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Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses
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Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Sep 23, 2018, 6:18 AM

The ODU/VT game got me wondering what Clemson's most inexplicable losses have been. Games you just have no business losing. Fortunately, our losses through the years have been mostly respectable compared to our opponent's final record. But there are a few head scratching zingers. To be considered as “inexplicable”, I simply compared our final win record to the final record of the team we tied/lost to. So, the better we were, and the worse they were, the more inexplicable our loss or tie was. That leaves us with the worst of the worst, based on win differential:

#6 1955 Clemson 7-3/Rice 2-7-1; 5 game differential; Rice also beat an 0-10 'Bama that year
#5 1950 Clemson 9-0-1/USuCk 3-4-2 (tie); 6 game differential; Rivalries, SMH
#4 1986 Clemson 8-2-2/USuCk 3-6-2 (tie); 5 game differential; Rivalries, again, SMH
#3 1993 Clemson 9-3/Wake 2-9; 7 game differential; Wake also powered a win over App St. that year
#2 2009 Clemson 9-5/Maryland 2-9; 7 game differential; Maryland also beat James Madison
#1 2017 Clemson 12-2/Syracuse 4-8; 8 game differential (F Syracuse)

So, for 100+ years of football, almost 1200 games, and a .61 historical win average, not so bad really. We've never stumbled anywhere NEAR falling to an 0-3 ODM. And, as a side note, we've never had a winless season. We've had a 1-win season only 4 times, and only once were we an opposing team's ONLY win, in 1934 when we went 5-4 and GaTech beat us to go 1-9, tying it back to this weeks matchup.

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Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Sep 23, 2018, 12:19 PM

I think the 89 Duke and Ga. Tech loses should be included in your list. We could have gone undefeated that year. We went to Duke and laid an egg on a nasty rainy day. Passes were dropped and interception was dropped. Then we let Ga. Tech kick our tails 30-14. That was there year we beat West Virginia like a yard dog. We were ranked 7th at Duke 14th against GT. Neither Duke nor GT was ranked at the time and GT was homecoming game.

That same year we best FSU in Tallahassee 34-23. Terry Allen put on a clinic. And we beat SC 45-0.

I remember Major Harris’s momma whining during her interview by ESPN. She told them the West Virginia O-line basically sucked and that her son should get of the field because our D was on him all night long. His mom was mad because she said nobody would blocking for her son.

That same night after the bowl win Jim Philips ask that never forgetful jaw dropping question to one of the assistant Chuck Reedy I believe.(Rumor has you will have a new boss next year!) The question was not answered. So ended the DF era! What a ride it was though.

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Definitely inexplicable losses***


Sep 23, 2018, 2:04 PM



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Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Sep 23, 2018, 3:20 PM [ in reply to Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses ]

89 Duke we got 2 interceptions and fumbled and lost both during runbacks. Not losing either could have easily flipped that game. First time SOS ever beat us as HC. Parlayed that into ACC championship and his gig at Florida after that year.

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Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Nov 4, 2018, 12:25 AM

The fumbles on interceptions weren't the main cause of the loss. Running between the tackles against 10 in the box for 50 plays was the problem. Whether is was Reedy or Ford or both, that is what cost us the game. Duke was slinging the football all day.

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Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Nov 4, 2018, 3:50 AM

Randy Cuthbert also ran all over us that day in Durham

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Ugh...


Nov 5, 2018, 12:50 PM

You just had to mention that name...

He wore our azzes out that day.

Go Tigers!!!

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Was my first thought!***


Nov 3, 2018, 8:50 PM [ in reply to Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses ]



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Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Nov 3, 2018, 10:42 PM [ in reply to Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses ]

Orange Bowl vs Wvu. Granted Wvu was good but never should have beat that bad.

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Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Nov 5, 2018, 3:56 PM

agreed re WV but there were some other bowl games that were also horrible

Syracuse

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Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Nov 4, 2018, 12:39 AM [ in reply to Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses ]

Great post! +1 for you. I can remember Major Harris's Mon saying. "They're not giving him any blocking, he's running for his life out there." Check out the YouTube video. "Ford's Last Stand". Great video!

