South Carolina vs Clemson Game Notes |
The 104th Meeting Between Clemson and
South Carolina Clemson and South Carolina. The series dates to 1896 and the first year of football at Clemson, the fourth season for South Carolina. Clemson holds the advantage 63-36-4 since that first meeting in Columbia. Clemson has more wins over South Carolina than any other school and those victories represent over 10 percent of Clemson’s all-time victory total (616). The last time the two teams met at Clemson (2004) Clemson was victorious 29-7. It was the 600th victory in Clemson football history. eight of nine and14 of the last 18 in the series. Since 1988, Clemson is 8-1 in games played in Columbia and 6-3 in games played in Clemson. attempt to join the seniors of 2005 as a class with a perfect 4-0 record against South Carolina. Other Clemson classes who have beaten South Carolina four consecutive years were the seniors of 1900, 1919, 1930, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1983, 1991 and 2000. consecutive win over South Carolina. The Tigers have not had much success in this situation. Clemson has a 1-6 record in the series when it is going for its fifth consecutive wins in the series. The only victory took place in 1938 when Clemson won 34-12 to record its fifth straight win. Clemson suffered losses in 1902, 1920, 1931, 1984, 1992 and 2001 when going for its fifth straight. Clemson’s longest winning streak in the series was a seven game streak between 1934-40. for the South Carolina game. Clemson has a 7- 1 record against South Carolina over the years when it has two full weeks to prepare, including a 16-14 in 2000, the last time that was the situation. The only year South Carolina has beaten Clemson when the Tigers have had two weeks to prepare was 1896, the first time the two teams met. on the Saturday after Thanksgiving for the first time since 1984. South Carolina won that game at Clemson, 22-21. The 1978 game was also played the Saturday after Thanksgiving, a 41- 23 Clemson win. Clemson has a 7-2 record against South Carolina when the game is played the Saturday after Thanksgiving or on Thanksgiving Day. The only game played on Thanksgiving was the 1963 contest that was moved from the Saturday before Thanksgiving to Thanksgiving due to the death of President John F. Kennedy. Columbia by a 20-15 score. That South Carolina victory ended a four-game winning streak for the Tigers. South Carolina has not beaten Clemson in consecutive years since a three-game winning streak in the 1968-70 era. Carolina in his previous seven games in this rivalry. All six of the wins have come against Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier, coaches who have won a national championship and will be in the College Football Hall of Fame some day. The 6-1 start is the best among Clemson coaches who have coached the Tigers for at least five years. Josh Cody (1927-30) had a perfect 4-0 record against South Carolina, the only Clemson coach with a perfect record in the rivalry game. national ranking in both polls. The Tigers have a 16-5-2 record against South Carolina when it enters the contest ranked in the top 25, including a 5-1-1 record at Death Valley. The only time South Carolina has beaten a ranked Clemson team in Death Valley took place in 1996 when South Carolina and head coach Brad Scott defeated a 22nd ranked Clemson team 34-31. The two teams also tied in 1986 when Clemson entered the game ranked 19th in the nation. three of Clemson’s former coaches in the college football Hall of Fame and Head Coach Danny Ford, who won a national championship at Clemson. John Heisman was 1-1 vs. the Gamecocks, Jess Neely was 6-3, and Frank Howard was 13-15-2. Ford was 7-3-1. Obviously, a victory for the Tigers on Saturday will give Bowden the same amount of wins over South Carolina as Ford had and he would have done it in three less seasons. series ranks in a tie for 13th in college football history in terms of most played rivalries. The most played rivalry is the Minnesota vs. Wisconsin series, which had been played 115 times entering this year. Clemson vs. South Carolina, 2005 Clemson beat a ranked team for the second consecutive week for the first time since 1983 after defeating #19 South Carolina 13-9 in Columbia. The Clemson 2005 senior class became the fourth senior class since 1983 to finish their careers with a 4-0 record against the Gamecocks. The Tigers looked to have seized the momentum early in the game after forcing South Carolina to punt after three plays, and moved the ball to the Gamecock 32. However, Charlie Whitehurst’s first pass of the night sailed over the head of Curtis Baham and was intercepted by Fred Bennett. South Carolina followed with its first scoring threat of the night, as Blake Mitchell hit Sidney Rice for a 22-yard gain to the Tiger 39. Two plays later, defensive end Gaines Adams sacked Mitchell and knocked the ball away, and Rashaad Jackson recovered for the Tigers. Clemson was forced to punt after three plays, and the Gamecocks followed with the game’s first scoring drive. Mitchell hit Rice for a 40-yard completion down to the Tiger eight-yard line, but South Carolina had to settle for a 23- yard Josh Brown field goal. On the first play of the next drive, Whitehurst threw deep, but his pass was picked off by Jonathan Joseph. The Gamecocks opened the second quarter with the ball, but were forced to punt. The Tigers were able to move the ball into South Carolina territory on their next drive, but again had to punt. The Gamecocks followed with a 10-play, 66-yard drive that ended with a 43-yard field goal by Brown. Bobby Wallace carried five times for 37 yards on the drive. Clemson answered with a score of its own, as a 10-play, 48-yard drive culminated with a 49-yard field goal by Jad Dean. South Carolina had one more opportunity in the first half, but two penalties helped bring an end to its drive, and the half ended with the Gamecocks leading 6-3. The Tigers opened the second half with a 19-play, 74-yard drive that chewed up 7:17 of the third quarter. James Davis carried nine times for 36 yards on the drive, and also had a touchdown called back because of a holding penalty. Whitehurst completed his first five passes of the drive for 45 yards, but Clemson could not find the endzone. Dean came on to drill a 23- yard field goal to tie the score. The Gamecocks appeared as though they would regain the lead on their next possession, quickly moving the ball down to the Clemson 25. After Mitchell fumbled out of bounds, Jamaal Fudge