Clemson vs Boston College Game Notes |
Saturday, September 9, 2006
Kickoff: 3:30 PM Alumni Stadium (44,500) Sold Out Television: ABC Play by Play: Mark Jones Color: David Norrie Sideline: Stacey Dales Clemson Radio Network Play by Play: Pete Yanity Color Commentator: Will Merritt Sideline: Chad Carson Series History: Clemson Leads 7-6-2 last Meeting: BC, 16-13 in OT, 2005 Clemson Personnel Update •Tramaine Billie (LB)--Starting linebacker who suffered a broken foot in practice in August. Out for at least first five games. •Jamarcus Grant (OT) Reserve red-shirt freshman lineman who suffered a broken foot during summer weight training. •Anthony Waters (LB)--Starting linebacker out for season with torn ACL suffered in opening game against FAU. •Roman Fry (OG)--Starting offensive guard sprained knee, questionable for BC. *Nathan Bennett (OG)--Starting offensive guard, sprained ankle, questionable for BC. *Rashaad Jackson (DT)--Sprained knee vs. FAU, questionable for BC. Clemson vs. Boston College Series •Clemson holds a 7-6-2 advantage in the series with Boston College, a series that dates to the 1939 season and the January 1, 1940 Cotton Bowl. That was a landmark victory for the Clemson program, the school’s first bowl game and the school’s first ever win over a top 20 team. Boston College was ranked 11th in the nation entering the game. Clemson won 6-3 behind 115 yards rushing from Charlie Timmons and four pass deflections in the fourth quarter by Clemson legend Banks McFadden. •This will be the 16th meeting between Clemson and Boston College. Only Miami (FL) has played Boston College more among ACC teams entering this year. •Two of Clemson’s victories in the series took place during undefeated Tiger seasons. Clemson won 26-19 in 1948 on the way to a perfect 11-0 season, and won 35-14 in 1950 on the way to a 9-0-1 season. •The last meeting between Clemson and Boston College in Boston took place in 1983, a 31-16 Eagles victory. Clemson had a 16-3 lead with 25 minutes left in the game, but the Eagles went on a 28-0 run to end the game behind Doug Flutie. Flutie was 20-36 for 223 yards and two touchdowns against a Clemson efense that featured All-American William Perry. The Eagles gained 504 yards of total offense on the night, 281 rushing and 223 passing. It was Clemson’s only loss in 1983 (9- 1-1). •The two teams tied in a 1982 game in Death Valley. The game was televised by CBS on a regional basis, the first CBS broadcast from Clemson Memorial Stadium. Clemson had a 14-0 lead at intermission, but sophomore quarterback Doug Flutie led Boston College back to take a 17-14 lead. The Tigers tied the game in the fourth quarter, then had a 43-yard attempt with eight seconds left to win, but Donald Igwebuike’s field goal drifted left and the game ended in a 17-17 tie. Clemson won the total offense battle 370-343. The Tigers had 218 yards rushing led by Cliff Austin, who had 20-94. Flutie was 18- 35 for 242 yards and a touchdown. Clemson’s Homer Jordan was 13-25 for 152 yards. Frank Magwood led Clemson receivers with 103 yards on six catches, the only 100-yard receiving game of his Clemson career. •Clemson had just two losses and two ties over a three-year period from 1981-83. One of the losses and one of the ties came against Boston College in that 1982-83 period. •Last season’s overtime meeting, a 16-13 Boston College victory, was the first between the two schools as an ACC matchup. The game was tied 10-10 at the end of regulation. •Clemson has not beaten Boston College since 1958, a 34-12 victory at Clemson. Boston College has a 3-0-1 lead in the last four games that have been played since that Tiger victory. •The two teams played three games at famed Fenway Park in Boston, the home of the Boston Red Sox. Clemson won the first meeting there in 1941 by a 26-13 score. The same two teams met at Fenway the following year, and Boston College won 14-7. The two teams played to a 14-14 tie in 1953 at Fenway. So the series stands at 1-1-1 in games played at Fenway Park. The two teams also played at Braves Field in Boston, then the home of the National League’s Boston Braves (now the Atlanta Braves). Clemson had a 3-1 advantage in games played at Braves Field all between 1942-52. •The series is tied 2-2-1 in games played at Clemson. The series is tied 4-4-1 in the nine games played in the city of Boston. Last Year vs. Boston College Boston College 16, Clemson 13 September 24, 2005 at Clemson, SC Making its first trip to Death Valley since 1982 and playing its first road game as a member of the ACC, #25 (USA Today) Boston College outlasted Clemson in overtime, 16-13. After winning its first five overtime games since the NCAA adopted the rule in 1996, the Tigers lost in extra time for the second straight week. Clemson had lost to Miami (FL) in triple overtime, 36-30 the previous week. After the Tigers were forced to punt to open the game, the Eagles moved the ball 33 yards in seven plays to set up the first points of the day. Ryan Ohliger connected on a 33-yard field goal to give Boston College an early lead. The Eagle defense again forced Clemson into a three-and-out, and quarterback Matt Ryan completed four straight passes to move the ball to the Tiger seven. However, Ryan’s fifth pass of the drive was intercepted in the endzone by Jamaal Fudge. The Tigers could only move three yards in three plays and punted again, and Boston College started its third drive of the day from its own 36. This time, Ryan completed six straight passes, and Andre Callender had an 18-yard run down to the one-yard line. Ryan dove over on a quarterback sneak to cap an 11-play, 64-yard scoring drive, giving the Eagles a 10-0 lead. Clemson quickly answered