On This Date: 1979 (14)Clemson- 16 Notre Dame - 10

Nov 17, 2017, 9:38 AM

November 17, 1979
South Bend, IN

Entering the 1979 season, Notre Dame had won two of the last six national titles, including 1977 with one of the most talented teams in history. The Fighting Irish finished in the top 10 nationally 11 times in the 15-year period between 1964-78. It had won a bowl game six of the previous eight years, including four in what were considered “major bowls,” and was the seventh-winningest program in the 1970s.

Billy Lott put Clemson up for good with a 26 yard TD run off an Option Keeper in the 3rd QTR

Clemson was also playing Notre Dame on its Senior Day, and the Fighting Irish had lost on that special day just twice since 1940.

“One thing I remember about that game was our players being concerned in pregame that they couldn’t run on that tall rye grass,” Danny Ford said with a laugh. “Although we went to the stadium on Friday afternoon, we couldn’t get on the field to work out and run on it. So we didn’t know how slippery the grass was until pregame. I remember just about everyone changing shoes in the locker room before the game.

Sloppy play by Clemson gave the Irish a 10-0 advantage at halftime, but the Tiger Defense clamped down and Clemson dominated the 3rd QTR, scoring 3 times to take a 13-10 lead into the 4th.

There were some tenuous moments over the game’s final minutes, but the Tiger defense came up big every time. A redshirt freshman named Terry Kinard had two interceptions in the fourth quarter.

https://youtu.be/-A28MXHHKI0

The Tigers controlled the clock for over 21 minutes in the second half with a consistent running game. Clemson ran the ball 74 times on the day, still the most by an opponent in Notre Dame Stadium history.

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I can't remember. Were there upper decks on both the North and South side back then or just the South? Our seats were on the 45 yard line but we were low and behind the visitors bench when I sat with our family. I recall how much bigger Notre Dame's players were compared to most of the teams we hosted in DV with the exception of Georgia and Maryland. Remember when we signed William Perry who was 300 lbs and I thought that was huge! That is nothing anymore.

Our NG or MG whatever you want to call him was Rich Tuten I think and he wasn't all that tall but that man had arms like I'd never seen before. HE was benching 500 or more even back then. The year we won the National Championship I recall how cold it was vs. NC State in the upper deck. I think we won 17-7 but it was closer than that most of the game. I guess style points didn't mean as much back then. But it was so cold going to games back then but now one can almost go the entire season without wearing a thick jacket unless it is raining.

The week after that game vs State we beat Wake 82-24 in what was probably to this day the craziest game I recall seeing in DV. So many good memories.

On This Date: 1979 (14)Clemson- 16 Notre Dame - 10

Re: On This Date: 1979 (14)Clemson- 16 Notre Dame - 10

If I'd played the video before my remarks it would've answer

Re: On This Date: 1979 (14)Clemson- 16 Notre Dame - 10

I attended this game with my 9 year old son...

Re: I attended this game with my 9 year old son...

I watched the game in Littlejohn on the big screen...

Re: I watched the game in Littlejohn on the big screen...

Re: I watched the game in Littlejohn on the big screen...

Wow! 38 years ago today. I was there.

Re: Wow! 38 years ago today. I was there.

My Bumper Sticker: "Devine will whine in '79"

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