ALL IN!!!***

Thanks O.J.
Periodic Table Countdown! Join us as we count our way down to Hydrogen and the kick off of Clemson Football 2025!

Element 77 is Iridium! An extremely rare and very dense metal.

Clemson researchers recently developed a methodology to reduce the uncertainty of iridium’s nuclear radius from previously calculated experiments by a factor of eight. The experiment also requires only a few hundred thousand atoms, much less than most experiments, saving up to millions of dollars.
https://news.clemson.edu/clemson-physicists-introduce-novel-method-for-measuring-atomic-nuclei-sizes-chosen-to-represent-u-s-at-international-meeting/

I use Iridium spark plugs in my 4th Gen V8 4Runner.

Iridium is the name of a satellite telephone/communication system. Iridium’s unique constellation architecture makes it the only network that covers 100% of the planet.

Iridium is found in meteorites in much higher abundance than in the Earth's crust. It is theorized that an unusual concentration of the element present in the earth’s crust at the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary is a result of a large meteor with a high percentage of Iridium that had hit the earth at the end of Cretaceous period approximately 66 million years ago, dooming the non-avian dinosaurs.

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77 Seasons Ago Clemson Football Went Undefeated (11-0) in 1948

Jun 14, 2025, 12:31 AM

Celebration Time! Clemson once again achieves Greatness!!
- Clemson football’s third undefeated season!!
- Clemson’s second undefeated and untied season.
- Clemson’s second bowl appearance – and second bowl victory!!

And Memorial Stadium becomes the First True “Death Valley” after its first home night game!

Overview:

According to Wikipedia:

“The 1948 Clemson Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Clemson College in the Southern Conference during the 1948 college football season. In its ninth season under head coach Frank Howard, the team compiled an 11–0 record (5–0 against conference opponents), won the Southern Conference championship, was ranked No. 11 in the final AP Poll, defeated Missouri in the 1949 Gator Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a total of 274 to 76. This team was the only unbeaten and untied team in the 1948 NCAA season who also participated in post-season play in a bowl game.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Clemson_Tigers_football_team

Worthy of Note:

ClemsonWiki mentions the origin of the stadium’s new nickname:

Presbyterian College Coach Lonnie S. McMillian declares that taking his team into Clemson Memorial Stadium is like going into Death Valley.

…

October 9: In a road trip, Clemson defeats the Mississippi State Maroons, 21-7, at Scott Field, State College, Mississippi. "An underdog Clemson team that was supposed to lose by two touchdowns stopped the famed Shorty McWilliams cold and downed a favored State eleven. Tom Salisbury scored the first Bengal touchdown by blocking a McWilliam's [sic] punt. The other scores came on passes from [Bobby] Gage to [John] Poulos and [Ray] Mathews, the latter covering sixty yards. Jack Miller added the three extra points. State's only score came by virtue of a recovered fumble and a pass."

https://clemsonwiki.com/wiki/1948

The Mississippi State Maroons?? Really!! If only they still used that nickname!!!

ClemsonTigers.com provides a lot of great information about the Glorious 1948 season:

“June 1, 1948 – Frank Gillespie was named the Southern Conference Athlete-of-the-Year. He played football, basketball and baseball during the academic year and was the first Tiger athlete to be named a conference athlete of the year.

Sept. 25, 1948 – Clemson beat Presbyterian 53-0 in the first night game at Clemson. Clemson also defeated NC State 6-0 in a home night game the following week.

Oct. 2, 1948 – Gage continued his All-America triple-threat season by returning a punt 90 yards for a touchdown in Clemson’s 6-0 win over NC State at Death Valley. It was the longest punt return at Memorial Stadium until 2006.

Oct. 21, 1948 – A No. 14 Tiger team beat South Carolina 13-7 in Columbia. Captain Phil Prince was the hero for the Tigers as he blocked a South Carolina punt with just 4:15 left in the contest. Oscar Thompson recovered it at the 11 and ran it in for a touchdown, giving Clemson the 13-7 lead.

Nov. 6, 1948 – Bobby Gage put on the most efficient passing exhibition in Clemson history in a 41-0 win over Furman. He completed 9-11 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns. His efficiency rating of 310.7 is still a Clemson record for a minimum of 10 attempts. He averaged 22 yards per attempt, a record by far in Clemson history. The defense was just as effective, holding the Paladins to -12 yards in total offense, still the best total defense effort in Clemson history for a single game.

Nov. 22, 1948 – The Tigers were ranked No. 9 in the AP poll, their highest ranking in history. Eight voters ranked Clemson No. 1 in the nation.

Nov. 27, 1948 – Clemson accepted a bid to play in the Gator Bowl after it beat Auburn 7-6 in a hard fought game played in Mobile, Ala. It was Clemson’s first bowl bid since the 1939 season. Ray Mathews scored on a one-yard run with just 6:35 left to give Clemson its only lead of the game.

Nov. 29, 1948 – Clemson ranked 11th in the final AP poll. Again Clemson suffered from not having a poll after the bowl games. Clemson won another regular season game, then defeated Missouri in the Gator Bowl to close a perfect season. But, these wins were not reflected in the final ranking. The AP did not have a post-bowl poll until 1968.

