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64 Seasons Ago Clemson Football Finished 5-5 in 1961

Jun 27, 2025, 12:00 AM

A Gamechicken fraternity pretends to be Tigers. As usual, Gamechickens are vicariously trying to live out a life they were never able to achieve.

And Lake Hartwell begins!

Overview:

According to Wikipedia:

“The 1961 Clemson Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Clemson University as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1961 college football season. In their 22nd season under head coach Frank Howard, the Tigers compiled a 5–5 record (3–3 in conference games), tied for third place in the ACC, and outscored opponents by a total of 199 to 126.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_Clemson_Tigers_football_team

Worthy of Note:

According to ClemsonTigers.com:

“Nov. 11, 1961 – A team resembling Clemson entered the field prior to the meeting with South Carolina. They did a few serious calisthenics and then started dancing to band music. The team was actually members of the Sigma Nu Fraternity of South Carolina. Clemson students entered the field and worked some of the imposters over. Finally state police brought order to the field.”

https://clemsontigers.com/clemson-football-historical-timeline/

According to Wikipedia:

“Senior fullback Ron Scrudato led the ACC with 48 points scored. Sophomore quarterback Jim Parker led the team in passing (736 yards), total offense (975 yards) and led the ACC with an average gain of 16.0 yards per completion.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_Clemson_Tigers_football_team

Results:

September 23 at Florida* L 17–21
September 30 Maryland L 21–24
October 7 at North Carolina W 27–0
October 14 Wake Forest L 13–17
October 21 at Duke W 17–7
October 28 at Auburn* L 14–24
November 4 Tulane* W 21–6
November 11 at South Carolina L 14–21
November 18 Furman* W 35–6
November 25 NC State W 20–0

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_Clemson_Tigers_football_team

With the unfortunate loss in Columbia, Clemson now holds a 34-22-3 lead the series vs. the Gamechickens.

Clemson Stadium Schedule:

Photo from: https://clemsontigers.com/sports/football/facilities/memorial-stadium/

Key Stats and Awards:

According to Wikipedia:

The 1961 Clemson Tigers gained an average of 178.3 rushing yards and 129.2 passing yards per game. On defense, they allowed opponents to gain an average of 127.5 rushing yards and 126.5 passing yards per game.

Senior fullback Ron Scrudato led the ACC in scoring with 48 points on eight touchdowns. He also ranked sixth in the conference with 341 rushing yards.

The quarterback role was split between sophomore Jim Parker and junior Joe Anderson. Parker completed 46 of 98 passes (46.9%) for 736 yards with five touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 108.5 quarterback rating. Anderson completed 43 of 104 for 531 yards (41.3%) for 531 yards with two touchdowns, five interceptions and an 81.0 quarterback rating. Parker also led the team with 975 yards of total offense and led the ACC with an average gain of 16.0 yards per completion.

The Tigers had six backs who had over 55 carries during the 1961 season:
• Ron Scrudato gained 341 yards on 99 carries for a 3.4-yard average.
• Joe Anderson gained 310 yards on 97 carries for a 3.2-yard average.
• Elmo Lam gained 270 yards on 50 carries for a 5.4-yard average
• Jim Parker gained 239 yards on 68 carries for a 3.5-yard average.
• Bill McGuirt gained 235 yards on 69 carries for a 3.4-yard average.
• Wendall Black gained 191 yards on 56 carries for a 3.4-yard average.

The team had five players with at least 10 receptions:
• Gary Barnes had 16 receptions for 247 yards, a 15.4-yard average
• Elmo Lam had 17 receptions for 237 yards, a 13.9-yard average.
• Tommy King had 14 catches for 227 yards, a 16.2-yard average.
• Harry Pavilack had 10 receptions for 153 yards, a 15.3-yard average.
• Wendall Black had 11 receptions for 137 yards, a 12.5-yard average.

Center Ron Andreo and guard Calvin West were selected as the team captains.
Four Clemson players were recognized by one or more of the Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), and the Atlantic Coast Sports Writers Association (ACSWA) on the 1961 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team: end Tommy King (AP-1); center Ron Andreo (UPI-1); quarterback Jim Parker (AP-2, UPI-2, ACSWA-2); and guard Calvin West (AP-2, UPI-2, ACSWA-2).

1961 Clemson Tigers:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_Clemson_Tigers_football_team

Also in 1961:

According to ClemsonWiki there were quite a few shady shenanigans within Tobacco Road. John Swofford is likely the only person shocked by this information:

“May 14: William Friday, president of the consolidated University of North Carolina system, is summoned to an emergency Saturday meeting in Chapel Hill with Lester Chalmers, Wake County's district solicitor, who informs Friday that he has evidence that four N.C. State basketball players and possibly two from UNC have been involved in a point-shaving scandal the previous season, including at least one player in the annual three-day Dixie Classic tournament played the previous December. At this time, there is no NCAA "Final Four" and the North Carolina match, played in Reynolds Coliseum, N.C. State's home court in Raleigh from 1949 to 1960, has become a major event. One player had been threatened by gamblers, a gun stuck in his stomach, after an outcome not to the liking of the bettors. In addition to canceling the Dixie Classic, the consolidated university presidents also reduced the schedules for UNC and N.C. State for the 1962 season to include 14 regular-season conference games and two games outside the league instead of nine. Players at both schools were prohibited from participating in summer basketball leagues, and only two freshmen in the next recruiting class were allowed from outside the ACC area. The point-shaving scandal, which by 1962 had implicated 50 players from 25 schools (one source says 27) across the country who fixed the outcome of 54 games, alerted the public to the nature of "big-time" college athletics and the risks. Four N.C. State players and one at UNC were charged with bribery and granted immunity in Wake County Superior Court for testifying against the conspirators. The five were later indicted, convicted and given suspended sentences for fixing games in Durham County. Six of the eight who paid players to shave points pleaded guilty in North Carolina to bribery and conspiracy charges and served time in prison. Dave Goldberg and Steve Lekometros went to trial in Wake County, were found guilty and both were handed two, five-year sentences. Both served 22 months in an N.C. prison.”

https://clemsonwiki.com/wiki/1961

Also from ClemsonWiki – Lake Hartwell begins!!