intercepted Mitchell’s pass after heavy pressure applied by Dorell Scott. Starting from its own seven, Clemson handed off to Davis for five yards, and two plays later converted a third down on a pass from Whitehurst to Aaron Kelly. Davis followed with five consecutive rushes that gained 42 yards, and the third quarter ended with Clemson at the Gamecock 27. The Tigers could not pick up another first down, and Dean’s 42-yard field goal attempt was deflected. South Carolina picked up one first down before being forced to punt again. Brown’s boot was fumbled by Chansi Stuckey at the Clemson 11-yard line, and was recovered by Tremaine Tyler. Three plays resulted in negative yardage for the Gamecocks, and Brown made his third field goal of the night, this time from 29-yards out to give South Carolina a 9-6 lead. On the following drive, Whitehurst hit Kelly for 27 yards out to the Tiger 47-yard line. A clipping penalty and a holding penalty followed, and Clemson faced a first-and-35 situation. Whitehurst completed a shovel pass to Davis for nine yards, and on second down, he found Stuckey for 14 yards. On third-and-12, Whitehurst found Baham for 28 yards down to the South Carolina 27. Davis dashed through the middle for 23 yards on the following play. Two plays later, Davis scored the only touchdown of the night, as he dove in from two-yards out, and Clemson had its first lead of the night, 13-9. The Tigers had 105 yards of total offense on the drive. On the second play of the ensuing drive, C.J. Gaddis intercepted Mitchell but was the stripped by Rice, and Kris Clark recovered at the Gamecock 39. South Carolina picked up a first down and then faced a second-and-four at the Tiger 44. After a one-yard run by Daccus Turman, Mike Davis was hit for a three-yard loss on third down by Anthony Waters. On fourth down, Jackson tipped Mitchell’s pass, and Charles Bennett intercepted the ball. After two runs by Davis and the final timeout of the night by the Gamecocks, Whitehurst ran for 10 yards on a quarterback draw to pick up a first down and seal the win. Whitehurst became the first quarterback in the history of the series to finish with a 4-0 record against the in-state rivals. Davis carried 27 times for 145 yards and a touchdown. Whitehurst completed 17 of 26 passes for 172 yards, and was 4-4 for 78 yards on Clemson’s fourth-quarter touchdown drive. Adams had three tackles for loss, a sack, and a caused fumble to lead the Clemson defense that did not allow a touchdown for the second consecutive week. The win was Clemson’s eighth in its last nine games against South Carolina, as well as its eighth in the last nine games at Williams- Brice Stadium. Clemson Veterans versus South Carolina Gaines Adams (DE) – Has played three games against South Carolina and 13 total career tackles in those games. Had five tackles, including three tackles for loss, a sack and a caused fumble in last year’s game in Columbia. Cole Chason (P) –Has had two of his highest net punting figures against South Carolina. Had 41.0 net and a 42.0 gross in the 2003 game on five punts, and had a 41.5 net and a 40.3 gross on four punts in 2004. Had two punts for 76 yards and a 37.0 net last year in Columbia. Duane Coleman (TB) – Ran eight times for 54 yards and caught four passes for 37 yards and a touchdown in 2003. Had 13-43 rushing and had 3-34 receiving in 2004 Clemson win at Clemson. Made his second career start at cornerback in 2005 and had seven tackles. James Davis (RB)—Gained 145 yards on 27 carries and scored the game’s only touchdown in Clemson’s 13-9 win in Columbia. Jad Dean (PK)—Made three field goals in three attempts in 2004 Clemson win. Scored 11 of Clemson’s 29 points. In 2005, made 2-3 field goals, including career long 49 yarder. Scored seven of Clemson’s 13 points. C.J. Gaddis (CB)—Had four tackles in 33 plays as a reserve in Clemson’s 2005 victory. Michael Hamlin (SAF)—Had six tackles in 53 plays as a starter in 2005. Rashaad Jackson (DT)—had five tackles in 29 plays and recovered a fumble and a pass deflection that Charles Bennett intercepted on South Carolina’s last possession with just a couple of minutes remaining. Aaron Kelly (WR)—Had five receptions for 68 yards and 29 yards on a kickoff return in 2005. Reggie Merriweather—Had 28-125 rushing and three touchdowns in Clemson victory in 2004. Had 5-13 rushing in 2005 game in Columbia. Chansi Stuckey (WR) – Had career highs in both carries (six) and yards (77) and a rushing touchdown in 2003 game in Columbia. Had seven receptions for 74 yards in 2004 game at Clemson. Had 4-26 receiving and 2-10 on punt returns in 2005 game in Columbia. Nick Watkins (LB)—Had three tackles in 12 plays as a reserve in 2004. Had nine tackles, including a tackle for loss in 64 plays as a starter in 2005. Tiger Seniors Look for 4-0 vs. S. Carolina Clemson’s senior class is looking to post a 4-0 record against South Carolina. Their immediate predecessors led by quarterback Charlie Whitehurst accomplished the feat last year. Whitehurst became the only quarterback in the history of the series to start in four victories. Overall 11 Clemson senior classes have been 4-0 against South Carolina in the history of the series, including four in a row from 1937-40 when Clemson won a record seven consecutive games. The seniors of 1900, 1919, 1930, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1983, 1991, 2000 and 2005 have all done it. A look to the list shows that this current group of seniors can become just the fifth class since 1941 to defeat South Carolina four consecutive years. Clemson vs. South Carolina for the 98th Straight Year This will be the 98th consecutive year that Clemson and South Carolina have met on the gridiron, every year since 1909. It has moved into third place all time for longest uninterrupted series in college football history. The only active rivalries that are longer are the Kansas vs. Nebraska rivalry (active since 1906) and the Minnesota vs. Wisconsin rivalry (active since 1907). Longest Uninterrupted Series in College Football History (Entering 2005 season)
•This will be meeting 104 between
•Clemson has won four in a row,
•This year’s Clemson senior class will
•Clemson will be going for its fifth
•Clemson has two weeks to prepare
•This weekend’s game will be played
•The Gamecocks last won in 2001 in
•Tommy Bowden is 6-1 against South
•Clemson enters this game with a #24
•Bowden has a better record than all
•The Clemson vs. South Carolina
GP Matchup Series Span
100 Kansas vs. Nebraska 1906-Pres.
Throw out the Record Books?