Dec. 4, 1948 – Clemson closed out its perfect regular season with a 20-0 win over The Citadel in a game played in Charleston. The December 4 date is the second-latest regular season game in Clemson history. The 10th ranked Tigers did not allow The Citadel to make a first down in the game, the only recorded time in Clemson history that the Tigers did not allow a first down. The Bulldogs also failed to complete a pass in the contest. The victory was Clemson’s sixth road win of the year, a record that still stands for road wins in a regular season. Only six Clemson teams have had a perfect road record since 1948, and that was the 1981 national championship team and the 1995 Tigers as well as the 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 squads.

Dec. 6, 1948 – Frank Howard was named Southern Conference Coach of the Year, his first of three Coach of the Year selections in his career.

Jan. 1, 1949 – The Tigers won the Gator Bowl by a 24-23 score over Missouri. Fred Cone scored two first-quarter touchdowns as Clemson raced to a 14-0 lead. After Missouri tied the game, Gage threw a nine-yard scoring pass to John Poulos, a play that completed a 80-yard drive. Jack Miller’s 32-yard field goal in the fourth quarter proved to be the winning margin. Missouri would score a late touchdown to come within 24-23. But that was the final score. You could not go for two points in those days, so Missouri did not have the opportunity to tie the score after their touchdown that took place with less than five minutes left. Both teams had exactly 298 yards of total offense in the game. Clemson closed the season with a perfect 11-0 record, the only team in college football with 11 wins that year and one of just three with a perfect record. Notre Dame and Michigan were both 9-0-0 that season, but did not play in a bowl game.”

https://clemsontigers.com/clemson-football-historical-timeline/

And Wikipedia adds the following:

“Memorial Stadium hosted its first night game in the opener against Presbyterian College.

The team's statistical leaders included tailback Bobby Gage with 799 passing yards and wingback Ray Mathews with 646 rushing yards and 78 points scored (13 touchdowns).

Bob Martin and Phil Prince were the team captains. Guard Frank Gillespie and back Bobby Gage were selected as first-team players on the 1948 All-Southern Conference football team. Seven Clemson players were named to the All-South Carolina football team for 1948: tackle Phil Prince and Tom Salisbury; guard Frank Gillespie; center Gene Moore; and backs Bobby Gage, Ray Mathews, and Fred Cone.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Clemson_Tigers_football_team

And, finally, regarding the January 1, 1949 Gator Bowl, The Greenville News adds the following:

“At the conclusion of the regular season, the 1948 team became Clemson’s second bowl team. Approximately 25,000 Clemson fans made the trip to Jacksonville, Florida, for the Gator Bowl, and for years the bowl’s leaders credited the Tigers and their fans for essentially “saving the bowl.”

https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/clemson/2019/01/04/first-unbeatens-look-back-clemson-football-team-1948/2460808002/

Results:

September 25: Presbyterian* W 53–0
October 2: NC State W 6–0
October 9: at Mississippi State* W 21–7
October 21: (Clemson Rank #14): at South Carolina W 13–7
October 29: (Clemson Rank #13): at Boston College* W 26–19
November 6: (Clemson Rank #12): Furman W 41–0
November 13: (Clemson Rank #10): No. 19 Wake Forest W 21–14
November 20: (Clemson Rank #9): Duquesne* W 42–0
November 27: (Clemson Rank #9): at Auburn* (Mobile) W 7–6
December 4: (Clemson Rank #11): at The Citadel* W 20–0
January 1, 1949: (Clemson Rank #11): vs. Missouri* (Gator Bowl) W 24–23

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Clemson_Tigers_football_team

The win over the Gamechickens improved Clemson’s record in the series to 29-15-2. Thanks to the special teams and a blocked punt!!

January 1, 1949 Gator Bowl:

Clemson’ patience in Coach Frank Howard has paid off royally! Southern Conference Coach of the Year!!

Some of Clemson’s all-time greats:
Frank Gillespie, Bobby Gage. Phil Prince, Tom Salisbury; Gene Moore; Ray Mathews, and Fred Cone – all on the same team!! That team was stacked!!

January 1, 1949 Gator Bowl Highlights (Clemson 24 Missouri 23):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKRGsFSp_i0
(Sorry: The video quality is bit “less perfect” than Clemson’s 1948 season.)

And, apparently, according to Coach Howard, Clemson DID win the 1948 Natioanl Championship:

From the Greenville News:

“The 1900 team didn’t lose but was only 6-0, so the 1948 team was the first to record double-digit victories while going unbeaten and untied.
Clemson finished the season 11-0, but didn’t sniff a national title – that honor went to a 9-0 Michigan team.

“But Coach (Frank) Howard said we did,” said Phil Prince, a two-way lineman on the 1948 team who later served as Clemson University president.”

https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/clemson/2019/01/04/first-unbeatens-look-back-clemson-football-team-1948/2460808002/

The Clemson 1948 season can be summed up in one word:
- Perfection!!

OK, maybe two words:
- Glorious Perfection!!

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Clemson: Academic Excellence! Athletic Excellence!

Hill Watch 77 days!!!(11 weeks!)

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PT Countdown, day 77: Iridium!

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Thanks, O.J.!

Appreciate you, O.J.!***

Go Tigers!!!***

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ALL IN!!

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77 Seasons Ago Clemson Football Went Undefeated (11-0) in 1948

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Perfection indeed! The year I was born!

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Re: Perfection indeed! The year I was born!

Lets goooo!!!

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SPOT THAT FOOTBALL!!!***

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Go Tigers !***

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Lee Nanney day! Go Tigers!

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Slowly but Shirley!!! We're getting there!!

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Re: Slowly but Shirley!!! We're getting there!!

Re: Slowly but Shirley!!! We're getting there!!

Go Tigers***

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Wooo

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