100 Things Clemson Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die
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100 Things Clemson Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die
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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781623689490 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Triumph Books |
| Publication date: | 10/01/2014 |
| Series: | 100 Things...Fans Should Know Series |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 352 |
| File size: | 17 MB |
| Note: | This product may take a few minutes to download. |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
100 Things Clemson Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die
By Lou Sahadi
Triumph Books
Copyright © 2014 Lou SahadiAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-62368-949-0
CHAPTER 1
1981 National Championship
The 1980 campaign, when Clemson stumbled into mediocrity with a 6–5 record, haunted Coach Danny Ford all winter. He had believed his squad was capable of being in a bowl game that year, but three close losses to Georgia, North Carolina State, and North Carolina by a combined total of 13 points had made it only an average season.
Yet, after preseason practice was over, Ford had a good feeling about the 1981 campaign with 53 returning lettermen waiting. He didn't know how good. The Tigers went unbeaten and won the national championship for the first time in their history. Nobody could ask for more.
Game 1: Wofford
The season-opening game against Wofford was truly an accommodation by the small South Carolina school. Villanova was originally scheduled to play Clemson; but when the Philadelphia school abruptly dropped its football program, it left Clemson with an Opening Day void. Quickly, Clemson athletic director Bill McLellan reached for the phone and called Wofford's athletic director George "Buddy" Sasser, who also happened to be the Terriers' football coach, and he agreed to the game.
Under a hot sun, Wofford received the opening kickoff of the 1981 season. Donald Igwebuike buried the kick in the end zone, and the Terriers put the ball in play on the 20-yard line. They surprised the sold-out crowed by keeping the ball for more than 8:00 and reaching the Clemson 7-yard line before being stopped. Don Hairston gave the Terriers a 3–0 lead with a 24-yard field goal.
Perry Tuttle immediately made his presence felt. He returned Hairston's kickoff 38 yards to position a Clemson field goal. Igwebuike displayed a powerful leg when he tied the game with a 52-yard field goal.
It wasn't until six minutes had gone by in the second period that Clemson got the lead. It came suddenly and dramatically. Homer Jordan and Tuttle combined on a picture-book 80-yard touchdown pass that had Tigers fans roaring. Bob Pauling's conversion gave Clemson a 10–3 edge. The next time they got the ball the Tigers scored again. Jordan completed an eight-play, 76-yard drive by running the last 14 yards around left end on a keeper. Pauling's kick made it 17–3 minutes before the first half ended.
Clemson received the second half kickoff and marched 73 yards for a touchdown. Jordan hit wide receiver Frank Magwood with an 11-yard throw. Pauling's kick stretched Clemson's lead to 24–3. Just before the third quarter ended, Clemson scored again. Jordan scored his second touchdown by going over from three yards out. Pauling added the extra point to give the Tigers a 31–3 lead.
On its first series in the final period, Clemson scored its fifth touchdown. Chuck McSwain sped around left end for five yards to complete a 56-yard drive. Igwebuike converted; and the Tigers led 38–3. Wofford finally scored again when it recovered a fumble on the Clemson 39-yard line. Ten plays later, Barry Thompson hit tight end Dirk Derrick with a 15-yard scoring pass. Hairston's conversion made it 38–10. Clemson closed out the scoring a minute from the end when Jeff McCall broke over right tackle for 10 yards for a touchdown. Pauling booted the extra point that made the final score 45–10.
Game 2: Tulane
There were two areas of concern that confronted Ford as he began his preparations for Tulane.
For one thing, Clemson had never played a game indoors before. That wasn't all. It was playing its first night game in five years, which didn't seem too important except for the fact that it allowed the players a lot of free time before the game in the city's famed French Quarter — a nearby distraction.
"Playing in the Superdome, the Astroturf, a night game, that's all new to us," Ford said.
Clemson received the opening kickoff but couldn't do much. The offense managed to reach Tulane's 37-yard line but Igwebuike's 55-yard field-goal attempt was short. Tulane took over at that point and drove to Clemson's 28-yard line before stalling. However, Vince Manalla booted a 46-yard field goal that provided Tulane with a 3–0 lead.
Misfortune struck Clemson following the kickoff. After failing to produce a first down, Dale Hatcher was sent in to punt from the 26yard line. However, the ball was snapped over his head and rolled into the end zone. Hatcher managed to cover the ball for a safety that gave Tulane a 5–0 lead.