We always here the phrase, “You can throw out he record
books when these two teams get together.” While there have been
some upsets in this series, usually the team with the better record comes
away with the victory. The team entering the game with the better overall
record has a 17-4-1 record in the series since 1981. That computes to
79.5 percent over a 25-year period. Three times during that era both
teams had the same record.
The norm has been broken each of the last two years,
however. In 2004, South Carolina had the better record entering the
game at 6-4 compared to Clemson’s 5-5, but the Tigers won the game,
29-7. Last year, South Carolina had the upper hand with a 7-3 mark
compared to the 6-4 for Clemson, but Clemson won the game, 13-9.
This year Clemson has the better record at 8-3, while South Carolina is
6-5.
The team with the better record entering this game won every
year between 1997-2003. In 1996 the team with the worse record won.
Current Clemson offensive coordinator and assistant head coach Brad
Scott was the head coach for South Carolina in that game. So, that is
the last time South Carolina was victorious when it entered the game with
the worse record.
For the history of the series, Clemson has a 39-14-3 record
when it enters the contest with the better record, a 72.3 winning
percentage. Clemson has had the better record in 56 of the 103
previous meetings. The teams have had the same winning percentage
entering the game nine times and Clemson has a 7-2 record in those
situations.
Thus, Clemson is 46-16-3 (.731) against South Carolina over the years
when the Tigers enter the game with at least the same record as South
Carolina. Clemson has a 63-36-4 advantage in the series overall, so
the Gamecocks have a 20-17-1 record in the series when they enter the
game with the better record.
Top 10 Unusual Facts about the Clemson vs. South Carolina Series
10. One of the two coaches to win a bowl game will be on the
sidelines for Saturday’s game, but he will be in a Clemson coaching
uniform. Brad Scott was the first South Carolina head coach to win a
bowl game when he took the Gamecocks to victory in the 1994 Carquest
Bowl over West Virginia. He is also the last coach to lead South
Carolina to a victory at Clemson. That came in 1996, a 34-31 Gamecock
victory. Scott had a 2-1 record in Clemson Memorial Stadium as South
Carolina head coach between 1994-98.
9. The visiting team won seven consecutive years in games
played between 1991-97.
8.Josh Cody had a 4-0 record for Clemson against South
Carolina between 1927-30. He is the only coach in the series to have a
perfect record, given a minimum of three games coached.
7. Paul Williams is the last player to letter for both schools. He
lettered for Clemson in 1978 and for South Carolina in 1980.
6. A Clemson captain actually played for South Carolina. Cary
Cox lettered for the Gamecocks in 1943. After the war, he enrolled at
Clemson and served as captain for the Tigers in 1947. Cox died earlier
this year.
5. O.K. Pressley had four tackles for loss on four consecutive
plays in Clemson’s 32-0 win over South Carolina in Columbia in 1928.
Pressley went on to become Clemson’s first All-American at season’s
end.
4.In 1948 and 1981 a blocked punt returned for a touchdown
proved to be the pivotal play in a Clemson victory, victories that allowed
Clemson to go on to an undefeated season. In both instances, the
original line of scrimmage was the South Carolina 28-yard-line.
3.Willie Underwood had two interceptions to lead Clemson to
victory over South Carolina in 1980. A starter for four years, the strong
safety never had recorded an interception in any of his first 46 games as
a Tiger, then had two against the Gamecocks in his 47th and final game.
2. In a placekicking career that spanned five years, Bob
Paulling made 107 of 109 extra points. Both of his misses were at
South Carolina, one in 1981 and one in 1983. He had a streak of 70
consecutive made extra points (second longest in Clemson history) in
between the two miscues.
1. In the 30 games that Frank Howard coached at Clemson
against South Carolina, Clemson scored 411 points and South Carolina
scored 411 points.
Memorable Senior Day Performances vs. South Carolina
One thing to watch for on Senior Day is first time
accomplishments for a senior. Over the there have been some first time
occurrences and outstanding performances.
1954: Ken Moore had 152 yards rushing in just five carries in
a victory over The Citadel in his final game as a Tiger. The 30.4 yards
per carry is a Clemson record for a single game, given a minimum of
100-yards rushing.
1974: Willie Anderson had a career high 21 tackles to lead
Clemson to victory in his final game at Clemson. He was named Sports
Illustrated National Defensive Player of the Week.
1980: Willie Underwood had two interceptions in his final
game against South Carolina after going his first 47 games at Clemson
without an interception. Underwood was named Sports Illustrated
National Defensive Player of the Week.
1981: Jerry Gaillard went his first 40 games without catching a
touchdown pass, then had one against Maryland in his final home game.
Perry Tuttle had 10-151 receiving on the same day in his final game at
Clemson.
1983: Kevin Mack had a career high 186 yards rushing 30
carries and raced 42 yards for a touchdown on his final carry (with just
one shoe) in his final game at Clemson.
1990: Chris Gardocki, although a junior at the time, had a 78-
yard punt on his final kick in Death Valley. Most knew it was his final
performance as a Clemson kicker, so we will include it in this list.
