I'm hoping this does not play out like 1992 or 2004 seasons...

Sep 15, 2025, 4:30 PM

I went back to a couple seasons years ago where we started in the Top 15 or better in the rankings and began the season at 1-2 or worse.
We came into those seasons with somewhat high expectations in part due to key returning players.

1992
In Ken Hatfield's first year, we went 5-6 and did not make a bowl after he had won the 9-10 and the ACC in his first two years.
Keypoints:
-In game one, we were ranked 13th. At halfway mark of season, we were 4-2 ranked #18, but from there on, the season went quite downhill. We dropped out of the rankings by end of October with a record of 4-3.
-We lost to FSU in game 2 and followed with a loss to GT in Atlanta in game 3. It was said that after those two losses, the players had quit on Coach Hatfield.

Unlike this year, the fanbase probably did not have much expecations at all for 1992 even-though the polls had Clemson ranked in Top 15 preseason. The talent drop-off would likely be evident during that season due to a good bit of Ford's players leaving, though some were still on there. Ken Hatfield couldn't recruit.

2004
Following the 2003 bounce-back season ending with that big bowl win over TN, which saved Tommy Bowden's job, we went 6-5 after going 9-3 in the previous year. Although we technically got bowl-eligible, we declined the bowl due to the SC game brawl.
Expecations were high due to that previous year's late-season momentum. We started out ranked 15th.
Charlie Whitehurst was returning QB.
Keypoints:
-We barely over Wake in OT.
-In game 2, we had a heart-breaking loss to GT at home. It was a mishandled snap, and GT then scored.
-Three more losses followed, and it was now a 1-4 start.
-However, there was improvement in the 2nd half of the season with the only remaining loss coming to Duke. Clemson had a big win over Miami and beat SC handily.

I couldn't find too much on that 2004 team, but from what I read, it had a weak WR corps during the season, and Charlie Whitehurst couldn't replicate the success he had in 2003 as a result. Unlike 1992, the fanbase had higher expecations for this team.

The way this current season has started so far, which of those two past seasons would you think this season would most closely resemble based on your current most likely W/L projections (seeing a range of 7-5 to 9-3 on here)?

For me, I'd say 2004. The schedule looked pretty tough in September based on looked at the past schedule for that year. Although I think final W/L record this season will be better than what that one was.
I also expect Clemson to play better and improved football in the second half of this season than the first half - similar to 2004 season.

flag link

military_tech

thumb_down

thumb_up

I'm hoping this does not play out like 1992 or 2004 seasons...

Re: I'm hoping this does not play out like 1992 or 2004 seasons...

Re: I'm hoping this does not play out like 1992 or 2004 seasons... uhh

Re: I'm hoping this does not play out like 1992 or 2004 seasons... uhh

Re: I'm hoping this does not play out like 1992 or 2004 seasons...

Re: I'm hoping this does not play out like 1992 or 2004 seasons...

Re: I'm hoping this does not play out like 1992 or 2004 seasons...

TigerBoard POTD