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CU Medallion [19485]
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Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 3:50 PM
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If you could put them both, in their prime, on the field and played a game, what would happen?
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Dynasty Maker [3522]
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The 1981 team could not keep up in scoring with the 2018 team. 2018 would win by
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Jul 1, 2025, 3:53 PM
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17.
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Top TigerNet [32689]
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2018 would win.
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Jul 1, 2025, 3:56 PM
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A pinpoint accurate team always gave Danny’s option fits. Lawrence is that guy.
2018- 28
1981- 17
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Hall of Famer [8262]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 3:56 PM
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Don't have the stats in front of me but my impression is that the 18 team had a much better offense and just as good, if not better, defense. So the 18 team would definitely be the favorite.
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Orange Blooded [2150]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 4:23 PM
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The 2018 team definitely had the bettor offense but the 1981 team had a slightly better defense.
The 1981 squad forced 41 turnovers which is still a school record. The 2018 team had 35 forced turnovers.
You can look at my comment I made on this post to see more about the differences between the 1981 defense vs the 2018 offense.
I would have to go with the 2018 team winning the game though. Since I think they are the most balanced team of the 2.
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Paw Master [16859]
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Like most people here, I have recency bias, but I have a hard time imagining
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Jul 1, 2025, 4:00 PM
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a 1981 team taking on a 2018 team. Aren't the O-Lineman like 40 pounds heavier now? It just seems like the sophistication of the game has grown exponentially, including weight training and nutrition.
That's not a great answer as I can't speak to the specifics of the Clemson 1981 team, but seems like it would be a tall order for them.
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CU Medallion [19485]
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Re: Like most people here, I have recency bias, but I have a hard time imagining
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Jul 1, 2025, 4:04 PM
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You are correct about the size and strength differences! I guess my curiosity is mainly in the type games (Offenses and Defenses) that they each played!!
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All-In [10165]
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Tiger Titan [51165]
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The 2018 team would win by a lot.***
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Jul 1, 2025, 4:05 PM
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Ultimate Tiger [36352]
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Re: The 2018 team would win by a lot.***
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Jul 1, 2025, 6:50 PM
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Gotta agree with you there, JK. Someone write that down. It don’t happen often.
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Tiger Spirit [9523]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 4:16 PM
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The 1981 team was loaded with defensive superstars and guys who spent a long time in the NFL. However, offensively they could not match the 2018 team. That being said, the 1981 always get undervalued IMO when comes to all time great teams of the 20th century.
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Orange Blooded [2150]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 4:16 PM
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The question would be who would win at the line of scrimmage between the 2018 offense vs the 1981 defense.
Clemson had a bettor offense in 2018 with them scoring on average 44 points per game (The total number of points they scored was 664 witch set a school record) where as the 1981 offense averaged 26 points per game with them scoring a total of 316 points throughout the season. The 1981 defense on the other hand was slightly bettor than the 2018 teams was.
The Danny Ford led team had only allowed on average 7.5 points per game with the total amount of points scored against them equaling to 90 points. While Dabo’s 2018 team averaged 13.1 points allowed per game with a total of 197 points allowed in the entire season.
I would love to see one of if not the best Clemson offenses go up against one of the best defensive teams Clemson has ever had.
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Dynasty Maker [3365]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 4:18 PM
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The 81 team would put a hurting on them boys.
People just don't realize how physical.they were
You would have to see it
If.my memory serves me correct the 81 team sent 22 players to the pros.
Now for clarity they didnt.all go in the same draft.
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Top TigerNet [32343]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 4:23 PM
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Players are faster, stronger and heavier now. The 2018 would wipe them off the field and have subs in the 3rd/4th quarter.
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National Champion [7910]
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Re: 2018 Would Wear 1981 Down .... In Early 3rd Quarter ---
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Jul 1, 2025, 4:29 PM
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1981 team would get some blows in on the line of scrimmage...but Etienne.... would be too much for them
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Standout [249]
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Re: 2018 Would Wear 1981 Down .... In Early 3rd Quarter ---
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Jul 1, 2025, 6:16 PM
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Hershel wasnt too much for them.