1995: Brian Dawkins tied a Clemson single game record with
three interceptions, all in the second quarter, or Clemson’s 34-17 win on
Senior Day. Dawkins was named Sports Illustrated National Defensive
Player of the Week.
1998: Howard Bartley went his entire four year career without
an interception, then had a 48-yard interception return for a score on the
second play of the second half, giving Clemson a 21-7 lead on the way to
a victory.
1999: Brandon Streeter completed 22-30 passes for 279
yards in his senior day game, the most passing yards ever by a Clemson
quarterback on his senior day.
2000: Rod Gardner caught a 50-yard pass to set up a game
winning field goal with just 11 seconds left in Clemson’s 16-14 win over
South Carolina.
Memorable Clemson Plays in the Series with South Carolina
1948 —Phil Prince blocked punt and Oscar Thompson returned
the ball for a touchdown that gave Clemson 13-7 win in Columbia and
allowed Clemson to keep an undefeated season. Play took place with
4:15 left in the game.
1959—Harvey White connected with future Super Bowl
Champion Bill Mathis for a 26-yard touchdown pass in the third period to
put Clemson up 19-0 in the final Big Thursday game in Columbia. White
completed 9-10 passes on the day and led the Tigers to the 27-0 victory.
1962—Don Chuy and Billy Weaver combined to sack Dan
Reeves for a 13-yard loss with just 33 seconds left, preserving Clemson’s
20-17 victory. South Carolina had driven to the Clemson 25 for that last
play.
1966—Harry Olszewski, an All-America offensive guard, picked
off a fumbled snap in mid-air and ran 12-yards for a touchdown. The 35-
10 victory allowed Clemson to win the ACC title. No Clemson offensive
lineman has scored a touchdown since.
1967—Buddy Gore’s 43-yard run in the third period that led to
a Tiger touchdown was a momentum swaying play in Clemson’s victory
over the Gamecocks, a win that allowed Clemson to clinch a tie for the
ACC championship. That was the key run on this day that saw Gore
become the first Clemson back in history to go over 1000 yards in a
season and break Brian Piccolo’s ACC single season rushing record.
1971—Eddie Seigler kicked a 52-yard field goal to lead
Clemson to a 17-7 win over the Gamecocks. It was the first field goal of
at least 50 yards in Clemson history.
1972—With Clemson leading 7-6 in the fourth period, Jimmy
Williamson batted down a Dobby Grossman two-point conversion pass to
preserve the victory for the Tigers.
1977—Jerry Butler made a 20-yard catch of a Steve Fuller
pass with 49 seconds left to give Clemson 31-27 win in Columbia. It
clinched Gator Bowl bid for the Tigers, Clemson’s first bowl bid in 18
years. It was a backwards diving reception.
1980—Willie Underwood had a 37-yard interception return for
a touchdown that clinched Clemson’s upset of South Carolina in 1980.
Underwood was named Sports Illustrated Player of the Week for his
performance in that game.
1981—Just as it had happed 33 years previously, a blocked
punt played a big part in a Clemson victory over South Carolina that
allowed the Tigers to have an undefeated season. Rod McSwain
blocked a South Carolina punt and Johnny Rembert recovered in the
endzone for the touchdown. Just as it had been 33 years previous, the
line of scrimmage was the South Carolina 28.
1990—Chris Gardocki made his final punt in Death Valley
memorable when he had a 78-yard boot in the fourth quarter to give
South Carolina bad field position and clinch Clemson’s 24-15 victory over
the Gamecocks. It remains the second longest punt in Clemson history.
1995—Emory Smith carried South Carolina tacklers 20 yards
on the way to a 54-yard run that led to the game clinching touchdown in
Columbia. Smith ended the game with 101 yards rushing.
1999—Rod Gardner’s 29-yard scoring catch on a fourth-down
play from Woody Dantzler clinched Clemson’s 31-20 victory in Columbia.
2000—Rod Gardner’s 50-yard reception from Dantzler with 10
seconds left led to Aaron Hunt’s game winning field goal with three
seconds left.
Clemson Has won eight of Nine vs. South Carolina
Clemson has won eight of the last nine games against South
Carolina, the first time Clemson has ever defeated the Gamecocks eight
out of nine years. A look to the other major college rivalries reveals that
no other school has dominated its rivalry game more than Clemson over
the last nine years. Only Purdue and its eight wins in nine years of
Indiana, and Kansas State and its eight wins over Kansas in the last nine
years can match Clemson’s 8-1 record since 1997 against the
Gamecocks.
Here is a list of rivalry records over the last nine years in
college football:
Most Dominated Rivalry Games (1997-05)
Clemson 8, South Carolina 1
Purdue 8, Indiana 1
Kansas State 8, Kansas 1
Navy 7, Army 2
Southern California 7, UCLA 2
Michigan 7, Michigan State 2
Wisconsin 7, Minnesota 2
Texas 7, Texas A&M 2
Florida 7, Georgia 2
Spurrier Returns to Death Valley
South Carolina Head Coach Steve Spurrier will make his first
appearance in Death Valley as the head coach of the Gamecocks on
Saturday, but he has been to Clemson previously as the head coach at
Duke. Spurrier was 1-2 against Clemson as the Duke head coach with
both losses coming in Clemson Memorial Stadium.
Clemson won the 1987 game 17-10 in Spurrier’s first year as
Duke head coach. That was a close call for a Clemson team that was
ranked seventh in the nation with a 5-0 record entering the game. That
Clemson team ended the season with a 10-2 record and ranked 10th in
the final UPI poll. The following year, Clemson won 49-17 over Duke.
That was actually a battle of top 25 teams at Clemson. The Tigers were
11th and Duke was 22nd entering that game. Clemson ended the year 10-
2 and Duke was 7-3-1.
