Re: Hill Watch...36 days!!!

For 36 years Jim Phillips was the Voice of the Clemson Tigers. Without question, Phillips is one of the most beloved people in Clemson sports history! I would argue that he is THE most beloved!

Many of us Tiger fans still cherish fond memories of Jim Phillips calling a Clemson game over the radio. It was often a wonderful bonding experience with friends and family that somehow differs from watching a game together today on television (or laptop, or I-pad, or projection device, etc.). Listening to a game on the radio meant you relied on the announcer to describe the action in a way that allowed you to picture it in your head as each play would unfold.

No one could tell that story in way that allowed the listener to envision each play-by-play better than Jim Phillips!

36 Wonderful Years:

According to GoUpstate.com:

Phillips did play-by-play for football, baseball and men's and women's basketball. He was the only broadcaster in the Atlantic Coast Conference to cover so many sports -- truly earning the nickname "The Voice of the Tigers." Phillips also hosted the coaches' television shows.

https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2003/09/10/clemsons-radio-legend-dies/29682782007/

ClemsonTigers.com also describes his illustrious career:

“The dean of all broadcasters in the ACC, Phillips came to Clemson in 1968 and broadcast his first Tiger football game on September 21, 1968, a 20-20 tie between Clemson and Wake Forest. The Clemson vs. Georgia game of August 30, 2003 was his 400th Clemson football broadcast.

At 69-years-old, he was the only ACC play-by-play announcer to broadcast his school’s football, basketball, baseball and women’s basketball games. Over his career he broadcast over 2,000 Clemson sporting events.

Phillips also served as host of the Clemson football and basketball coach’s shows for many years, including this season. He broadcast his 1000th Clemson men’s basketball game at the 2002 ACC Tournament in Charlotte. He missed just one broadcast of a Clemson men’s basketball game in Littlejohn Coliseum, a time period that dates to November of 1968.”

https://clemsontigers.com/clemson-legend-jim-phillips-passes-away/

Unfortunately, Jim Phillips passed away far too young! It happened on a September Monday – just two days after he called a Furman at Clemson football game. He was only 69 years old.

The UPI added the following insights at the time of his passing in September 2003:

"Jim's voice was synonymous with Tiger athletics," said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. "Jim Phillips has been a landmark in the Atlantic Coast Conference for the past 36 years, and his dedication to Clemson athletics is one of the primary reasons for the school's enduring popularity among the people of South Carolina and fans of the ACC."

Phillips was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992 and attended the Hall of Fame induction banquet last Friday evening.

Over his career, he broadcast over 2,000 Clemson sporting events. In addition to his duties at Clemson, he was the sports director at WYFF-TV from 1968-80 and the sports director at WFBC Radio in Greenville for 25 years.

https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2003/09/09/Jim-Phillips-dies-at-69/46611063127449/

Although Phillips was not able to call the 2016 National Championship game, this tribute to him, which dubs his voice (from his actual calls) into the iconic Watson-to-Renfrow moment, brings tears to my eyes every time I see/hear it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcSi_x7-7Mw

In 2013, the home radio booth at Clemson’s Death Valley was named in honor of this great man!

To his son, Tigernet’s own striperfan: Please know that your Dad is forever in the hearts of multitudes of Clemson fans! Thank you for all of the personal insights you have shared of this great Clemson treasure!

We will always love and remember you, Jim Phillips! You brought the games to us like no one else could! Thank you for the priceless memories!!

Forever in our hearts!

CBProf®

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36 - William The Fridge Perry Returned 1 Punt for 36 Yards

Jul 26, 2024, 12:36 AM

“When William Perry is in the game, his effect on the opposing line of scrimmage is devastating. I’ve never seen that kind of bulk move that quickly by an defensive player.”
- Former Georgia Head Coach Vince Dooley

A particularly large football player is not always highly athletic. But, even among other football players, William Anthony Perry (1981-1984) was both enormous and athletic. A difficult combination for the opposing team!