with a scoring drive of its own. James Davis ran for 39 yards on three carries, and Charlie Whitehurst completed two passes to tight end Thomas Hunter. A third-down sack prevented the Tigers from scoring a touchdown, but Jad Dean made a 36-yard field goal for Clemson’s first points of the day. A holding call helped move the Boston College offense backwards on its next drive, and Clemson took over at its own 36 after a punt. Reggie Merriweather then got in on the action by carrying four times for 37 yards on a drive that was capped by a one-yard sneak by Whitehurst. The extra point by Dean tied the score 10-10. Clemson had 75 yards rushing in the second quarter against an Eagle defense that was ranked third in the nation against the run entering the game. Both teams had plenty of opportunities over the remainder of the game, but there was no scoring. Boston College had the last drive. Boston College got the ball back with 22 seconds left. Ryan hit Miller for a 29-yard completion into Clemson territory, but Tye Hill intercepted Ryan two plays later to send the game into overtime. Just as they were the last time the two met in Death Valley in 1982, Clemson and Boston College were tied after 60 minutes of play. The Tigers went on offense first in overtime, and Whitehurst hit Aaron Kelly for a first down. But Clemson could not get closer than the Eagle six-yard line. Dean booted a 24-yard field goal to the Tigers their first lead of the day by a score of 13-10. On Boston College’s drive, Ryan hit Larry Lester for 10 yards on third down. Callender, who totaled 116 yards on 22 carries, followed with a 10-yard run down to the one-yard line, and two plays later, Brian Toal scored from one-yard out to give the Eagles the win 16-13. The Eagles ran 90 plays to the Tigers’ 57 and out-gained Clemson 385-251. Boston College also won the time-of-possession battle (35:42 to 24:18) and converted 10 of 20 third downs, while the Tigers were 0-11 on third downs. It was the first time in recorded history (since 1978) that Clemson went an entire game without a converted third down. Anthony Waters led the defense with 14 tackles, while Tramaine Billie added 13 stops. Jackson also had two of the team’s four tackles for loss. Clemson Veterans versus Boston College Gaines Adams (Ban )- Started and played 61 snaps with 4 tackles in 2005 overtime game. Tremaine Billie (LB)- Started and played 55 snaps with 13 tackles Duane Coleman (CB)- had 4 tackles in 19 plays as a reserve in 2005 Cole Chason (P )- Started while punting 3 times for a 38.3 average James Davis (RB)-starter who rushed 8 times for 44 yards with a 5.5 average Jad Dean (K)- Had a perfect 2-2 day making field goals from 36 and 24, while contributing 7 points in the overtime loss in 2005 CJ Gaddis (CB)-starter at safety last year playing in 79 plays with 11 tackles. Sergio Gilliam (CB)-logged 79 snaps as a starter with 4 tackles and 1 pass break up Micheal Hamlin (S)- Played 25 snaps as a reserve in 2005 with 4 tackles Aaron Kelly (WR)- The red-shirt freshmen who caught 5 passes for 38 yards in 2005 Chansi Stuckey (WR)-starter who played 30 snaps while contributing 2 catches for 7 yards in 2005 Anthony Waters (LB )- Logged 65 snaps in 2005 with team best 14 tackles including 1 tackle for loss Nick Watkins (LB)-Had 7 tackles in 64 plays in 2005 Waters Has Torn ACL Clemson senior linebacker Anthony Waters, the Tigers top tackler in 2005 and the ACC’s top returning tackler for 2006, suffered a torn ACL during Clemson’s 54-6 victory over Florida Atlantic and will be lost for the season. An MRI revealed that Waters has a torn ACL and he will have surgery sometime within the next three weeks. Waters is a fifth year senior who does not have another year of eligibility. In January, Waters had contemplated turning professional, but decided to return to Clemson and finish requirements towards his degree. He is finished with his class work and only needs to complete an internship to receive his degree in December. “This is certainly a major loss for our football team,” said Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden. “We have now lost two starting linebackers (Tramaine Billie is the other). “Anthony is a terrific player. I am confident we will have players who will respond. But we can’t replace his leadership, experience and intensity. Everyone knows how hard he has worked in preparation for his senior year. He will come back from this. His career as a football player is not over.” Waters led Clemson in tackles in 2005 with 109, including 13.5 tackles for loss and one sack. He added seven passes broken up. The native of Lake View, SC was listed as a first-team preseason All-American by Phil Steele, a second-team All-American by Street & Smith and The Sporting News. He was also listed on the preseason award list for the Bronko Nagurski Award and the Butkus Award. He was ranked as the #2 linebacker in the nation by Phil Steele and the #6 linebacker in the nation by Scout.com entering the 2006 season. “This is difficult to accept with this being my senior year,” said Waters. “I will just have to do whatever I can to help this team from the sidelines from a leadership standpoint this year. “Many players have come back from this injury to play again. I look at some of my current teammates who have gone through this injury (Donnell Clark), and see players from other ACC schools, like Antonio Cromartie (Florida State) who overcame the same injury to become a first-round draft choice just last year. “I am just leaving everything in God’s hands at this point.” Clemson’s top Two Tacklers vs. BC in 2005 are Injured Clemson’s top two tacklers from last year’s overtime battle with Boston College