The following year at Duke, Spurrier defeated Clemson by a
21-17 score. Clemson entered the game ranked seventh in the nation.
Duke was just 1-3, but would run the table to the end of the regular
season and tied Virginia for the ACC Championship. Clemson would end
the year 10-2 and actually was the highest ranked ACC team in the final
poll with a #12 AP ranking. That was Danny Ford’s final year as Clemson
head coach.
Clemson gained victory last year, so Spurrier is now 1-3
against Clemson in his coaching career.
Clemson Offense over 2000 Yards in Both Areas
Clemson went over the 2000-yard passing mark in its win over
NC State on November 11. The Tigers enter the South Carolina game
with 2047 passing yards, 186 per game.
Clemson already had over 2000 yards rushing entering the
contest. Thus, this is just the third Clemson team in history to record
over 2000 yards rushing and 2000 yards passing in the same year.
Clemson now has 2521 rushing yards entering the South Carolina game.
The only other teams to go over 2000 yards in both categories
in the same year are the 2000 and 2001 Clemson team. All three
Clemson teams that have had at least 2000 yards of each have been
coached by Tommy Bowden.
Clemson’s 2000/2000 Yard Teams
Year GP Rush Yds Pass Yds Total Off 2000 12 2688 2554 5242 2001 12 2300 2884 5184 2006 11 2521 2047 4568
Adams Needs Two Sacks to tie Perry
Gaines Adams had a career high 10 tackles and a key pass
deflection that led to a Nick Watkins interception in the 20-14 win over
NC State two weeks ago, the last time the Tigers took to the gridiron.
Adams did see his sack streak end at eight consecutive games. Adams
has 26 career sacks entering his final home game and needs three to
break Michael Dean Perry’s record of 28. William Perry, a three-time
Clemson All-American and Michael Dean’s older brother, had 27.
Michael Dean actually broke his brother’s record in a game against
South Carolina in 1987.
Adams was named as one of five finalists for the Bronko
Nagurski Award last Thursday. That honor is presented to the nation’s
top defensive player by the Football Writers of America. The other four
finalists for that honor are Leon Hall, a defensive back from Michigan,
Jim Laurinaitis, a linebacker of Ohio State, Reggie Nelson, a defensive
back from Florida, and Patrick Willis, a linebacker from Mississippi.
Adams has 10.5 sacks so far this year to lead the ACC and
rank ninth in the nation. The 10.5 sacks are tied for second best in
Clemson history for a single season behind the 16 sack season turned in
by Keith Adams in 1999.
Adams is ranked among the best players in college football
from a pro potential. He is ranked as the fourth best NFL prospect
according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper according to his November 16 rankings.
Mel Kiper’s Big Board
(November 16, 2006)
Rk Player School Pos. 1. Brady Quinn Notre Dame QB 2. Joe Thomas Wisconsin OT 3. Leon Hall Michigan CB 4. Gaines Adams Clemson DE 5. Quinn Pitcock Ohio State DT 6. Jeff Samardzija Notre Dame WR 7. LeRon Landry LSU DB 8. Levi Brown Penn State OT 9. Buster Davis Florida State LB 10. DeMarcus Taylor NC State DT
Clemson Career Sack Leaders
Rk Player, Pos Years Sacks 1. Michael Dean Perry, DT 1984-87 28 2. William Perry, MG 1981-84 27 3. Gaines Adams, DE 2003-06 26 4. Adrian Dingle, DT 1995-98 23 Keith Adams, LB 1998-00 23 6. Brentson Buckner, DT 1990-93 22 Bryant McNeal, DE 1999-02 22 8. Chester McGlockton, DT 1989-91 20.5 9. Levon Kirkland, OLB 1988-91 19 Anthony Simmons, OLB 1995-97 19
Clemson Single Season Sack Leaders
Rk Player, Pos Years Sacks 1. Keith Adams, LB 1999 16 2. Gaines Adams, BAN 2006 10.5 Adrian Dingle, DE 1998 10.5 4. Jim Stuckey, DT 1979 10 William Perry, MD 1984 10 Michael Dean Perry, DT 1987 10 7. Gaines Adams, BAN 2005 9.5 8. Michael Dean Perry, DT 1986 9 Bryant McNeal, DE 2002 9
Davis Named Semifinalist for Doak Walker Award
Clemson running back James Davis is among the 10
semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award. The sophomore from Atlanta
leads the ACC in rushing with 1115 yards and 17 touchdowns so far this
season. He had 216 yards against Georgia Tech on October 21 for his
career high, helping the Tigers to a 31-7 win, the only ACC loss for
Georgia Tech this year.
Davis is joined on the semifinal list of Walker Award candidates
by Mike Hart of Michigan, P.J. Hill of Wisconsin, Ian Johnson of Boise
State, Marshawn Lynch of California, Darren McFadden of Arkansas,
Adrian Peterson of Oklahoma, Ray Rice of Rutgers, Steve Slaton of West
Virginia and Garrett Wolfe of Northern Illinois.
Spiller Breaking Davis’s Records
James Davis established many freshman records in 2005 when
he led the Tigers in rushing with 879 yards and nine touchdowns. He
established Clemson freshman records for touchdowns, yards per carry,
all-purpose running yards and 100-yard games by a freshman.
A year later, those records have either been broken or tied by
current freshman C.J. Spiller. Spiller is second in rushing on the Tigers
top five rushing offense with 759 yards and eight rushing touchdowns.
Spiller has already beaten Davis’s record for touchdowns by a freshman
with 10, has a freshman record 6.7 yards per rush and a Clemson
freshman record 1171 yards of all-purpose rushing. His four 100-yard
rushing games have tied Davis’s production as a freshman.