Go Tigers!

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Rat poison and that top 25 ranking?


Sep 23, 2018, 2:06 PM

It works on the minds of the youth.

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Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Sep 23, 2018, 2:15 PM

Qt FSU in DW4's freshman year. We had the game won but bad snap and then illegal procedure on the goal line killed us.

Also at FSU a few years earlier we could not kick a FG when Tommy Bowden was coach. They kept getting blocked.

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Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Nov 3, 2018, 9:11 PM

It was a gut wrenching loss, but certainly not inexplicable. They were #1 at the time, we were #22. They were at home and went on to an undefeated regular season and the CFP.

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I was there unfortunately. I was completely


Nov 4, 2018, 12:48 AM

dumbfounded by our performance that game. On a side note the trash talking by the Duke fans was actually kind of amusing. I will never eat a turkey leg again on game day again for safe measure.

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Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Sep 23, 2018, 2:25 PM

The 2004 loss at Duke the week after beating a good Miami team at Miami has to be one of the worst we've had.

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Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Nov 4, 2018, 2:54 AM

I think that game lead to the term that will never be uttered by myself or anyone associated with Clemson football.

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“To See a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.” WB


Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Sep 23, 2018, 3:22 PM

Too depressing. Let’s move along!

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We shouldn't have lost to Syracuse.. But


Sep 23, 2018, 3:24 PM

Our qb starter was injured, then out. Their starter played great, then missed the rest of the year. Its hard to just use Ws and Ls, but I understand it also.

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null


I was at that '86 game vs the coots


Nov 3, 2018, 8:47 PM

Really no explanation for it but they just seemed to want it more. We were actually probably going to win the game had it kept going but we ran out of time. I think both teams tried miraculous field goals near the end of the game but came up short.

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The two really long field goals was the Georgia tie.***


Nov 3, 2018, 10:21 PM



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True but I thought we tried it in this game vs the coots as


Nov 5, 2018, 12:35 PM

well. Either way I remember the odd feeling leaving that stadium feeling like we lost even though we tied. It was an odd game.

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I admit it's been a long time though so I probably have the


Nov 5, 2018, 12:37 PM [ in reply to The two really long field goals was the Georgia tie.*** ]

field goals confused. I could look it up but I prefer to take your word for it.

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Re: I was at that '86 game vs the coots


Nov 5, 2018, 1:01 PM [ in reply to I was at that '86 game vs the coots ]

I was at that game and remember it well. Unfortunately Danny Ford butchered the clock at the end of the game and since it was pre-overtime it was really more crucial.

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2003 at Wake lost 45-17 aka Lip Quiver game***


Nov 3, 2018, 8:53 PM



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We had several awful losses under Ford to vastly inferior teams.


Nov 3, 2018, 10:27 PM

The ‘89 losses to Duke and SC, as mentioned earlier, come to mind.

The ‘03 loss to Wake and ‘04 to Duke, both under Bowden, also come to mind.

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"All those 'Fire Brownell' guys can kiss it." -Joseph Girard III

"Everybody needs to know that Coach Brownell is arguably the best coach to come through Clemson." -PJ Hall


1987 Nc State


Nov 4, 2018, 1:45 AM

We're undefeated, they had lost 4 games including a drubbing by East Carolina. They finished 4-7. Game was at home. Down 30-0 at half. The most inexplicable half...EVER. It was Fall Break, so I went home figuring the game wouldn't be that interesting. Woops!

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NC State seemed to give Danny fits each year in more ways


Aug 25, 2021, 12:45 PM

than one.

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Re: NC State seemed to give Danny fits each year in more ways


Nov 5, 2018, 1:02 PM

D!ck Sheridan has our number in 86, 87 and 88. Remember the coots tried to hire him and he politely declined. Sure am glad he did.