were suppose to return to play against the Eagles this year. However, both Anthony Waters and Tramaine Billie will miss the Boston College game in Boston this weekend due to injury. Billie suffered a broken foot in practice in mid-August and he is still on crutches after having foot surgery. Waters suffered a torn ACL in the season opener against Florida Atlantic on September 2. A year ago, Waters led Clemson in tackles with a career high 14 against the Eagles, while Billie added 13 stops to rank second that day. Clemson had the top returning trio in the ACC in terms of tackles by returning linebackers, but two-thirds of that group are now out. Waters had 109 tackles at middle linebacker to lead Clemson last year. Nick Watkins was second on the team with 99 and he is still starting at a linebacker position. Billie, Clemson’s third leading tackler last year with 93, is also out, as stated above. So two of Clemson’s top three returning tacklers from last year will miss the Boston College game and probably the entire season. This leaves Clemson with a very young defense. Clemson’s probable starting lineup on defense will have just two seniors, Gaines Adams and Duane Coleman, and just three returning starters from last year, Adams, Watkins and CAT safety Michael Hamlin. Despite the youth, Clemson had a strong performance on defense to open the season. The Tigers did not allow a touchdown, held Florida Atlantic to 263 yards and just 47 yards rushing. The defense also forced four turnovers. Davis Needs 27 Yards for 1000 Clemson sophomore James Davis is already closing in on the 1,000-yard mark for his Tiger career. The native of Atlanta, GA has 973 yards for his 12-game career and obviously needs just 27 yards to reach the 1000-yard mark. Chances are, Davis will accomplish the feat in his 13th game, making him the fourth fastest to 1,000-yards in terms of games played are concerned. Ronald Williams, who played for the Tigers from 1990- 92, Terry Allen, who played from 1987-89, and Ray Yauger, a Tiger from 1968-70, all reached 1000 yards in 12 games. However, Davis can still break a record for swiftness to 1,000 yards in terms of carries. Heading into the Boston College game, Davis has 179 carries for his 973 yards. The record for the fewest carries to reach 1,000 yards in Clemson history is 185, set by Ronald Williams. So, if Williams can get to 27 yards in his first five attempts on Saturday, he will set the record. Davis would have tied the record for fewest games played to reach 1000 yards had he not played at Georgia Tech last year. Coming off a broken wrist suffered at NC State two weeks previously, he played one play at Tech so he was charged with a game played. Quickest to 1,000-yards Rushing
Career Games Carries
Merriweather Goes over 1500 Yards
Clemson senior running back Reggie Merriweather had nine
carries for 75 yards and a touchdown in the win over Florida Atlantic.
With the 75 yards, the native of North Augusta, SC went over the 1500
yard mark for his career. He now has 1516 for his career and needs
just 30 more to move into the top 25 in Clemson history. Charlie
Timmons is currently 25th with 1545.
Merriweather averaged 8.3 yards per carry for the season
opener against Florida Atlantic, his best performance on a yards per
carry basis since he had 8-90 against Georgia Tech in 2004. That was
an 11.3 average. Merriweather’s touchdown against Florida Atlantic was
the 19th of his career, all of have been rushing. He is also in the top 25 in
Clemson history in total touchdowns scored.
Stuckey Needs Four Receptions for 100
Clemson graduate wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, the ACC’s
top receiver a year ago, had five receptions for 66 yards and a
touchdown in the season opening victory over Florida Atlantic. It gives
him 96 receptions for his career for 1126 yards and five touchdowns.
Stuckey obviously needs just four receptions to become the
12th player in Clemson history to have 100 catches for a career. That is
quite an accomplishment considering Stuckey didn’t move to wide
receiver until the opening game of the 2004 season. He was a
quarterback his first two seasons at Clemson.
Stuckey’s 96 receptions are now 13th in school history and his
1126 yards rank 19th . He needs just 41 receiving yards at Boston
College to go ahead of Charlie Waters into 18th place on the all-time
Clemson list. There is irony there in that 41 was Waters’s number in the
NFL with the Dallas Cowboys.
Stuckey has now caught at least one pass in 22 straight
games, or every game he has played at Clemson as a wide receiver.
He caught his fifth touchdown pass as a Tiger in the win over Florida
Atlantic, a 30-yard aerial from Will Proctor. Stuckey did not catch a
touchdown pass in his first 17 games as a wide receiver and now has
five in his last five games. He had two apiece against Duke and Florida
State in consecutive games last year, the first Clemson player in history
to have multiple touchdown receptions in consecutive games.
Clemson Career Reception Leaders
Rk Player Years Yrds Avg TD Rec 1. Derrick Hamilton 2001-03 2312 13.8 16 167 2. Rod Gardner 1997-00 2498 15.0 13 166 3. Terry Smith 1990-03 2681 16.5 15 162 4. Perry Tuttle 1978-81 2534 16.9 17 150 5. Kevin Youngblood 2000-03 1713 12.1 6 142 6. Jerry Butler 1975-78 2223 16.0 11 139 7. Brian Wofford 1996-99 1857 13.5 13 138 8. Airese Currie 2001-04 2030 14.7 10 138 9. Tony Horne 1994-97 1750 14.6 13 120 10.Phil Rogers 1965-67 1469 13.9 5 106 11.Travis Zachery 1998-01 1057 10.1 9 105 12.Mal Lawyer 1996-99 1255 12.7 9 99 13.Chansi Stuckey 2003-06 1126 11.7 5 96
Stuckey is Walter Johnson of Clemson Football
Chansi Stuckey is the Walter Johnson of Clemson football.
