Hill Watch...74 days!!!

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74 years ago, in 1948, the Grand Daddy of a 1981 lightning

Jun 23, 2022, 9:04 AM

bolt struck the Clemson Tigers. Coming off their second straight 4-5 season, 1947 hadn't portended great things the next year. Except for the fact that the Tigers won their last three games in a row. That turned out to be a HUGE predictor of things to come.

Because, n 1948, the 9th time proved to be the charm for Coach Frank Howard. His Clemson charges produced the finest season in school history up to that point, going undefeated 5-0-0 to win the Southern Conference title, and 10-0-0 overall in the regular season. This fine showing got the Tigers an invite to one of the rare season ending Bowl games.

Seven Tigers would be named to the “All South Carolina” All Star team, tackle Phil Prince and Tom Salisbury; guard Frank Gillespie; center Gene Moore; and backs Bobby Gage, Ray Mathews, and Fred Cone.

Clemson played some stellar defense this season, as was needed, because the Tigers still did not possess a high flying offense, for the most part.

Try telling that to Presbyterian, though, as the Tigers blitzed them 53-0 to open the season at home.

But, following that, the schedule settled down with several low scoring, hard fought wins over NC State, Mississippi State, and then South Carolina on Big Thursday in Columbia, by a score of 13-7. Clemson now leads the series 29-15-2.

The Tigers once again played Boston College at old Braves Field in Boston, securing another low scoring win, 26-19. By now, the Tigers had been nationally ranked for two consecutive weeks, and went into the next game with Furman with a lofty No. 12 ranking. The offense and defense both showed up, thumping the Paladins 41-0.

Next up, No. 10 Clemson faced their first ranked foe of the year in No. 19 Wake Forest. Clemson ground out a tough 21-14 win in front of 20,000 fans at Memorial Stadium.

Now into the Top Ten for probably the first time ever, No. 9 Clemson then laid waste to Dusquene 42-0 in Memorial Stadium to end the home regular season. For their last two games, the Tigers would have to be Road Warriors.

Up to the task, Clemson survived Auburn on the Plains 7-6, and took care of The Citadel 20-0 to end Clemson's first ever 10-0 undefeated regular season.

This accomplishment earned Clemson a Gator Bowl invitation, against the Missouri Tigers of the Big 7. An exciting 24-23 victory meant Clemson finished the season as the No 11 ranked team in the land, with a stellar 11-0-0 Undefeated record.

But now, for a wild twist. Clemson, the Southern Conference Champions, were NOT the highest ranked SoCon team for the 1948 season. That honor went to North Carolina, at No. 3. We did not play them, and they compiled a 4-0-1 conference mark, and 9-1-1 overall record. They had been ranked in the Top 5 for most of the year, and finished at No. 3 even though they lost a close 14-6 Sugar Bowl game to the No. 5 Oklahoma Sooners. Goes without saying that the rankings were done differently back then! There had to be some Swoffords in the hen house.

Presbyterian W 53–0
NC State W 6–0
At Mississippi State W 21–7
At South Carolina (Big Thursday, Columbia, SC) (No. 14 Clemson) W 13-7 (Clemson leads series 29-15-2)
At Boston College (No. 13 Clemson) W 26-19
Furman (No. 12 Clemson) W 41–0
No. 19 Wake Forest (No. 10 Clemson) W 21–14
Duquesne (No. 9 Clemson) W 42–0
At Auburn (No. 11 Clemson) W 7–6
At The Citadel (No. 10 Clemson) W 20–0

January 1, 1949
Gator Bowl
vs. Missouri (No. 11 Clemson) W 24–23

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Re: Hill Watch...74 days!!!

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Re: Hill Watch...74 days!!!

Brandon Pilgrim Antoine McClain John Simpson day! Go

74 years ago, in 1948, the Grand Daddy of a 1981 lightning

Love it! Thanks!

Re: Hill Watch...74 days!!!

Re: Hill Watch...74 days!!!

Re: Hill Watch...74 days!!!

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