Hill Watch...27 days!!!

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Joined: 12/3/03

27 years ago, 1995: Domestic Terrorists Timothy McVeigh and

Aug 9, 2022, 8:21 AM

Terry Nichols carry out the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people, and injuring many more. Michael Jordan returns to the NBA following his attempt at Major League Baseball. Steve Fossett becomes the first person to make a solo flight across the Pacific Ocean in a hot air balloon. The New York Times and Washington Post both publish the “Unabombers” 35,000 word manifesto. The national 55 mph speed limit that was enacted due to the 1973 Middle East oil crisis is finally lifted. Major League Baseball players also finally end their 232 day strike, and a shortened 1995 Major League baseball season results in the Atlanta Braves finally winning it all in the World Series, over the Cleveland Indians.

In ACC football, there are Co-Champions for 1995, as someone in the league finally managed to beat Florida State. The deed was done by No. 14 Virginia, who beat them 33-28 in Charlottesville. But, Virginia also lost a league game, 22-17 to North Carolina. At 7-1 each, FSU and Virginia were declared Co-Champions. FSU finished the season ranked No. 4, with a 10-2 record, and a 33-26 victory over No. 6 Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. Virginia would finish their No. 14 season at 9-4, with a 34-27 win over Georgia in the Peach Bowl.

Unanimous National Champions for 1995, going back to back, were once again the Nebraska Cornhuskers of Coach Tom Osborne. They were the Champions of the newly enlarged Big 12 conference, that conference having absorbed four teams from the now defunct Southwest Conference. At 12-0, and ranked no lower than 2nd at any point in the season, they beat four Top Ten teams, and punctuated their season with a resounding 62-24 Fiesta Bowl win over No. 2 Florida and Coach Steve Spurrier. Coach Spurrier was not used to such treatment, and, like General Douglas MacArthur, he would return.

At Clemson, Tommy West's squad showed signs of improvement, going 6-2-0, 8-4-0 to finish 3rd in the ACC. Things got started on a positive note, with a 55-6 lambasting of Western Carolina in the home opener. But, reality set in once again when the No. 1 ranked Florida State Seminoles rolled into town. The Tigers fell 45-26 in a nationally televised ABC game. (Attendance 78,133) Clemson rebounded at Wake Forest with a 29-14 win, before a comparatively tiny crowd of 18,616.

Next up, a noon matchup in the Valley against No. 11 Virginia resulted in a 22-3 loss, and attendance was a paltry 70,226. What was going on to drive down attendance during this time, even for “big” games? We took care of NC State on the road, 43-22, but the following week, a night game in the Valley against Georgia, the Tigers came up just short, 19-17.

We came out of the bye week to take down Maryland on the road, 17-0. Still on the road, we got a nice win in Bobby Dodd, 24-3 over the Yellow Jackets of GT. We next returned home to Death Valley for a two game home stand, and it seems inconceivable now, but a 17-10 win over North Carolina only drew 72,103, and, back in the rankings at No. 24 the following week, a 34-17 win over Duke only drew 62,936.

We would finish the regular season in Williams-Brice, with a satisfying 38-17 dismantling of the Coots, spoiling Lamecock QB Steve Taneyhill's senior year. Clemson had not forgotten how he stomped on, and tore up the Tiger Paw in the middle of the field at Death Valley the previous year. The Tigers never had any fear of playing in Williams-Brice anyway, since it was a yearly thing until 1960. Clemson now leads the series 55-34-4.

Our 8-3 regular season got us a No. 23 ranking, and an invite to the Gator Bowl to face Donovan McNabb, Marvin Harrison, and the Syracuse Orangemen. I remember watching this game on TV, and feeling like the Tigers were stuck in quicksand all night. Syracuse's superior team speed is what made us look that way, and the final 41-0 score was pretty indicative of the game itself. A sad ending to what had otherwise been a hopeful season. What surprises would 1996 hold?

Western Carolina W 55–6
No. 1 Florida State L 26–45 (Attendance only 78,133?)
At Wake Forest W 29–14 (Attendance 18,616, Groves Stadium was tiny back then.)
No. 11 Virginia L 3–22 (Attendance only 70,226 in Death Valley!)
At NC State W 43–22 (Attendance 46,074, Carter-Finlay wasn't that big, either.)
Georgia L 17–19 (Attendance 81,670, I find it just inconceivable that we didn't sellout for Georgia.)
At Maryland W 17–0 (Attendance 43,603, Byrd Stadium wasn't that big, either.)
At Georgia Tech W 24–3 (Attendance 45,245. Bobby Dodd had seats, but they weren't being filled.)
North Carolina W 17–10 (Noon game against North Carolina, Attendance only 72,103 in the Valley?)
Duke No. 24 W 34–17 (Attendance only 62,936 in the Valley, when we just got back into the rankings?)
At South Carolina No. 24 W 38-17 (Clemson leads series 55-34-4.)

January 1, 1996
No. 23 Clemson vs Syracuse
(Gator Bowl)
L 0–41