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Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Nov 5, 2018, 12:58 PM

Back during option football days you could get a one-off result more easily due to weather or just one of those days where you put the ball on the ground with bad pitches several times. That ‘89 Duke game was one of many upsets due to weather and turnovers that day. It was not unusual for teams to have 6 or more turnovers in close games - see ‘78-81 UGA games.

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Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Nov 5, 2018, 3:51 PM

84 at UGA. Mike Epply fumbled twice after gaining crucial first downs. Butler kicks 61 yd FG and clock runs off on Kick return to UGA 30. That and 1980 loss to UGA, we put gained them and Scott Woerner ran punt and int for TDs, Jeff Hipp int in end zone killed us. These 2 and SC in 2006 (iirc) when TB took Reggie Merriweather out after 3 carries gaining 23 yds are the 3 that hurt the most against good teams (relatively in SC case). The bad losses to bad teams were mentioned.

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2016 vs PITT gets my vote ... no way that shoulda happened!


Nov 5, 2018, 4:01 PM

Watson’s red zone interception when we had the game winning FG in our pocket was particularly inexplicable.

In spite of the unstoppable “shovel pass” and in spite of the very sketchy officiating, that’s a game Clemson should have pulled out in the end.

Losing that game may have catapulted us to the title, but there is no way it ever should have happened.

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Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Nov 5, 2018, 4:03 PM

Puntrooskie FSU

Georgia losses were also bad

BC with Flutie - still will always remember that #### game - who is that little kid running all over the place and completing those passes - gmab

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Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Nov 5, 2018, 4:26 PM

After the 82 Flutie tie game in which Ford went for a 43 yd FG on 3td down in the rain, at the spring game and Club Meetings I spoke to both Ford and DC Tom Moore and implored them to keep pressure on Flutie. "Oh, we will." They did for a half and we lead 16-0. Flutie beat us 31-16 in Boston in 83.

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Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Nov 5, 2018, 4:04 PM

Syracuse bowl game and the #### announcer who kept on mispronouncing our university's name

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A couple of oldies but still painfuls...


Nov 5, 2018, 5:31 PM

2003 at Wake: For all the happy memories stored up in that season, 2003 includes one of the most absolutely baffling embarrassments in Clemson history: a 45-17 beatdown at Groves that could have been worse. Our defense was opened up for TDs on Wake's first two possessions, and the offense produced five turnovers before give the Tigers any points. Wake fans, wide-eyed with wonder, got a sense of revenge for the 1981 massacre, while Clemson fans gazed at TB chewing grass as questions about job security culminated the next week with the "lip quiver" press conference.

Fortunately, Happycat rallied the troops with his now-legendary "Circle the Wagons" post. *Sniff!* I miss Happycat!
https://www.tigernet.com/forum/message/Thats-it--Circle-the-wagons-241#241


2004 at Duke: We had shaken off a disappointing 1-4 start with four straight wins, including an amazing overtime win at No. 10 Miami. The Clemson Family gathered in Durham (literally 20,000 of the 25,000 folks there were in orange) to watch the team get back above .500.

Nope. Charlie was awful, just awful that game. Drive after drive bogged down and the game turned into an ugly battle of field goals. IIRC Reggie Merriweather would move the ball downfield, then TB would pull him (which I know many people can relate to). We held Duke to fewer than 50 yards rushing, but couldn't stop the final 53-yard FG that gave Duke a 16-13 win. A couple of hundred Duke students who had shown up in the second half as the game remained close, came down and tried to pull down a goalpost. For all I know, they're still there, still trying.

If it wasn't for "The Fight" game win afterward, we might well have parted ways with TB there.

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Re: Historical Stuff - Clemson's most inexplicable losses


Nov 10, 2021, 12:15 PM

Duke in '89 was the first thought in my head.

I cannot remember the records or rankings of this game, but TCU when they came to DV....should have won that one. Then, Tommy Bowden's first game as HC....against Marshall....I think we missed four FGs and I believe lost by 3...a majority of Bowden's losses could be described as "inexplicable"...

Go Tigers!!!

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