Spiller is coming off a season best 154 yards rushing in 18 carries in the
win over NC State. That included a 52-yard touchdown run, his fifth
touchdown of at least 50 yards this season. He now has 759 rushing
yards for the season, the fourth best single season total for a Clemson
freshman in history, the third best by a true freshman.
Top Single Game Freshman Rushing Performances
Year Player Opponent Att-Yds 1952 Don King A-Fordham 33-234 1990 Ronald Williams H-App St 14-183 1987 Terry Allen H-Virginia 27-183 2006 C.J. Spiller H-NC State 18-154 2005 James Davis N-Colorado 28-150 2005 James Davis A-S Carolina 27-145 1945 Bobby Gage H-Presbyterian 8-144 2005 James Davis A-NC State 12-143
Clemson Single Season Freshman Rushing Bests
Player Year GP TD Avg Att Yds Terry Allen 1987 11 8 5.32 183 973 Ronald Williams 1990 11 8 5.29 178 941 James Davis 2005 11 9 5.33 165 879 C.J. Spiller 2006 11 8 6.66 114 759 Travis Zachery 1998 11 4 4.00 158 635 Duane Coleman 2003 13 2 4.62 133 615
Clemson on Senior Day
This will be the final home game for Clemson’s 20 seniors.
Clemson has won eight straight Senior Day games for the longest
streak of wins on this special day in Clemson history. Clemson’s last
loss on Senior Day was in 1997 to a 10th ranked North Carolina team by
a 17-10 score.
Tommy Bowden is 7-0 on Senior Day games as Clemson’s
head coach and is 8-1 in his career as a head coach. His only Senior
Day loss was to Mississippi during his first year at Tulane.
Last year’s Clemson victory on Senior Day over Florida State,
set the record for consecutive senior day wins. Clemson won seven in
a row between 1957-63. South Carolina ended that streak with a
victory in 1964 at Clemson. Overall, Clemson is 69-33-3 (.671) on Senior
Day over the years. Five seasons Clemson has not had a home game
and thus didn’t have a Senior Day.
Accomplishments of Clemson Seniors
Saturday is the final regular season game, the final home
game for 20 Clemson seniors, 14 of whom are fifth-year seniors. Here is
a rundown of some of the accomplishments for this senior class of 2006:
•Entering Saturday’s game with South Carolina the group has
a four-year record of 31-16. The .660 winning percentage associated
with that record is the best by any Clemson senior class since Brentson
Buckner’s senior class had a .713 winning percentage (33-13-1)
between 1990-93.
•A victory Saturday would give the group 32 wins, tied for the most by a
senior class since 1993. The 2003 Clemson seniors posted a 32-18
record for their four seasons combined. Obviously a win today and bowl
win would surpass that 2003 total.
•The Tigers have already won eight games this year and
combined with the eight wins in 2005, this is the first time since the 1986-
91 era that Clemson has won at least eight games in consecutive
seasons. Clemson and Georgia Tech are the only two ACC schools who
have not had a losing season in conference play over the last four years.
(Of course we are only counting the ACC schools who have been in the
league for all four years.)
•A bowl victory this year would give the group a 3-0 record in
bowl games. No Clemson class has won three bowl games since the
seniors of 1991, and it has a chance to be the first Clemson class since
1990 to go undefeated in bowl games.
•This senior group has already been a part of two teams that
have finished the season in the top 25 of both polls and a third top 25
finish would also be a first for a Clemson class since the 1993 seniors.
•This class is the first class in ACC history to defeat Florida
State three times.
• It already has a 3-0 record against South Carolina.
•This class stands out when it comes to wins over ranked
opponents. The class has nine wins over top 25 wins in its four seasons,
just one shy of the Clemson record for top 25 wins in a four-year period.
The seniors of 1989, 1990 and 1991 had 10 top 25 wins.
However, this group has eight top 20 wins and four top 10 wins. This
class is tied for the school record in each category. The seniors of 1983
and 1989 had eight top 20 wins and the seniors of 1983 and 2004 had
four top 10 wins.
How impressive is four wins over top 10 teams in one four-year
period? Danny Ford’s last six senior classes in the 1980s, when
Clemson had the fifth best record in college football, never had more
than one.
This group has actually won each of its last four games against
top 20 teams. It is the first time in 17 years that Clemson has won four
straight over top 20 teams. The recent run of top 20 wins includes the
aforementioned win at ninth-ranked Florida State this year, Clemson’s
first win in Tallahassee since 1989.
2006 Clemson Seniors
No Name Pos Hometown 93 #Gaines Adams BN Greenwood, SC 63 #Nathan Bennett OG Dallas, GA 95 #Brandon Cannon DE Lithonia, GA 53 Chris Carey OL Scott Depot, WV 30 #Cole Chason P Roswell, GA 44 #Donnell Clark MG Griffin, GA 3 #Duane Coleman CB Naples, FL 7 Jad Dean PK Greenwood, SC 73 #Tim DeBeer OT Atlanta, GA 75 Marion Dukes OT Pickens, SC 62 #Dustin Fry C Summerville, SC 72 #!Roman Fry OG Ironton, OH 15 Sergio Gilliam CB Greer, SC 89 #Thomas Hunter TE Marion, SC 37 #Reggie Merriweather RB North Augusta, SC 14 #Will Proctor QB Winter Park, FL 59 Nic Riddle SN Ladson, SC 45 Brent Smith FB Moncks Corner, SC 2 #Chansi Stuckey WR Warner Robbins, GA 40 #!Anthony Waters LB Lake View, SC #Denotes fifth-year scholarship senior !Out for the season
Clemson Leads Nation in Fewest Yards Per Play Allowed
Clemson has had some outstanding defensive numbers this
year. The Tigers rank fifth in he nation in total defense (249.9), sixth in
pass efficiency defense (97.52), eighth in scoring defense (13.73), ninth
in pass defense (156.1), 10th in tackles for loss, 15th in sacks and 18th in
rushing defense.