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Orange Phenom [14915]
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2018 would win with about the same margin as the actual Bama victory
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Jul 1, 2025, 4:43 PM
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Players are just bigger stronger and faster than they were 40 years ago.
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Dynasty Maker [3365]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 5:11 PM
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The 81 team was just.plain nasty.
They were going to whoop you no matter how big you were.
Every player on that defense hit like a Mack truck
It was common when hit the opposing players feet left the ground and he was planted in the dirt.
It didn't take many hits like that where you could just see that team go flat and mail it in. They were not going to win. No how no way
Although North Carolina almost derailed that championship.
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Dynasty Maker [3433]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 2, 2025, 10:59 AM
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All the talk was about Nebraska’s all everything center Remmington. He was knocked around like an undersized freshman by our D.
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Legend [6667]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 5:22 PM
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81 team did not struggle on third and short.
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Ultimate Tiger [33457]
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Laughable comparison. The improvements in strength and speed since the early
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Jul 1, 2025, 5:47 PM
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80's with college athletes is staggering.
We probably have had multiple teams since Dabo got here that would smash the team from the 1981.
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TigerNet Elite [69981]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 6:03 PM
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The 2018 team would win, but not until it had been hit hard by that '81 defense.
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TigerNet Elite [75116]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 6:48 PM
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It was a different generation of players. 2018 would win by at least 10. But I can tell you one thing… the 2018 team would be hurting for the next week. That 1981 team could hit hard.
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TigerNet Elite [69981]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 7:10 PM
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Just ask UGA and Herschel Walker about that '81 defense.
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Ultimate Tiger [36352]
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44-16 if Dabo kneels at the end
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Jul 1, 2025, 6:54 PM
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like he did vs Bama. As much as I loved that 81 team, there is no way they could keep up with 2018 on the scoreboard.
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Associate AD [1091]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 7:04 PM
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Play by 1981 rules and the 2018 QB and receiver don't come back after halftime
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Legend [6667]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 9:43 PM
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I agree with this. Clemson was nasty on both sides of the line of scrimmage in 1981. Clemson in 2018 was average on the offensive line.
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Dynasty Maker [3365]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 7:16 PM
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The 2018 team would win. I just want you guys to respect that 81 team
It was a different era of football but I promise you nobody wanted any part of the Clemson tigers.
They were at the top of that era of football along the Vince Dooley coached bulldogs.
Our game with LSU will also be a nasty hard hitting game.
Sure glad we went and got Allen
A Goodwin coached defense doesn't exactly inspire they can.punch LSU in the mouth all night long.
That's what it will take
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Clemson Conqueror [11178]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 9:38 PM
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Football in 81 was way different than football in 18 so you really can't compare. What I do know is the team we saw in 81 had Hall of Fame players and All Pro players, a great kicking game and front 7 that was awesome and you could ask Wake if the 81 team could put up points. Trevor would be the wildcard so I think the game would be close but knowing that we win either way is the big deal.
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National Champion [7898]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 9:40 PM
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The 2018 team might just be the best college football team EVER. The 2019 team was just as good but got severely out coached against LSU in the final. The 2018 team would have killed the 1981 team.
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Orange Blooded [2120]
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Re: Danny Ford's undefeated 1981 team vs Dabo Swinney's undefeated 2018 team:
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Jul 1, 2025, 9:42 PM
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Dabo's team is bigger and faster would crush them.
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Rival Killer [3029]
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2018 because of offense
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Jul 1, 2025, 11:39 PM
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It's a much different game now and Ford's team would not be up to defending the modern track meet pace. Also, the sheer size and speed of modern defensive players would overwhelm early 80s O linemen.
Don't get me wrong, Clemson had some beasts on hand for that championship game and would make a respectable showing, but it wouldn't be enough to get it done.
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National Champion [7903]
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Totally depends on the rules
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Jul 2, 2025, 10:32 AM
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If you play the game by the current rules of college, the 2018 wins big...there would not be enough 81 defense players left to play the game at the end, due to ejections of the 1981 team players.
If you play the game by the 1981 rules of that time, the 81 team wins big...there would not be enough depth on the offensive side of the 2018 team due to injuries and lack of toughness.
Message was edited by: JPRICH Top Paw®
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