Johnson holds the Major League baseball record for wins on Opening
Day with nine during his Hall of Fame career in the early stages of the
20th Century.
Stuckey has played well in season openers each of the last
three years. He continued the streak in the 2006 opener against Florida
Atlantic when he had 5-66 receiving, including a 30-yard touchdown
reception.
In the 2005 win over Texas A&M to open the season, Stuckey
scored Clemson’s only touchdown on a 47-yard punt return in the first
half. The junior wide receiver also had 3-50 receiving and three yards
rushing, giving him 106 all-purpose yards for the game, second on the
Clemson team behind James Davis’s 107.
Stuckey also had a great game on opening day in 2004
against Wake Forest. The native of Warner Robbins, GA had a career
high eight catches for 112 receiving yards. He also had 10 yards
rushing, three punt return yards, a blocked punt, and a key block on
Justin Miller’s 69-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Ford Sets Punt Return Record in Opener
Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden was looking for a game
breaker as a kicker returner during the recruiting season and it looks like
he found one in first-year freshman Jacoby Ford. In his first ever game
as a Tiger and on his second career punt return, Ford raced 92 yards for
a touchdown, the longest punt return in Clemson history.
Ford broke one of the oldest records in the Clemson media
guide. The previous record for the longest punt return was 90 yards.
Shad Bryant had a 90-yard punt return against VMI in a game at
Charlotte in 1938 and Bobby Gage ran the same distance against NC
State in a 6-0 Clemson victory in 1948.
Ford also had two kickoff returns for 44 yards in the game,
giving him 138 return yards for the opener. Ford’s punt return for a score
was the sixth by Clemson in the eight years of the Tommy Bowden era,
and it marked the third consecutive season opener that Clemson has
returned a punt for a touchdown. Justin Miller did it against Wake Forest
in 2004 and Chansi Stuckey did it against Texas A&M in 2005.
Clemson had just four punt returns for a score in the 28
seasons prior to Tommy Bowden’s arrival (1971-98), but now has six in
the Bowden era (eight years). Clemson went 17 years without a punt
return for a score between 1970-87.
Tigers Score Twice on Returns
Clemson had two returns for touchdowns in the victory over
Florida Atlantic. Freshman Jacoby Ford raced 92 yards for a touchdown
on a punt return in the fourth period and senior Sergio Gilliam raced 31
yards for a touchdown on a fumble return. In fact, the two returns came
just 4:31 apart and accounted for Clemson’s last two scores of the game.
Clemson’s offense was not on the field over the last 6:48 because of the
two returns.
This marked the seventh time in Clemson history that the
Tigers have had two returns for touchdown in the same game. The last
time it took place was 2004 when Justin Miller tied an NCAA record with
two kickoff returns for scores at Florida State.
Clemson scored a touchdown on special teams, one on
defense and five on offense in Saturday’s win over Florida Atlantic. That
marked the first time since the 1997 South Carolina game that Clemson
had scored at least one touchdown in all three phases of the game
(offense, defense and special teams).
The other games Clemson has scored two touchdowns via
return in the same game are 1954 vs. Citadel (when Walt Laraway
scored on an interception return and a blocked punt return), 1970 at
Maryland, 1987 vs. Georgia Tech, and 1990 vs. Long Beach State.
Hamlin Returns Interception 74 Yards
While Clemson scored a touchdown on a punt return and a
fumble return, Clemson almost had the return triple with an interception
return for a score. Sophomore safety Michael Hamlin had a 74-yard
interception return in the first half. He actually scored on the play, but an
illegal block in the back was called on a Clemson player on the return at
the FAU 20. Had the penalty not been called, the 94-yard return would
have tied the all-time Clemson record for the longest interception return.
Hamlin had quite a day as he also had a fumble recovery in the
game, giving him two takeaways on the day. He had just two all of last
season so he has already reached his entire 2005 season total.
Hamlin’s 74-yard interception return contributed to Clemson’s
222 return yards on the day, most in the Tommy Bowden era. The Tigers
had 74 yards on interceptions returns, 31 on fumble returns and 117 on
punt returns. The punt return yards were the most by a Clemson team
since the Tigers had 130 against Georgia Tech in 2000, a game
Clemson lost 31-28.
Saturday’s 222 return yards were the most by a Clemson team
since the Tigers had 227 against Georgia Tech in 1987. All 227 were on
punt returns in that game. The only other game on record in which
Clemson had more return yards was in 1970 when the Tigers had 223
return yards in a game against Maryland. All 223 were recorded by Don
Kelley, who had 167 on punt returns and 56 on interception returns in
that game.
Clemson had just 375 return yards (punt, interception and
fumble) all of last year and had 222 in the opener of 2006.
Proctor Off to Strong Start
Clemson quarterback Will Proctor got off to a strong start to his
final season in the win over Florida Atlantic. Proctor completed 13-20
passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns in the 48-point victory.
Proctor’s passing efficiency of 173 was the best by a Clemson player in
an opener since Woody Dantzler had a 247 rating against The Citadel in
the opener o the 2000 season. That was also the last time a Clemson
quarterback threw three touchdown passes in a season opener.