But, the most impressive ranking might be in terms of yards per
play. Clemson leads the nation in fewest yards per play allowed at
3.89. Clemson, LSU and Virginia Tech are the only schools in the nation
allowing fewer than 4.0 yards per play this season.
National Leaders in Yards/Play Allowed
Rk School Pl Yards Yd/P 1. Clemson 707 2749 3.89 2. LSU 639 2505 3.92 3. Va Tech 647 2541 3.93 4. Wisconsin 709 2922 4.12 5. Michigan 721 3049 4.23 6. Florida St 697 2959 4.25 7. TCU 598 2552 4.27 8. Penn State 780 3348 4.29
Clemson Third in Nation in total Offense Margin
Clemson ranks fifth in the nation in total defense and 13th in
total offense so far this season. Clemson is giving up 249.9 yards per
game and gaining 415.3. Clemson is one of five schools in the nation
ranked in the top 20 in both total offense and total defense. The other
schools in the top 20 in both total offense and total defense are Boise
State, LSU, Ohio State and Florida. Clemson has out-gained its
opposition by an average of 165.4 yards per game. That ranks third in
the nation behind LSU and West Virginia. Virginia Tech is the only team
to out-game Clemson this year.
Programs Ranked in Top 20 in Total Offense and Total Defense
School Total Offense Total Defense Clemson 13 (415.3) 5 (249.9) LSU 15 (411.1) 1 (227.7) Boise State 11 (419.5) 17 (285.8) Ohio State 17 (409.8) 14 (273.0) Florida 20 (399.2) 11 (268.0)
National Leaders in Total Offense margin
Rk School Off Def Margin 1. LSU 411.1 227.7 +183.4 2. West Virginia 480.7 307.5 +173.2 3. Clemson 415.3 249.9 +165.4 4. Louisville 465.3 315.0 +150.3 5. Oregon 437.3 299.6 +137.7 6. Ohio State 409.8 273.0 +136.8 7. Boise State 419.5 285.8 +133.7 8. Florida 399.2 268.0 +131.2
Top Total Offense Margin Teams in Clemson History
Rk Year Record Off Def Margin 1. 2006 8-3 415.3 249.9 +165.4 2. 1978 11-1 427.8 262.6 +165.2 3. 1950 9-0-1 388.1 225.5 +162.6 4. 1981 12-0 391.5 251.9 +139.6 5. 1948 11-0 315.1 177.2 +137.9 6. 1990 10-2 355.4 219.2 +136.2 7. 1987 10-2 378.5 245.4 +133.1 8. 1991 9-2-1 403.0 272.6 +130.4
Another Bowden Faces Spurrier
This will be the second time Tommy Bowden has faced Steve
Spurrier in a head to head coaching matchup. He won the first meeting
in Columbia last year.
But, Spurrier has faced the Bowden family for many years, facing Tommy,
his brother Terry and his father Bobby. Spurrier was 4-2 against Terry
when Terry was the head coach at Auburn and he was 5-8-1 against
Bobby Bowden during his career as head coach of the Gators. Thus
Spurrier is a combined 9-11-1 against the Bowden family as a head
coach.
Clemson Has Many Big Plays
Clemson has been a team of big plays this year. Counting
offensive plays and all returns, Clemson has 11 touchdown plays of 50
yards or more this year. They have been accomplished on five running
plays, three pass plays, a fumble return, a punt return and a kickoff
return. The 11 touchdown plays of 50 yards or more is a Clemson single
season record. The previous record was 10 in 2001.
A look to the offensive play chart shows that Clemson has had
52 plays of 20 yards or more this season, compared to just 18 for the
opposition. The Tigers have 22 runs of 20 yards or more compared to
just six for the opposition. The Tigers have 30 pass plays of 20 yards or
more compared to 12 for the opposition.
James Davis leads the team in plays of 20 yards or more with
13, 11 rushes and two pass receptions. Chansi Stuckey is second with
nine plays of 20 yards or more, all receptions. C.J. Spiller has just six
plays of 20 yards or more, but five of the six have been for at least 50
yards and all six have gone for touchdowns.
Spiller Has Single Season Record for Long Touchdowns
Clemson freshman running back C.J. Spiller had a career high
154 yards rushing in Clemson’s victory over NC State in November 11.
That performance included a 52-yard run for a touchdown, Clemson’s
first score of the game.
That 52-yard run against NC State was the fifth touchdown of
over 50 yards for Spiller this season. With that run he broke the
Clemson record for touchdowns of 50 yards or more in a season. Derrick
Hamilton had four, three on pass receptions and one on a kickoff return
in 2003. Spiller is already just two 50-yard touchdowns away from the
Clemson career mark. Hamilton has that record with seven between
2001 and 2003.
Spiller’s first long play as a Tiger was an 82-yard pass
reception against Boston College in the second game of the season.
That was the longest reception in Clemson history by a running back and
by a freshman. He also had a 72-yard run for a touchdown at Wake
Forest, the go-ahead score for the Tigers in that fourth quarter
comeback. He had a pair of 50-yard touchdowns against Georgia Tech,
a 50-yard run and a 50-yard touchdown reception on a swing pass.
His performance against Georgia Tech marked the first time
in Clemson history that one player had a touchdown run and a
touchdown reception of 50 yards or more in the same game. He was the
fifth Clemson player in history to have a pair of 50-yard touchdown plays
in the same game. Derrick Hamilton was the last to do it when he had a
69-yard pass reception and a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown
against North Carolina in 2003.