It wasn't until midway through the second period that Clemson finally scored. Defensive end Joe Glenn made it possible. He recovered a Tulane fumble on the 25-yard line to set up tailback Cliff Austin's four-yard touchdown run. Pauling converted to give the Tigers a 7–5 edge, which they kept when the half ended.
Clemson had an opportunity to score first in the third period but lost it. It recovered a Tulane fumble on the 33-yard line following the kickoff. Clemson got to the Tulane 16, which was close enough for Pauling to attempt a 33-yard field goal. Unfortunately, the snap was bad, and Pauling never got the kick off. When the quarter ended, the score remained 7–5 and neither team could produce a serious scoring threat, although Clemson was driving at the end.
On the very first play of the fourth quarter, Pauling was on the field again. This time his 31-yard field-goal attempt was good, and Clemson led 10–5. It was apparent at this point that the tenacious Tigers defense would have to control the game. They met the challenge by intercepting a Tulane pass two plays after the kickoff. Minutes later, Pauling returned to the lineup. He looked at a 37-yard field goal try and came through to give the Tigers a 13–5 lead with just more than 12:00 remaining in the game. Nobody realized at the time that the game would end that way. Clemson's defense was the deciding factor, limiting Tulane to just five first downs and 177 total yards. Ford was relieved when it was over.
Game 3: Georgia
It may have appeared insignificant at the time, but by winning its first two games Clemson achieved something it hadn't been able to do since 1970. More significant was the fact that the Tigers had to face Georgia in Death Valley. The Bulldogs were the No. 1 college team in 1980 and owned the nation's longest winning streak that stood at 15 games.
The game was expected to be close. It began that way with a scoreless first quarter. Georgia did manage to threaten toward the end of the period. They had a first down on the Clemson 17-yard line; after gaining four yards, Walker fumbled and safety Jeff Suttle recovered.
Even when the second period began, Jordan had trouble moving the offense. However, with about 9:00 left, he was given a great opportunity when safety Tim Childers intercepted Buck Belue's pass on the Georgia 18. After moving to a first down on the 8-yard line, Jordan threw a touchdown pass to Tuttle that got the crowd of 62,000-plus to its feet. Pauling converted to give Clemson a 7–0 lead.
Near the end of the half, Clemson struck again. Walker again fumbled and middle guard William Perry recovered on the Georgia 35-yard line. Three plays later, with only 11 seconds showing on the clock, Igwebuike booted a 39-yard field goal to provide Clemson with a 10–0 halftime advantage that made Tigers followers happy.
However, Georgia managed to come back with the second half kickoff. The Bulldogs marched 56 yards, basically on two plays — a 21-yard run by Herschel Walker and a 14-yard pass completion from Belue to Lindsay Scott, before being stopped. A 40-yard field goal by Kevin Butler managed to trim Clemson's lead to 10–3.
Early in the final period, Igwebuike gave Tigers fans more to cheer about. With 14:01 left in the game, he was accurate with a 29-yard field goal that extended Clemson's margin to 13–3. From then on, it was up to the defense, and they responded with swarming intensity to intercept Belue five times before the game ended while keeping Walker out of the end zone. Tigers fans celebrated well into the night.
"It was the biggest win I've ever had in football," beamed a happy Jordan. "It's going to be a lot easier going back to Athens. I can go home and talk a little bit."
Game 4: Kentucky
The convincing victory over Georgia awakened the nation's pollsters. After the third week of the young season, Clemson cracked the top 20 and was ranked 18th by United Press. The Clemson triumph was so impressive to the United Press that Ford was also voted the Coach of the Week by its panel of experts.
While the United Press poll, the one voted on by a panel of coaches, picked the Tigers 18th, the Associated Press in its poll of writers ranked Clemson a notch below, at 19th. Clemson was beginning to generate some national recognition.
Unbeaten Clemson lured a sellout crowd of 57,453 fans to Commonwealth Stadium. Neither team could get a first down the first time it had the ball. On their second series, the Wildcats drove 47 yards in 11 plays, at which point Tom Griggs booted a 40-yard field goal that sent Kentucky into a 3–0 lead. When the quarter ended, the troubled Clemson offense had not produced a first down.
Clemson's offensive woes continued in the second quarter. Yet, the Tigers appeared ready to score when Jeff Bryant recovered a fumble on the Kentucky 16-yard line. They moved for a first down on the 6-yard line where they failed on four successive runs by Cliff Austin. They never seriously threatened the rest of the period except for a 49-yard field-goal attempt by Igwebuike that fell short six seconds from the conclusion of the first half.
