Clemson athletes (6)
I believe the answer is:
tigers
'clemson athletes' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for tigers that I've seen before include "Large striped cats" , "Great striped animals, poetically burning bright" , "Large felines of forests" , "Large striped felines" , "Big striped cats poetically burning bright" .)