In two games as a starter, Proctor is now 26-41 for 367 yards
and five touchdowns. He has through just one interception in his two
starts.
Tigers Score 54 in Season Opener
Clemson scored 54 points in the season opener against Florida
Atlantic. Here are some facts on the scoring outburst:
•Most points scored by the Tigers in any game since the 63-17
win at South Carolina in 2003.
•Most points scored by Tigers in Death Valley since the 59-31
win over Duke in final home game of 2001.
•Most points scored in season opener since 55-9 victory over
Western Carolina.
•Most points scored in a season opener against a Division I
team since a 59-0 win over Long Beach State in 1990.
•Sixth most points scored by Clemson in the Bowden era. The
most is the 63-17 win over South Carolina in 2003. It was the seventh
50-point game of the Bowden era.
Seven Different Tigers Score TDs
Clemson had a very balanced attack in the win over Florida
Atlantic. The Tigers gained 199 yards on the ground and 173 through the
air. Clemson was known for its balanced attack last year when it was
the only school in the ACC to rank in the top four in rushing offense and
passing offense.
Clemson’s balance was never more obvious than in regards to
scoring. Clemson scored seven touchdowns by seven different players
in the win over Florida Atlantic. Rendrick Taylor, Chansi Stuckey and
Aaron Kelly all scored on touchdown receptions, while James Davis and
Reggie Merriweather scored on the ground. Jacoby Ford scored on a
punt return and Sergio Gilliam scored on a fumble return.
This marked the first time since 1995 that seven different
Tigers scored a touchdown in a single game. That year seven different
Tigers scored in a 55-9 win over Western Carolina in the season opener.
Three of the touchdown scorers are roommates this semester.
Chansi Stuckey, Reggie Merriweather and Sergio Gilliam are three
seniors who live together and all scored touchdowns against Florida
Atlantic. That might be a Clemson first, especially when you consider
that Gilliam is a defensive player.
Clemson Opens ACC Schedule
This is the 54 th ACC season and Clemson has a 33-19-1
record in its previous 53 ACC openers. Tommy Bowden is 6-1 in ACC
openers as Clemson head coach. He defeated Virginia in 1999 in his
league opener, also his first overall win at Clemson and his first win over
a top 25 opponent, then downed Wake Forest in 2000. In 2001, Virginia
upset a top 25 Clemson team in the ACC opener at Death Valley on the
last play of the game, 26-24. Clemson defeated Georgia Tech in its
league opener in 2002 and 2003, then defeated Wake Forest in its ACC
and season opener in 2004. Last year Clemson won its ACC opener at
Maryland, 28-24.
Clemson is 17-10 in ACC openers at home, 15-9-1 on the road
and 1-0 at neutral sites.
Clemson ACC Openers under Tommy Bowden (6-1)
Year Opponent Site Res CU-Opp 1999 Virginia H W 33-14 2000 Wake Forest H W 55-7 2001 Virginia H L 24-26 2002 Georgia Tech H W 24-19 2003 Georgia Tech A W 39-3 2004 Wake Forest H W 37-30 (2OT) 2005 Maryland A W 28-24
73 Tigers Played in Opener
Clemson played 73 players in the opening game, 34 on
offense, 34 on defense and five who played special teams only. Twenty
of the 73 players were freshmen, eight first year and 12 red-shirt. Last
year Clemson played 34 different players on defense over the course of
the entire season. Fifty-two players appeared in the first quarter alone.
New Rules, No Effect in Season Opener
The new rules that allow the game clock to start after a change
of possession had little effect on Clemson’s opening game win over
Florida Atlantic. An average Clemson game last year took 3:23 to play.
Saturday’s Clemson vs. Florida Atlantic game took 3:29 to play, six
minutes longer than the average a year ago.
Many also said the new rules would reduce the number of
plays in a game by about 12. Clemson games averaged 136 snaps last
year, but this past Saturday’s game saw 139 plays. Clemson had just
62 plays, below the average of 69 plays per game last year. Of course,
Clemson had two returns for touchdowns that reduced the number of
possessions for the Tiger offense on Saturday.
Tigers Haven’t Punted Yet
Clemson had problems with punt protection last year as five
punts were blocked. As a result Clemson averaged just 33.5 yards per
punt in 2005. Many were anxious to see Clemson’s new punt protection
formation when the Tigers opened the season against Florida Atlantic.
But, the unveiling will have to wait until the Boston College
game. Clemson did not have to punt in its opener. The Tigers scored
seven touchdowns and had two field goals. Additionally, Clemson had
four turnovers.
Clemson’s punter Cole Chason did play in the game however,
as he is the holder for Jad Dean, a duty he has done since the 2003
Virginia game.
This was the first time since the 1988 season that Clemson
went an entire game without punting. That year Clemson did not have to
punt in consecutive games towards the end of the season against
Maryland and North Carolina. Overall, it was just the fourth time since
1980 that Clemson has not had to punt in a game.
“I told the team after the game that was the best punt
protection I had seen in my nine years as a head coach,” said Bowden.
“Coach (Billy) Napier (who handles the punting team) is a genius when it
comes to punt protection.”
Clemson Played 20 Freshmen in Opener
Clemson’s 2006 freshman class was regarded as among the
best at Clemson in many years and among the best in the nation
according to many services. Eight first-year freshmen played in the
opener against Florida Atlantic and 12 more red-shirt freshmen saw
playing time.
