Journal Entry No.5: Mac McDaris

Folded neatly in a bottom drawer and undisturbed for 51 weeks a year, two Maryland basketball t-shirts wait for their call to duty. The red and black tops reside next to several orange and white Clemson basketball t-shirts. Every year, all of these shirts travel side by side in a suitcase from Salem, South Carolina to the Women’s ACC Basketball Tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina. The owners are Mac and Susie McDaris, winners of the 2007 Spirit of the Clemson Tiger award.

For many years, Mac and Susie and their friends, Larry and Gisela Agnew and Don and Marilyn Robertson, have attended the tournament to cheer on their beloved Tigers. They happen to stay at the Drury Inn, the “home” of the Rebounders during the competition.

Several years ago, Mac, a friendly, sandy-haired Southern gentleman, heard lots of noise coming from the party room at the hotel.  Wearing his Clemson attire, he entered the room to survey the cause of the commotion.  Rebounders greeted him and his lovely wife and smiling friends with gusto.  The Tiger fans jumped right in and wanted to know all about the Rebounders. 

Mac’s jovial manner made him an immediate friend to the Maryland fans. He soon adopted our team as his second-favorite and every year he sports a Maryland t-shirt during our games. We reciprocate by cheering for Clemson during their games. “We at Clemson thank our Maryland booster club friends for their support for us when our Lady Tigers are playing,” announced Mac.

We look forward to seeing our Clemson friends in Greensboro.  It’s a delight having Mac and his companions as honorary Rebounders and I’m thankful they are not Duke fans!

Larry and Gisela Agnew and Mac McDaris
celebrate UM victory over UNC in 2006 Final Four