from violating the First Amendment rights of its faculty in the future,” said ACLU of South Carolina Legal Director Allen Chaney. “Politicians and university administrators come and go, but years from now we will still be here. So will the U.S. Constitution.”

With the settlement agreement in place, Dr. Bregy has agreed to drop his lawsuit against the university and resign his employment effective May 15, 2026. He will not have teaching, research, or faculty obligations through the spring semester.

Clemson fired Dr. Bregy, a highly qualified and well-regarded assistant professor in the public university’s Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, on September 26, 2025. The repost that led to the firing was a critique of Kirk’s rhetoric and began with a condemnation of violence. The full text of the repost is copied below.

Clemson’s decision to fire Dr. Bregy came after a concerted effort by state and national politicians who threatened to defund the university if it did not bend to their will. As referenced in the initial lawsuit filed Oct. 3, 2025, faculty at Clemson said that the firing “sent shockwaves through the faculty, triggered an emergency meeting of the faculty senate, and has fractured the faculty’s trust and confidence in the Provost, University President, and Board of Trustees.”

For more information about this case, see our case page for .

This is the full text of the repost that Dr. Bregy shared on his personal Facebook account:

Let me preface this post by saying that violence is never okay and as much as I dislike someone and their cruel ideas, I would never want their life to be taken in an act of violence. Democracy should be built on ideas, not force. But I AM going to say this: If anyone thinks that a reasonable price for the second amendment is countless innocent lives, and then that person has the cold-heartedness and audacity to say that empathy is likened to a social disease, they will get no protracted sympathy from me. Unfriend me if you don’t like hearing this simple truth. I’ll never advocate for violence in any form, but it sounds to me like karma is sometimes swift and ironic. As Kirk said, “play certain games, win certain prizes.”

Moreover, the disgusting double standard for those on the “other side of the political line” is insane. Where was the outrage from the conservatives when Melissa Hortman, her husband, and even their dog was murdered in an act of political violence? Where were the thoughts and prayers from those who are outraged now? And why is there already a call from certain conservatives for retribution and violence? Doesn’t that say too much about what cruelty awaits in their vengeance?

Maybe you think I’m cruel too, but I’ll say this also – I truly grieve for Kirk’s family and friends. No one deserves to go through tragic loss like that. No one should be gunned down – not a school child, not an influencer, not a politician – no one. But am I going to allow people to make a martyr out of a flawed human being whose rhetoric caused notable damage? Not a chance.