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Tiger Titan [45517]
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SI Just Posted a Story on William Perry and His Great Freshman Season in 1981
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Jan 4, 2025, 10:08 AM
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Unless I am mistaken, I believe 1981 turned out to be a rather special season indeed!!
From Sports Illustrated:
"The man who would later become known as "Refrigerator" Perry was a key part of Clemson's 1981 national championship team, who dominated a key matchup in the Tigers' final game that season.
“Danny Ford's Tigers went from allowing 20.2 points per game in 1980 to 8.8 in 1981 thanks in part to the space-eater up front, who neutralized Nebraska's Dave Rimington -- the namesake of the award that goes to college football's best center -- in a 22-15 Orange Bowl win that clinched the school's first national title," wrote the college football expert.
It takes a total team effort to perform at a high that high on the defensive end of the court, but inserting Perry into the mix turned what was a strong unit into an elite one.
That was just the start of an impressive collegiate career, as the interior force was a consensus All-America Team member in 1983 and was named the ACC Player of the Year in 1984."
https://www.si.com/college/clemson/football/former-clemson-tigers-defensive-star-had-legendary-freshman-season
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TigerNet Immortal [172162]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Looks like a natural RB in the picture!! Hope he is doing well.***
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Jan 4, 2025, 10:18 AM
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Campus Hero [13991]
TigerPulse: 100%
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My Dad introduced me to Perry at a Clemson Football Banquet
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Jan 4, 2025, 10:23 AM
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I think it was pre-season '81. I shook his hand and I remember thinking I was shaking a first-baseman's glove. Had no doubt why they called him GE!
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Rival Killer [2643]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Is that a football in his hands or a..
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Jan 4, 2025, 1:08 PM
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Grapefruit. Dude was huge and cat quick.
Those were the days.
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Ultimate Tiger [33877]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Clemson Icon [27800]
TigerPulse: 100%
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William, Michael, Freddie, and Hollie in a bench table at Arri's Grill... It was
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Jan 4, 2025, 11:17 AM
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FULL!
Older brother Freddie was bigger than William or Michael Dean. Hollie (father) wasn't small.
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Head Coach [994]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: William, Michael, Freddie, and Hollie in a bench table at Arri's Grill... It was
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Jan 4, 2025, 11:39 AM
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Freddie used to do some brickwork for my parents. Michael Dean was the runt.
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Ultimate Clemson Legend [100823]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 2009
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Michel D lived in very nice mansion on Lake Norman above Charlotte
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Jan 4, 2025, 1:28 PM
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And he & wife own a pickup ride service for the elderly & handicapped in cooperation with a city & federal agency which is lucrative.
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Team Captain [498]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: William, Michael, Freddie, and Hollie in a bench table at Arri's Grill... It was
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Jan 4, 2025, 5:31 PM
[ in reply to Re: William, Michael, Freddie, and Hollie in a bench table at Arri's Grill... It was ] |
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Yeah, Michael Dean was the runt. I'm from Aiken too.
I first saw William in person (and not on a football field) while standing in line at McDonalds in Aiken. You had to be next to him in person to understand how huge he was. Remember how he was a local celebrity before he made it big?
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Game Changer [1818]
TigerPulse: 68%
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Re: William, Michael, Freddie, and Hollie in a bench table at Arri's Grill... It was
Jan 13, 2025, 4:23 PM
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I saw Refrigerator Perry in Rooster Stadium when Midland Valley played in State Championship game vs college team. Can’t remember the high school team but they outweighed Midland Valley players by what looked like 80 to 100 pounds each
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1st Rounder [661]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: SI Just Posted a Story on William Perry and His Great Freshman Season in 1981
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Jan 4, 2025, 1:45 PM
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Look how small that football looks in his hands !! Wow…
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Orange Beast [6575]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: SI Just Posted a Story on William Perry and His Great Freshman Season in 1981
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Jan 4, 2025, 5:46 PM
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Their poor mama having to feed that crew.
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Ultimate Tiger [33829]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Passed Fridge and William Devane and two other players
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Jan 4, 2025, 5:47 PM
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On the crosswalk between the CU library and pond early 80s. What a massive presence. Not much room for people going the opposite direction or people behind them wanting to walk faster. And Fridge was palming his backpack. 😂
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CU Medallion [20883]
TigerPulse: 100%
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William Perry - Long-time Favorite
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Jan 4, 2025, 7:06 PM
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Loved his play that took place during my 1979-84 time at Clemson (see Medallion) ... no coincidence that Clemson won a natl championship in Perry's freshman year or Bears won the Super Bowl in his rookie year.
He took every teammates' level of play up several notches. Including Bears' NFL Hall of Famer's. A true generational phenom!
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Orange Beast [6193]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: SI Just Posted a Story on William Perry and His Great Freshman Season in 1981
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Jan 4, 2025, 7:51 PM
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He was a beast
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TigerNet Elite [70478]
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Re: SI Just Posted a Story on William Perry and His Great Freshman Season in 1981
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Jan 4, 2025, 8:06 PM
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I was a sophomore when he was a freshman, and I felt like an ant walking beside him on the sidewalk.
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Clemson Icon [27753]
TigerPulse: 100%
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I would say
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Jan 11, 2025, 5:59 PM
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That the “Fridge” put the Tigers on the map. In today’s game, he probably wouldn’t be able to make the team .
His brother is a big , top notch Tiger too.
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Rival Killer [2608]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: SI Just Posted a Story on William Perry and His Great Freshman Season in 1981
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Jan 11, 2025, 7:03 PM
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Delivered pizza to him and his bride when he lived in marriage housing. Large supreme from Pizza Hut totaled $9.95 at the time. He would stand at the door in front of his wife’s baby grand piano and wait on his nickel.
Never gave a tip !
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Game Changer [1818]
TigerPulse: 68%
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Re: SI Just Posted a Story on William Perry and His Great Freshman Season in 1981
Jan 13, 2025, 3:58 PM
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I was at the Orange Bowl with my family. Flight from DFW full of Nebraska fans mostly respectful ones. We watched game from Nebraska side in sea of Red mostly students aged such classy fans. Only bad fans were the local Miami ones they complained about everything
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Game Changer [1818]
TigerPulse: 68%
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Re: SI Just Posted a Story on William Perry and His Great Freshman Season in 1981
Jan 13, 2025, 3:58 PM
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I was at the Orange Bowl with my family. Flight from DFW full of Nebraska fans mostly respectful ones. We watched game from Nebraska side in sea of Red mostly students aged such classy fans. Only bad fans were the local Miami ones they complained about everything
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Ultimate Clemson Legend [101032]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 2006
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Thanks for posting.***
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Jan 13, 2025, 4:03 PM
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