Aleeki Thorne ’26 gives a behind-the-scenes look at one of Clemson’s athletics-oriented student organizations
At 4 a.m. on a Wednesday in September 2024, junior civil engineering major Aleeki Thorne stood on Bowman Field with fellow Central Spirit members and fraternity and sorority representatives, racing to finish the annual Homecoming floats before Hurricane Helene rolled in. Even though it was a stressful time marked by sleep deprivation, Thorne recently pinpointed the unifying moment as her favorite Central Spirit memory. “It’s what Clemson is all about — we come together and get things done, especially when it comes to upholding our traditions,” she said. No statement could be more symbolic of Thorne’s Central Spirit experience.
While Central Spirit supports a wide range of athletic teams throughout the spring, most of the group’s time is spent in preparation for the fall. Football season, along with its traditions, is a busy time for the club. Each home football game is a “whole-day ordeal” for Central Spirit members, Thorne explained. Hours before the game, the passionate students involved in paint-up begin adorning themselves with the paint director’s designs. The group enjoys a meal together before entering the stadium three hours in advance, where it remains for the duration of the game. Notably, the students sit together in the second row of the lower-deck student section, wearing matching outfits and body paint as they bring their own brand of energy to the games.
From Aldie, Virginia, Thorne joined Central Spirit early in the Fall semester of her freshman year. She was the only member of her high school’s graduating class to attend Clemson, so Central Spirit gave her a unique opportunity to connect with the University and meet new people with similar interests.
As media director, Thorne commutes to campus on game days, collecting paint-up social media content in the form of interviews, vlogs and photographs. She then visits Tiger Walk and the Tiger Band parade to do the same. After capturing plenty of pregame coverage, she enters the stadium, passing out stickers to the student section and continuing to take pictures of Central Spirit members in the stands, flag-wavers and other energetic students.
Now a senior and vice president of internal affairs, Thorne credited Central Spirit with shaping her overall Clemson Experience. She praised the memories, traditions and people — above all else.
“We’re one big happy family, bonded together by our love for Clemson,” she said.
Did you know? Central Spirit is one of the most involved clubs at Clemson University, with anywhere from 100 to 120 active members who attend all sporting events on campus, organize traditions such as the First Friday Parade and Homecoming, and facilitate programs during Welcome Week for incoming first-year students.
