All In! A Family of Clemson Tigers

Meet the Collar family, a Clemson family whose connection to the Tigers spans generations and decades. From childhood game days and family tailgates to football championships and now watching their daughters create their own Clemson memories, the Collar family’s story is a beautiful example of what it means to be a Clemson Tiger – past, present and future.

Their Clemson story began long before their daughters became students. Mom, Laurin, grew up attending Clemson football games, making the drive from Charleston and knowing they were almost there when she spotted the tiger paws painted on the road.

Dad, Billy, took a different path, applying to exactly one college: Clemson. He went on to play for the football team and for Danny Ford during his final year as head coach. After graduation, the two met through their Clemson connections.

Years later, they brought their daughters, Bates and Laney, to their first Clemson games when they were just six months old. From family tailgates to game days spent alongside their friends, Clemson became part of their daughters' lives from the very beginning. Now, those babies are Clemson Tigers themselves (Bates '26 and Laney '28), making their own friends, traditions and memories.

"It really does feel full circle."

For the Collar family, Clemson represents so many seasons of life: childhood memories, college independence and growth, becoming parents, and now watching their daughters create their own Clemson experiences.

One of their most unforgettable family memories came during the 2017 National Championship game, when they watched from the front row as Hunter Renfrow caught the game-winning touchdown right in front of them. But today, watching their daughters find their own paths at Clemson may be even more meaningful.

When asked what being a Clemson family means to them in one word, their answer was simple:

Tradition.

Clemson has changed and grown through the years, just as the Collar family has. But the friendships, memories and feeling that make Clemson special remain a constant.

Their advice to future Clemson grads is to stay connected. Come back for reunion weekends, make the effort to return to campus, and when you can, find a way to give back to the university that gave you so much!

The Collar family is an inspiration to generations of Clemson Tigers, and a reminder that being a Tiger can become part of your family's story for years to come.

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