It should be noted that classmate Jacoby Ford is not far behind
Spiller. Ford has three touchdowns or 50 yards or more this year, a 55-
yard pass reception for a score against Temple, a 92-yard punt return for
a score against Florida Atlantic and a 94-yard kickoff return for a
touchdown against Louisiana Tech.
Most Touchdowns of 50 Yards or More in a Season
Player Year No (Type)
C.J. Spiller 2006 5 (3 rush, 2 reception)
Derrick Hamilton 2003 4 (3 reception, 1 KOR)
Billy Hair 1950 3 (3 rush)
Don Kelley 1970 3 (2 PR, 1 INT)
Gary Cooper 1988 3 (3 reception)
Brian Wofford 1998 3 (3 reception)
Justin Miller 2004 3 (2 KIR, 1 PR)
Jacoby Ford 2006 3 (1 reception, 1 KOR, 1 PR)
Most Touchdowns of 50 Yards or More in Career
Player Years No (Type)
Derrick Hamilton 2001-03 7 (4 reception, 2 KOR, 1 Rush)
Gary Cooper 1986-89 6 (5 reception, 1 run)
Craig Brantley 1972-75 6 (6 reception)
Don Kelley 1969-71 5 (2 PR, 2 Rec, 1 Int)
Perry Tuttle 1978-81 5 (5 reception)
C.J. Spiller 2006 5 (3 rush, 2 reception)
Justin Miller 2002-04 5 (3 KOR, 2 PR)
Clemson on Record Pace in yards/Play
Many expected offensive production to go down across the
nation this year due to the changes in the use of the clock in college
football. With anticipated reduction in the number of plays, would have a
reduction in offense and production according to statistical logic.
But, Clemson has averaged 415 yards per game so far this
year, a figure that would be fifth best in Clemson history if the season
ended today. Clemson has averaged 64 plays per game this year,
down from 69 per game last year. Clemson has averaged 6.47 yards
per play this season, a figure that would be the best in Clemson history if
the season ended today. The existing record is 6.16 yards per play in
1950, so we are talking a 56-year-old record.
It is interesting to note that five of the six best yards per play
seasons in Clemson history have come under Tommy Bowden’s watch.
Clemson Yards Per Play Bests
Rk Year Plays Yards Yds/Play 1. 2006 706 4568 6.47 2. 1950 630 3881 6.16 3. 2003 954 5467 5.73 4. 2001 913 5184 5.68 5. 2000 931 5242 5.63 6. 2005 827 4515 5.58 7. 1947 483 2673 5.53 8. 1948 646 3456 5.44
Clemson in Top 10 in 11 Statistical Categories
Clemson ranks in the top 10 in 11 different statistical categories
this year. The list includes three on offense, six on defense and one
special teams. As noted above, Clemson leads the nation in fewest
yards allowed per game on defense. Clemson is ranked in the top 20 in
14 total categories.
Individually, Clemson has four players ranked in the top 20 in
six different categories. Gaines Adams has the highest individual
national ranking with a #7 ranking in quarterback sacks. James Davis is
ninth in scoring and 17th in rushing, while Jad Dean is now 20th in scoring
and field goals per game.
Below is a list of Clemson’s national team rankings:
Clemson team top 20 national rankings
•First in fewest yards allowed per play (3.89)
•Second in fewest sacks allowed (8)
•Third in kickoff returns (26.95)
•Third total offense margin (+165.4)
•5th in rushing offense (229.2)
•5th in total defense (249.9)
•6th in pass efficiency defense (97.5)
•8th in scoring defense (13.73)
•9th in pass defense (156.1)
•9th in scoring offense (34.3)
•10th in tackles for loss (7.45)
•13th in total offense (415.3)
•15th in quarterback sacks (2.91)
•18th in rushing defense (93.82)
Individual Top 25 National Rankings
•Gaines Adams, 7th in quarterback sacks (10.5, 0.95 per game)
•James Davis, 9th in scoring, 9.27 points per game
•James Davis, 17th in rushing yards per game (101.4)
•Jad Dean, 20th in scoring, 7.91 points per game
•Jad Dean, 20th in field goals per game (1.36)
•Jacoby Ford, 22nd in punt returns, 11.79
Bowden Has 12 Wins over National Championship Coaches
Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden defeated Bobby Bowden
and Steve Spurrier last year. He became just the third coach to do it in
the same year, joining Phillip Fulmer of Tennessee (1998) and Butch
Davis of Miami (2000). He obviously has a chance to do it a second time
this year as he already has a victory over his father in 2006.
Clemson Head Coach Danny Ford actually had a chance to do
it in 1989 when he defeated Bobby Bowden of Florida State in the
second game of the year, but he lost to Spurrier’s Duke team 21-17 in
Durham, NC.
Both of the aforementioned coaches Bowden and Spurrier
have won the national championship. Tommy Bowden already has 12
wins over four coaches who have won the National Championship in their
careers since he became the head coach at Clemson in 1999. He had
three of the nine wins in a four-game span to end the 2003 season and
already has two this year in Howard Schnellenberger of Florida Atlantic
and his father. Five of the wins over national championship head
coaches came against Lou Holtz.
Tommy Bowden’s Wins over National Championship Coaches
Year Coach School CU-Opp
1999 Lou Holtz South Carolina 31-21
2000 Lou Holtz South Carolina 16-14
2002 Lou Holtz South Carolina 27-20
2003 Bobby Bowden Florida State 26-10
Lou Holtz South Carolina 63-17
Phillip Fulmer Tennessee 27-14
2004 Larry Coker Miami (FL) 24-17
Lou Holtz South Carolina 29-7
2005 Bobby Bowden Florida State 35-14
Steve Spurrier South Carolina 13-9
2006 Howard Schnellenberger Florida Atlantic 54-7
Bobby Bowden Florida State 27-20
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