Before Clemson:

Perry grew up (actually, grew and grew, and grew) in Aiken, SC. As Perry described his young days:

"Even when I was little, I was big.”
- William “The Refrigerator” Perry

https://clemsontigers.com/clemson-vault-william-the-refrigerator-perry/

According to Wikipedia:

“He attended Aiken High School and played as a 295-pound nose guard on the school’s football team and ran on its track team. During an exercise in which his coach instructed all of his fastest players to line up for a 100-yard dash, Perry joined the group of running backs, wide receivers and defensive backs and eventually was timed as the 6th fastest runner on the entire team, with a time of 11 seconds flat. He was also able to run the 100 meters in under 12 seconds, and competed in the shot put event, recording a top-throw of 16.44 m (53 ft 11 in). He could also execute 360-degree dunks on regulation basketball hoops and perform a complicated dive into the swimming pool.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Perry_(American_football)#cite_ref-espn111_5-0

** Wow!!! **

While at Clemson:

According to ESPN, Perry got his “Refrigerator” nickname his freshman season at Clemson:

“His freshman season of 1981 was about as good as it gets. Not only did his Tigers walk away with the national championship, but he walked away with a nickname for the ages. He was taking an elevator up to his dorm room one day, carrying a load of laundry, when fellow defensive lineman Ray Brown walked in with his own load of clothes. There was barely any room in the elevator for either of them to breathe, at which point Brown announced, "Man, you're about as big as a refrigerator.''

https://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs/2010/news/story?id=6091766

To put William Perry’s combination of size and athleticism into perspective:

Former Clemson TE K.D. Dunn said, “I am glad he was a nose guard and I was a tight end.” Clemson coaches had to stop practices sometimes when the Fridge decided he wasn’t going to be blocked. The coaches told Fridge to sit on the sidelines so that the team could keep practicing. (Starts at 10:30 mark of the video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdGBU_5nTyE

During his Clemson career, William Perry’s combination of size and quickness created havoc for OL opponents. Perry was named an All American at Clemson and was named ACC Player of the Year in 1984.

But, many people might not remember his one punt return. According to ClemsonTigers.com it happened against Wake Forest in 1984:

“Believing Wake Forest would go for a first down on fourth-and-one, Head Coach Danny Ford told the defense to stay on the field. That meant Perry remained at middle guard.

Wake Forest decided to punt after all, and when the ball was snapped, Perry bull-rushed. He hit the blocking back with such force that he knocked him backwards toward the punter, Harry Newsome. Newsome punted the ball off the backside of his teammate and the ball bounced backwards 36 yards, where it was recovered by a Tiger.

Statistically, Perry was correctly credited with a 36-yard punt return, which must be a puzzling number with historians who review Perry’s numbers on Sports-Reference.com.”

https://clemsontigers.com/william-perry-2021-program-story/

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After Clemson:

The Chicago Bears selected William Perry with the 22nd Pick (First round) of the 1985 NFL Draft. He played for the Bears between 1985 to 1992 and for part of the 1993 season. He also played for the Philadelphia Eagles in part of the 1993 season and in 1994.

ESPN describes how The Fridge took the nation by storm during his 1984 rookie season:

“Ditka had a wonderful, awful idea. Against the Packers, on Monday night Oct. 21, 1985, the coach decided to move the kid to offense.
…
With an entire nation watching, Ditka waved Perry in on a goal-to-go situation from the 2-yard line. The Fridge lined up in front and to the right of Payton and was told to eliminate any linebacker directly between him and the goal line. That poor soul was Green Bay's George Cumby.

"It was like a Mack truck smashing a Volkswagen,'' says Fridge, laughing.
…
Payton scored amid the wreckage, and Ditka's mind started racing. The next time the Bears reached the 1-yard line, he lined up the Fridge in the same spot and ordered McMahon to hand him the ball. Easiest touchdown you ever saw. The Fridge danced and spiked the ball. Frank Gifford, usually calm and collected during "Monday Night Football" broadcasts, was giggling.

The next time the Bears reached the 1, Ditka directed the Fridge to the front and left of Payton and asked him again to seek out a linebacker. Cumby was back for more -- and got pancaked. Payton could've scored with his eyes closed

The fallout was off the charts. In the ensuing weeks, Perry appeared on David Letterman's show, the "Tonight Show" and a Bob Hope Christmas special. McDonald's and Coca-Cola also hopped into the Fridge conga line. Mr. T wanted him for his "A-Team'' action show

https://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs/2010/news/story?id=6091766

Before the season ended, Perry also caught a touchdown pass. He also scored a touchdown in the Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl championship.

Today, Perry lives a very basic life out of the public eye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeRzIenRoCQ

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Clemson: Academic Excellence! Athletic Excellence!

Hill Watch...36 days!!!