Clemson looked like a different team when it took the second-half kickoff and drove 83 yards in 13 plays with Kevin Mack slipping off tackle for a six-yard touchdown run. Pauling added the extra point that gave the Tigers a 7–3 lead.
Some 2:00 later, defensive end Andy Headen positioned Clemson's second touchdown by recovering a fumble on Kentucky's 21-yard line. After only six plays, Jordan raced into the end zone from three yards out. Pauling's kick gave Clemson a 14–3 edge when the third period ended.
Midway through the final period, the Tigers secured their victory. They put together an 87-yard drive in 12 plays that consumed more than six precious minutes. McSwain carried for 41 of the yards, scoring a touchdown from two yards out. Pauling's kick provided Clemson with its final margin of victory at 21–3.
Game 5: Virginia
Clemson was now entering the second phase of its schedule. The Tigers' first four wins had been secured against non-conference opponents. Their trip to any bowl would begin in earnest during the fifth week with the campaign against Virginia, the first of Clemson's six consecutive ACC games. The Tigers were ready to start their hunt for an ACC title in Death Valley.
A threat of rain hovered over Death Valley on Homecoming Day. Once again the Tigers started slowly. It wasn't until there were 22 seconds left in the first period that they got on the scoreboard. Igwebuike kicked a 22-yard field goal to give Clemson a 3–0 lead.
As time was winding down in the second quarter, Clemson scored its first touchdown. And did so quickly. Jordan connected with Tuttle for a 20-yard completion. On the very next play, Tuttle picked up 22 more yards on an end around. Austin then brought the crowd to its feet when he broke loose around right end on an exciting 43-yard touchdown gallop. Pauling's kick sent the Tigers into their dressing room with a 10–0 halftime lead.
Taking the second-half kickoff, Clemson kept right on going and scored its second touchdown. Except for one 16-yard pass, the Tigers kept the ball on the ground, driving 77 yards in 11 plays. McCall got the final five yards for the touchdown. Pauling's conversion attempt was good as Clemson stretched its lead to 17–0.
The next time the Tigers got the ball, they scored again. This time they traveled 67 yards in 13 plays. Jordan mixed his plays well, completing all three passes he threw. Austin slammed over left tackle from a yard out. When Pauling made good on his conversion, the Tigers extended their margin to 24–0.
They added to it early in the final period. The first time they got the ball, they scored once more. After they reached the Virginia 16-yard line, they were held in check. However, Igwebuike was accurate with a 32-yard field-goal attempt that sent Clemson into an insurmountable 27–0 bulge with only 10:00 reaming in the game. Much to the delight of the Homecoming crowd, the game ended that way. The defense basked in glory. It was the first time since 1979 that Clemson had shut out an opponent.
Game 6: Duke
By now, some of the postseason bowl game executives were taking an interest in Clemson. Mickey Holmes, the executive director of the Sugar Bowl, warmed to the thought of the Tigers celebrating New Year's Eve in New Orleans.
When the game began, the Tigers took charge. The first time they got their hands on the football, they scored. Jordan led them on a 64-yard drive in seven plays with seldom-used Brendon Crite going over from the 4-yard line. Pauling's conversion gave the Tigers a quick 7–0 lead.
When the second period opened, Clemson was working on an 80-yard drive that had begun late in the first quarter. The offense got down to the Duke 3-yard line before stalling. Pauling made an appearance again, booting a 20-yard field goal that sent the Tigers into a 10–0 lead. The very next time Clemson took over on offense, it scored again. The team went 49 yards in eight plays with Cliff Austin breaking loose on a 15-yard touchdown run. Pauling's conversion made it 17–0.
Austin wasn't finished yet. On the next series, he brought the crowd to its feet by shaking free up the middle for 77 yards before he was tripped up on the Duke 4-yard line. Three plays later Jordan put the finishing touches on the 98-yard drive by sneaking over from the 1. Pauling converted, and the Tigers were on their way to a romp 24–0. Seconds before the half ended, Duke managed a field goal that still left it far behind at 24–3.
Clemson wasn't about to let up. The special teams took the second-half kickoff and went 59 yards for another touchdown. Austin punched it across from two yards, and when Pauling tacked on the extra point, Clemson's lead ballooned to 31–3.
Duke managed to score a touchdown, being the first team to do so in 18 quarters of play against Clemson's defense. Quarterback Ben Bennett accomplished it with a 21-yard touchdown pass to split end Cedric Jones. However, Clemson answered back. Completing a 65-yard drive, Jordan hit Tuttle with a 29-yard touchdown throw. Pauling's kick restored Clemson's margin 38–10. It was the last scoring of the day. Clemson had its revenge.
