|
Replies: 14
| visibility 1055
|
CU Guru [1594]
TigerPulse: 100%
30
|
Gator Bow: A little history
19
19
Dec 4, 2023, 9:40 PM
|
|
In the inaugural Gator Bowl January 1, 1946, Wake Forest defeated South Carolina before 7,362 fans. The future of the Gator Bowl was in doubt.
Two years later Clemson defeated Missouri by one point, 24-23. There were 32,939 fans in the stands. The Gator Bowl committee members were thrilled and proclaimed that Clemson and their fans had "saved the Gator Bowl". Many members of my family attended. Sadly my grandfather had a heart attack near the end of the game and missed the winning field goal.
The Gator Bowl has been eternally grateful to Clemson fans and are always delighted to have them back.
|
|
|
|
 |
Commissioner [1201]
TigerPulse: 100%
27
|
Re: Gator Bow: A little history
4
Dec 4, 2023, 10:16 PM
|
|
Some more Gator Bowl History. That 1946 was the gamecock's first bowl game, and they received the invitation after Clemson turned it down. It was more than 20 years before they played in anther bowl.
Clemson fan attendance saved the Gator from going under financially in 1946; again in the early 1950s; and in 1977.
1977 was the year that Clemson football was reborn under Charley Pell and the first bowl game in 18 years. Clemson fan requests for Gator Bowl tickets were more than twice those available.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tiger Spirit [9538]
TigerPulse: 100%
44
|
Re: Gator Bow: A little history
Dec 4, 2023, 11:58 PM
|
|
Why did we turn it down?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dynasty Maker [3135]
TigerPulse: 100%
34
|
Re: Gator Bow: A little history
Dec 4, 2023, 10:47 PM
|
|
Last time Woodie Hayes coached a game!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Team Captain [462]
TigerPulse: 97%
18
|
Not so Fast my friend..
2
Dec 4, 2023, 11:04 PM
|
|
Charley Pell coached the 1977 Gator Bowl. But the 1978 Gator Bowl was Coach Danny Ford’s first Head Coaching game. He replaced Charley Pell after Pell left to take the Florida Gator job. The 1978 Gator Bowl-not the 1977 Gator Bowl was the last game for Ohio State Coach Woddy Hayes. Hayes lost his job for striking Clemson DL Charlie Bauman.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ring of Honor [21354]
TigerPulse: 100%
53
|
Re: Not so Fast my friend..
Dec 4, 2023, 11:36 PM
|
|
Yeah, Tigers got destroyed 34-3 by Pitt in the 1977 Gator Bowl. Just part of the growing for the revival of Clemson football in late 70s and 1980s.
|
|
|
|
|
|
110%er [3682]
TigerPulse: 100%
35
|
Re: Gator Bow: A little history
1
Dec 5, 2023, 5:29 AM
|
|
Was at the 86 Gator Bowl against Stanford. The Army Knights parachuted in with the various flags. The guy with our flag missed the stadium. Turns out it wasn’t the bad juju I feared as we won.
They also filmed a quick scene for one of the Police Academy movies. Something to do with a porta john as I remember.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Offensive Star [331]
TigerPulse: 100%
15
|
Re: Gator Bow: A little history
Dec 5, 2023, 5:55 AM
|
|
The 86 game was so foggy you could barely see the field. When the Golden Knights parachuted in, they had to place a radio direction finder on the 50 yard line because they could not see where to land. Talk about courageous people.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clemson Icon [27808]
TigerPulse: 100%
54
Posts: 15133
Joined: 2011
|
CUGRAD...Do you recall the Stanford Band's halftime show?
Dec 5, 2023, 6:35 AM
[ in reply to Re: Gator Bow: A little history ] |
|
That was one of the most screwball exhibits I've ever witnessed, and as I was laughing, I made acrenark about typical west coast space cadets. They were good, however, as were the Stanford fans I met. lol
|
|
|
|
|
|
110%er [3682]
TigerPulse: 100%
35
|
Re: CUGRAD...Do you recall the Stanford Band's halftime show?
Dec 5, 2023, 7:32 AM
|
|
Yes. But the scene for the movie was what I remember most. Porta potty coming apart with the guy on the john. I just can’t remember which Police Academy?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clemson Icon [27808]
TigerPulse: 100%
54
Posts: 15133
Joined: 2011
|
CUGRAD...Do you recall the Stanford Band's halftime show?
Dec 5, 2023, 6:35 AM
[ in reply to Re: Gator Bow: A little history ] |
|
That was one of the most screwball exhibits I've ever witnessed, and as I was laughing, I made a remark about typical west coast space cadets. They were good, however, as were the Stanford fans I met. lol
|
|
|
|
|
|
Offensive Star [321]
TigerPulse: 84%
15
|
Re: CUGRAD...Do you recall the Stanford Band's halftime show?
Dec 5, 2023, 7:28 AM
|
|
We took a boat taxi over to the game and the parents of the QB for Stanford were on the boat. A flask was passed around and good luck was wished. Stanford band was wild.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rival Killer [2964]
TigerPulse: 100%
33
|
Re: Gator Bow: A little history
Dec 5, 2023, 5:49 AM
|
|
|
|
My grandparents were there also. First football game my grandmother ever went to...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asst Coach [823]
TigerPulse: 100%
23
|
Re: Gator Bow: A little history
Dec 5, 2023, 6:13 AM
|
|
I've been to 9 Gator Bowls in my life. 1977 CU (loss) vs. Pitt... 1978 CU (win) vs. OSU... 1980 Coots (loss) vs. Pitt... 1981 UNC (win) vs. Arkansas... 1986 CU (win) vs. Stanford... 1989 CU (win) vs. West Virginia... 1995 CU (loss) vs. Cuse... 2001 CU (loss) vs. Virginia Tech... and 2009 CU (loss) vs. Nebraska...
|
|
|
|
|
|
110%er [3827]
TigerPulse: 100%
35
|
Re: Gator Bow: A little history
Dec 5, 2023, 6:31 AM
|
|
I stayed with my father's 1st cousin for the 1977 Gator Bowl. His father in law cosigned the note for the 1st Gator Bowl and he got us great tickets. He had served in the Florida Legislature and told us he was hearing from the Florida boosters that Doug Dickey had 1 more year and was gone. Little did we know they would come after Charlie Pell. He also said it didn't matter who the coach was, the boosters ran the show at Florida. He was right on all counts!
UofSC and Wake had tied 13 all during the regular season that year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Replies: 14
| visibility 1055
|
|
|
50
