Re: Hill Watch...72 days!!!

76er®

CU Medallion [65416]

TigerPulse: 100%

Posts: 33245

Joined: 12/3/03

72 years ago, the 1950 Clemson football Tigers had a very

Jun 16, 2015, 9:21 AM

good bounce back season under 11th year Coach Frank Howard. The Tigers compiled a fine 8-0-1 overall regular season record, with a 3-0-1 mark good for 2nd place in the SoCon behind conference Champion No. 18 Washington and Lee.

What kept the season from truly being GREAT? The simple fact that the lone tie was against, you guessed it, The Clucking Dirtpecker Capon Yardbirds of South Carolina on Big Thursday in Columbia. The 14-14 tie probably didn't make any of the 35,000 screaming fans in attendance happy. Clemson now led the series 29-16-3.

The Tigers were starting to gain some national respect though, as we were ranked in the Top 20 starting with the third game of the season.

But before that, we opened the season with yet another drubbing of Presbyterian, 54-0. No wonder their coach nicknamed Memorial Stadium “Death Valley” long before that place in Louisiana ever thought of it.

Next, the Tigers would take down another group of Tigers, Missouri. Of note, at the time, Missouri's stadium was also called Memorial Stadium. The Clemson variety of Tiger prevailed over 17th ranked Missouri on the road by a score of 34-0.

Clemson was ranked 18th for the Textile Bowl against NC State, winning that one 27-0 at home.

The aforementioned tie with lowly South Carolina dropped our ranking from 12th to 16th, going into our road tilt with No. 17 Wake Forest. The Tigers pulled out a tough 13-12 squeaker.

That would be the last close game of the regular season, as the Tigers rolled the rest of the way, getting themselves an Orange Bowl invitation, and No. 10 ranking along the way.

The Orange Bowl opponent would be the No. 15 Miami Hurricanes, playing what for them was a home game. Clemson overcame that advantage to win the game in a hard fought, low scoring affair, 15-14. The game featured some good old controversy, as Clemson led early 13-0, only to see Miami storm back and take the lead 14-13. Then, with about six minutes left, Miami returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown to ice the game. BUTT, not so fast, my friends, clipping was called, nullifying that score, and pinning Miami deep on their end of the field. On a subsequent play from their own 4 yard line, Miami Halfback Frank Smith was tackled by the Tigers in the end zone for a safety. This gave Clemson the lead, and the eventual win, 15-14. Truly a tough way to win or lose a game!

Presbyterian W 54–0
At No. 17 Missouri W 34–0
NC State W 27–0
At South Carolina (Big Thursday, Columbia, SC) T 14–14 (Clemson leads series 29-16-3)
At No. 17 Wake Forest W 13–12
Duquesne W 53–20
At Boston College (Old Braves Field) W 35–14
Furman W 57–2
At Auburn W 40–0

January 1, 1951 No. 10 Clemson vs. No. 15 Miami (Orange Bowl) W 15–14

flag link

military_tech

thumb_down

thumb_up

Hill Watch...72 days!!!