In the last 25 years (including 2006), Clemson has played 140
first-year freshmen, an average of 5.6 per season. Fifty-nine of the first-
year freshmen who have played have been offensive players, while 77
have been defensive players and four have been kickers.
Since Bowden came to Clemson in 1999, the Tigers have played
42 first-year freshmen, 15 on offense, 25 on defense and two special
teams. That is an average of 5.25 first-year freshman per year, so
Bowden is a bit below the Clemson average for the last 25 years.
The record for first-year freshmen played in one season is 11 in
1985. That year Danny Ford played six first-year freshmen on offense
and five on defense. The 1994 Clemson team under Tommy West
played 10 first-year freshmen, including a record nine on offense.
The most wins for a Clemson team that has played at least eight
first year freshmen is 10, set in 1989, a Clemson team that played eight
first-year freshmen in a 10-2 season.
The most first-year freshmen Clemson has played in the
Bowden era is nine, in 2001. That year Bowden played three on offense
and six on defense on the way to a 7-5 season.
Clemson has played at least one first-year freshman for all 25
years of the rule. The fewest was the one used in 2002 (Justin Miller).
Bowden First-Year Freshman Participants
1999: (5)—David Ellis (LB), Rodney Feaster (LB), Brian Mance (DB),
Bernard Rambert (RB), Rodney Thomas (LB)
2000: (4)—Aaron Hunt (PK), Yusef Kelly (RB), John Leake (LB), Ronnie
Thomas (WR)
2001: (9)—Eric Coleman (DT), Roscoe Crosby (WR), Airese Currie
(WR), Moe Fountain (DE), Ben Hall (TE), Leroy Hill (LB), Tavaghn Monts
(DB), Travis Pugh (FS), Eric Sampson (LB)
2002: (1)—Justin Miller (CB)
2003: (5)—Tramaine Billie (SS), Jad Dean (PK), Marion Dukes (OT),
Sergio Gilliam (DB), Brandon Pilgrim (OG)
2004: (2)—La’Donte Harris (WR), Barry Richardson (OT)
2005: (8)—James Davis (RB), Rendrick Taylor (WR), Tyler Grisham
(WR), Philip Merling (DE), Antonio Clay (LB), Josh Miller (LB), Jock
McKissic (DT), Haydrian Lewis (DB).
2006 (8)—Jacoby Ford (WR), C.J. Spiller (RB), Jamie Cumbie (DE),
Ricky Sapp (DE), Jeremy Campbell (LB), Kevin Alexander (LB), Michael
Palmer (TE), Crezdon Butler (CB)
O’Brien Faced Clemson as Virginia Assistant
Boston College Head Coach Tom O’Brien defeated the Tigers
last year at Clemson, 16-13 in overtime. But, it was not the first time he
has gone against Clemson. From 1982-96, O’Brien was an assistant
coach at Virginia under George Welsh.
During that time, Clemson had the upper hand in games in
Clemson Memorial Stadium by a 5-1-1 margin, and had an overall record
of 11-3-1 against Virginia in those 15 years. The tie came in 1991 when
the two teams played to a 20-20 draw. The NCAA overtime rule did not
come into effect until 1996 and as long as the overtime rule exits, that
1991 game with Virginia will be remembered as the last tie in Clemson
football history.
O’Brien was a part of two firsts in Virginia football history when
it came to the series with Clemson. In 1990, at Charlottesville, Virginia
defeated Clemson 20-7, ending Clemson’s 29-game winning streak in the
series. In 1995, Virginia defeated Clemson in Death Valley 22-3, the first
win for the Cavaliers in Clemson Memorial Stadium.
Spiller Opening Game Starter
C.J. Spiller was in the starting lineup along with James Davis in
a two-back set on the opening play of the Florida Atlantic game, making
him a starter in his first game as a first-year freshman. Davis and Spiller
are the only running backs in the last 12 seasons to start the opening
game of the year.
Spiller was just the eighth freshman (first-year or red-shirt) to
start the season opener under Tommy Bowden and just the eighth
running back to make the opening game start since 1953. The other
freshman starters in the opening game under Bowden are Jermyn
Chester (OG) and Aaron Hunt (PK) in 2000, Roscoe Crosby (WR) and
Derrick Hamilton (WR) against Central Florida in 2001, and Cole Chason
(P) and Nathan Bennett (OG) in 2003 and Davis last year at running
back against Texas A&M.
Overall, Spiller was the 37th freshman to starting the opening
game for Clemson since freshmen eligibility was adopted for the 1972
season. That is 37 freshmen in 35 years of freshmen eligibility.