Game 7: North Carolina State
The one ingredient confronting Ford as his undefeated Tigers roared to their sixth straight triumph was finding a method to keep his squad from getting complacent the rest of the season. After soundly drubbing Duke, Clemson moved up in the national polls. It was ranked fourth by the Associated Press and fifth by the United Press.
It was a chilly 48 degrees when the teams lined up for the opening kickoff. Austin rushed for 15 yards on two carries but fumbled the ball away the third time he ran. State recovered on its own 41-yard line and moved for a touchdown from there. Larmount Lawson scored it with a 13-yard burst. Todd Auten converted to give the Wolfpack a 7–0 lead with half the period gone.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from 100 Things Clemson Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die by Lou Sahadi. Copyright © 2014 Lou Sahadi. Excerpted by permission of Triumph Books.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
Foreword by Dabo Swinney,Preface by Danny Ford,
Acknowledgments,
Introduction by Tim Bourret,
Author Credits,
Precis by Lou Sahadi,
1. 1981 National Championship,
2. 1982 Orange Bowl,
3. IPTAY — Lifeblood of Clemson Athletics,
4. Walter Riggs — Father of Clemson Athletics,
5, John Heisman,
6. Memorial Stadium,
7. 1940 Cotton Bowl,
8. 1948 Season — 11–0,
9. Frank Howard,
10. Danny Ford,
11. Jess Neely,
12. Steve Fuller,
13. Banks McFadden,
14. Jerry Butler,
15. Fred Cone,
16. Terry Kinard,
17. Jeff Davis,
18. C.J. Spiller,
19. The Early Years,
20. The Rock,
21. Historic Riggs Field,
22. The Hill,
23. Alma Mater,
24. 1903 Game with Cumberland,
25. The Probation,
26. 1949 Gator Bowl,
27. 1981 Georgia v. Clemson,
28. 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl,
29. 2014 Orange Bowl,
30. 1978 Gator Bowl,
31. Orange Pants and Shoes,
32. Clemson's First All-American,
33. 1978 Season,
34. 1951 Orange Bowl,
35. 1989 Florida State v. Clemson,
36. 1986 Georgia v. Clemson,
37. 2003 FSU Win,
38. 1979 Notre Dame Game,
39. 1977 — The Catch,
40. The Catch II,
41. 1988 Citrus Bowl,
42. 1989 Citrus Bowl,
43. Head Coach Dabo Swinney,
44. Tajh Boyd,
45. Sammy Watkins,
46. Brian Dawkins,
47. Anthony Simmons,
48. Fan-Mania and the Tiger Paw,
49. Perry Tuttle,
50. Terry Allen,
51. Joe Blalock,
52. Frank Johnstone Jervey,
53. Rodney Williams,
54. Homer Jordan,
55. Raymond Priester,
56. The Humor of Frank Howard,
57. 2011 ACC Champions,
58. The Perry Brothers — The "Fridge" and Michael Dean,
59. Bennie Cunningham,
60. Woody Dantzler,
61. Da'Quan Bowers,
62. Dwayne Allen,
63. Chris Gardocki,
64. ACC Trifecta 1986–88,
65. 1981: Clemson 29, South Carolina 13,
66. 2003: Clemson 63, South Carolina 17,
67. 2004: Clemson 29, South Carolina 7,
68. 2007: Clemson 23, South Carolina 21,
69. 1992 Virginia Game,
70. 1959 Sugar Bowl,
71. 1959 Bluebonnet Bowl,
72. Panthers Meet the Tigers,
73. 1977 Gator Bowl,
74. Josh Cody,
75. E.J. Stewart,
76. Charley Pell,
77. 1952 Gator Bowl,
78. Bruce McClure,
79. Bubba Brown,
80. 2013 Georgia Win,
81. 2000 USC Win,
82. 1995 USC Game,
83. 1997 USC Game,
84. Charlie Whitehurst,
85. Andre Ellington,
86. Hootie Ingram,
87. Red Parker,
88. Daniel Rodriguez,
89. 1957 Orange Bowl,
90. Dwight Clark,
91. 1979 Peach Bowl,
92. 2013 FSU Loss,
93. 2013 USC Game,
94. 2009 USC Game,
95. Kalon Davis,
96. Buck George,
97. Tommy Bowden,
98. Ken Hatfield,
99. Tommy West,
100. Big Thursday,
Sources,