Here is a list of opening day freshmen starters for Clemson
since 1972. An asterisk means they were red-shirt freshmen:
1973 Ken Callicutt (TB), Nelson Wallace (DT)
1974 Jeff Mills (DT)
1979 *Gary Brown (OT), *Terry Kinard (FS)
1980 Jeff Wells (TE), James Farr (C)
1981 *Donald Igwebuike (PK)
1983 *Tence Mack (DE), *Henry Walls (LB), *Keith Williams (LB)
1984 *Michael Dean Perry (DT)
1985 *Frank DeIuliis (OT)
1986 *James Lott (FS)
1987 John Johnson (OLB), *Eric Harmon (OT), *Terry Allen (TB)
1988 Chris Gardocki (PK)
1991 *Nelson Welch (PK)
1992 *Marrio Greer (FB)
1993 *Emory Smith (FB), *Brett Williams (DE)
1994 Anthony Downs (TB), *Jim Bundren (OT), *Glenn Rountree
1995 Anthony Simmons (LB)
1996 *Rahim Abdullah (OLB)
1998 *Travis Zachery (RB), * Alex Ardley (CB)
2000 *Jermyn Chester (OG), *Aaron Hunt (PK)
2001 Roscoe Crosby (WR), *Derrick Hamilton (WR)
2003 *Nathan Bennett (OG), *Cole Chason (P)
2005 James Davis (RB)
2006 C.J. Spiller (RB)
Vince Ciurciu Common Denominator for both Schools
There haven’t been a lot of common denominators between
Clemson and Boston College. But, one player has played for both
coaches and both schools in Saturday’s game, Vince Ciurciu. The
current linebacker for the Carolina Panthers played at Clemson during
the 1998 and 1999 seasons and at Boston College for the 2001 and
2002 seasons.
Ciurciu was a running back at Clemson as a freshman and
sophomore. He gained 99 yards in 27 attempts as a freshman under
Tommy West and was the fourth leading rusher on the team. Then, in
1999 under Tommy Bowden he had three rushes for five yards and had
four receptions for 22 yards.
After two years at Clemson, the native of Paramus, NJ decided
to play closer to home and at a school where he thought he would get
more playing time as a fullback. Coach Bowden wanted to move Ciurciu
to linebacker, but Vince wanted to remain a running back.
After a year at Boston College as a red-shirt due to the NCAA
transfer rule, Ciurciu became a starting linebacker with the Eagles. All
Ciurciu did was lead the Eagles in tackles in 2001 with 87 and rank
second on the club in tackles in 2002 with 102.
Boston College won 17 games in the two years he played in
Boston, including a pair of wins over rival Notre Dame. A tri-captain as a
senior in 2002, his final college game was against Toledo. The offensive
coordinator of that Toledo team was current Clemson offensive
coordinator Rob Spence.
Ciurciu has been successful in the NFL with the Panthers. He
is now in his fourth year with that NFL team after signing as a free agent
out of Boston College.
Clemson Record by Uniform
Clemson has used seven different uniform combinations since
Tommy Bowden became the head coach in 1999. Clemson wore orange
jerseys and white pants for the season opener against Florida Atlantic
and is now 21-7 under Bowden in that uniform combination.
In 2003, the Tigers broke out purple jerseys for the Georgia
Tech game in Atlanta on September 20 and the Tigers gained a 39-3
victory. It was the first time Clemson had worn purple jerseys since the
1991 season when Clemson wore them in a regular season game
against NC State and for a bowl game against California. Clemson is a
perfect 5-0 under Bowden in Purple jerseys and orange pants.
Clemson Record by Uniform Combination Under Bowden
Jersey Pant 2006 Record Pct Purple White 1-0 1.000 Purple Orange 5-0 1.000 Orange White 1-0 21-7 .750 White Orange 11-10 .524 White White 4-3 .571 Orange Orange 8-7 .533 White Purple 3-6 .333 1-0 53-33 .616
Tigers Look for Start 2-0
Clemson will be looking for a 2-0 start when the Tigers
travel to Boston College this weekend. Clemson opened with a
2-0 ledger last year, the third time under Tommy Bowden that the
Tigers have started 2-0. Historically, Clemson has struggled in
the second game of the year and when the Tigers do start 2-0 it
is usually the indicator of a strong season. Clemson has been
2-0 just 10 times since 1971 and the Tigers have gone on to
have a 75 percent winning percentage in those 10 years.
Clemson 2-0 Starts Since 1971
Year Start Final Record 1981 12-0 12-0 1984 2-0 7-4 1987 6-0 10-2 1988 2-0 10-2 1989 4-0 10-2 1991 3-0 9-2-1 1997 2-0 7-5 2000 8-0 9-3 2001 2-0 7-5 2005 2-0 8-4 Total 89-29-1 (.752)
Clemson on Five-Game winning Streak
Clemson won its last four games of the 2005 season to finish
with an 8-4 record. The Tigers won their season opener for 2006 and
are on a five-game winning streak. Finishing strong has been the norm
for Clemson the last three years. The Tigers won five of their last six and
each of the last four in 2003, then won five of the last six in 2004 before
winning six of the last seven of 2005. The 2005 season marked the first
time since the 1991 season that Clemson won six of its last seven
games.
Clemson has a 7-9 record in the first five games of the year
over the last four years (including 2006), but is 17-4 in the remaining
games of the year over the last three years.
The current five game winning streak is Clemson’s longest
since the last four games of 2003 and the opener of 2004. Clemson has
not won six in a row since it won its first eight games of 2000. That is
Clemson’s longest winning streak under Tommy Bowden.
Clemson was one of just nine teams nationally entering he
2006 season with a winning streak of at least four games. Texas had
the longest winning streak entering this year at 20 in a row. TCU is the
only other school with a double digit win streak, as the Horned Frogs
have won 10 in a row dating to a loss to SMU early last year.
Ohio State and West Virginia entered the year having won
seven in a row, while Louisiana-Lafayette, Penn State and Nevada had a
five-game winning streak entering this year.
Bowden Now Third in Clemson Coaching Wins
Tommy Bowden has a 53-33 record as Clemson’s head coach
and he is already third in total victories among the 24 Clemson mentors
in history. Bowden trails only Frank Howard (165) and Danny Ford (96)
on the Clemson list. When Bowden defeated South Carolina in the final
game of the 2004 season, he moved ahead of Hall of Fame coach Jess
Neely, who had 43 wins for the Tigers in his nine seasons (1931-39). He
gained his 50 th victory at Clemson last year when he defeated Florida
State and his father, Bobby Bowden.
Clemson’s Winningest Coaches
Coach Yrs Seasons Record Frank Howard 30 1940-69 165-118-12 Danny Ford 11 1978-89 96-29-4 Tommy Bowden 7 1999-Pres. 53-33 Jess Neely 9 1931-40 43-35-7 Ken Hatfield 4 1990-93 32-13-1 Tommy West 5 1993-98 31-28-0 Josh Cody 4 1927-30 29-11-1
2006 Schedule Notes
•Clemson will play 11 consecutive weeks to open the season, the first
time Clemson has played 11 consecutive weeks since 1986. “That is a
positive if you get on a roll, like we did in 2000 (when Clemson played
the first 10 weeks of the season), but it can be a negative if you run into
injury problems,” said Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden. Clemson
actually doesn’t play 11 consecutive Saturdays, the Tigers have a pair of
Thursday night games (October 12 vs. Temple in Charlotte and October
26 at Virginia Tech).
•Clemson’s 2006 football schedule includes six bowl teams, including
road games at Atlantic Division rivals Boston College and Florida State
to open the ACC schedule in early September. Clemson also travels to
Virginia Tech for a Thursday evening game in late October.
•Clemson will have a 12-game regular season schedule in 2006, the third
time Clemson has played a 12-game regular season schedule. The
other seasons were 2002 and 2003.
•The Tigers will open and close the 2006 season against teams led by
coaches who have won the national championship. Florida Atlantic
coach Howard Schnellenberger guided Miami (FL) to the 1983 National
Championship and he will bring his team to Death Valley in the season
opener. Steve Spurrier will bring the South Carolina Gamecocks to
Death Valley in the season finale November 25. Spurrier coached
Florida to the 1996 National Championship. Bowden has gained seven
wins over coaches who have won the national championship since 2003.
•Clemson’s next two games are on the road against ACC upper echelon
teams Boston College (September 9) and Florida State (September 16).
It will be Clemson’s first trip to Boston since 1983 when Doug Flutie
handed the Tigers their only loss in a 9-1-1 season. This will be the
earliest date on the calendar that Clemson has played in Tallahassee
since 1993. The Tigers have not won at Florida State since 1989.
•Clemson will return home to face North Carolina on September 23. It
will be North Carolina’s only game at Clemson between 2004 and 2011.
The Tigers won a thrilling 36-28 game at Death Valley in 2003 the last
time the two teams met. Clemson will celebrate its 25-years anniversary
of the 1981 National Championship on this weekend.
•Clemson will meet Louisiana Tech on September 30. The Bulldogs are
coached by Jack Bicknell, who brought Boston College to face the Tigers
in Death Valley in 1982. it is the only father-son opposing coaching
combination in Clemson history. Bicknell also brought Louisiana Tech to
Clemson in 2002 for the season opener.
•The Tigers will travel to Wake Forest for the third time in the last four
years on October 7, when Clemson travels to Wake Forest. Clemson
has beaten Florida State two of the last three years, but has lost at Wake
Forest two of the last three years.
•Clemson will have just five days to prepare for Temple on October 12, a
game that will be played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. This
will be Temple’s home game.
•Four of the last five games will be at home. Clemson will attempt to end
its two-game losing streak against Georgia Tech when the Yellow Jackets
come to Death Valley on October 21. The two teams have played
games decided by five points or less nine of the last 10 years.
•Clemson will then play at Virginia Tech in a Thursday night match up on
ESPN on October 26. The contest will be just five days after the Georgia
Tech game and will be just the fifth time (twice in October 2006) since
1933 that Clemson has had just four days in between games.
• It will be the first meeting between Clemson and Virginia Tech since
the Gator Bowl at the conclusion of the 2000 season. They also met in
the regular season in 1998 at Clemson and at Virginia Tech in 1999 in
Tommy Bowden’s first season as Tiger head coach. Clemson has not
won at Virginia Tech since 1989.
•Clemson concludes the season with three consecutive home games for
the first time since 1998. Maryland travels to Death Valley on November
4. The Tigers have won consecutive games by four points or less on
touchdowns inside the last three minutes by Reggie Merriweather
against the Terps.
•NC State will close Clemson’s ACC schedule on Saturday November
11. It will be just the second time in the last five years that the two
teams have played on a Saturday. Clemson and Florida State are the
only two ACC teams who will conclude their ACC schedule on
November 11.
•The Tigers will have two weeks to prepare for South Carolina, as the
annual state rivalry game will be played the Saturday after Thanksgiving
for the first time since 1984. The November 25 date is the latest for the
South Carolina game since the two teams played on the same date in
1978.
•Clemson will not play ACC teams Miami (FL), Duke or Virginia during
the regular season. It will be the first time Clemson has not played Duke
since 1964.
Unlock premium boards and exclusive features (e.g. ad-free) by upgrading your account today.
Upgrade Now