“The Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Savannah District, fills in the Seneca River to force water through newly dug diversion channel west of the Clemson campus. Thus begins the filling of Lake Hartwell, which later leads Southern humorist and newspaperman Lewis Grizzard to observe that "Clemson is Auburn with a lake."

https://clemsonwiki.com/wiki/1961

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Clemson: Academic Excellence! Athletic Excellence!

Todays player spotlight is #64 Walker Parks. He is a super senior graduate offensive lineman for the 2025 Clemson Tigers.
(He is one of 4 super senior’s on this year’s rosters.)

Walker “Played for Brian Landis at Frederick Douglass High in Lexington, Ky., where the two-year captain did not allow a sack in 15 games as a senior”. He was an “unanimous top-100 player nationally … during the early signing period, Rivals.com ranked Parks as the No. 59 best player in the nation, eighth-best at his position and the No. 2 player in Kentucky … was listed as the 63rd-best overall player, eighth-best offensive tackle and best player in Kentucky by PrepStar … ranked as the No. 71 overall player by 247Sports, seventh-best at his position and second-best in the state of Kentucky … ranked as No. 89 overall player in the nation by ESPN.com, the 13th-best offensive tackle and second-best player in Kentuck”.

In 2020 Walker “Carved out a key reserve role as a true freshman, garnering Freshman All-America honors from ESPN.com after playing 199 snaps over 11 games and helping Clemson lead the ACC as the only team to allow fewer than two sacks per game”.

In 2021 he “Was one of only four offensive or defensive players to start all 13 games for Clemson, as he played 869 snaps while starting all 13 contests at right tackle … All-ACC Academic Team selection”.

In 2022 he was a “Fourth-team All-ACC selection by Phil Steele … started all 13 games in which he appeared, playing 916 offensive snaps, the fifth-most in a season by any Clemson guard all-time … All-ACC Academic Team selections”.

In 2023 Walker was “Limited by injury to 123 offensive snaps over two games (both starts) … played 73 snaps in season debut at Duke, helping the Tigers exceed both 200 passing yards and 200 rushing yards … played 50 snaps as Clemson amassed 679 yards of offense and 37 first downs vs. Charleston Southern … suffered a season-ending injury in that contest.”.

Finally in 2024 he shined as he “Played 703 snaps from scrimmage in starting all 14 games for the Tigers … was one of 12 Clemson players to start every game in 2024 … helped power Clemson to a top-15 ranking in total offense (451.9 yards per game) … third-team All-ACC selection … earned fourth-team All-ACC recognition from Phil Steele … All-ACC Academic Team selection”.

So in summary, Walker Parks is a “Hard-nosed veteran offensive leader who will enter 2025 already standing as one of 28 players on record in school history to play 2,500 career snaps from scrimmage … ESPN Freshman All-American as a reserve in 2020 who earned the starting right tackle role entering his sophomore year in 2021 and transitioned to guard during fall camp in 2022 … enters 2024 having played 2,810 career snaps over 53 games (42 starts) … despite losing two years to injury, will enter his sixth season at Clemson in 2025 already ranking 12th on-record in school history in career snaps from scrimmage … 2024 All-ACC selection and three-time All-ACC Academic Team selection.”.

Walker has also “earned degree in criminal justice in December 2023 … added a master’s degree in athletic leadership in December 2024 … completed a microinternship at Segars Ranch in Montana in spring 2022” and was a “four-time ACC Honor Roll selection (2020-23) … three-time All-ACC Academic Team selection (2021-22 & 2024) … NFF Hampshire Honor Society member.”.

Here is his bio: https://clemsontigers.com/sports/football/roster/season/2025/walker-parks/

Here is his Hudl profile: https://www.hudl.com/profile/7596632/walker-parks

Here is his 247sports profile: https://247sports.com/player/walker-parks-46043254/

Here is his instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walkerparks/

Here is his twitter: https://x.com/walkerparks64

And finally here are some videos of him…

Here are some of his HS highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylLPMWUdP6M

Here is a little news clip of Walker talking about his character model in the CFB 25 game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_QQjqRuqFI

Hill Watch 64 days!!!

Re: Hill Watch 64 days!!!***

64 Seasons Ago Clemson Football Finished 5-5 in 1961

Home game and season ticket prices

Re: 64 Seasons Ago Clemson Football Finished 5-5 in 1961

Re: 64 Seasons Ago Clemson Football Finished 5-5 in 1961

Re: 64 Seasons Ago Clemson Football Finished 5-5 in 1961

Re: 64 Seasons Ago Clemson Football Finished 5-5 in 1961

Re: 64 Seasons Ago Clemson Football Finished 5-5 in 1961

Go Tigers!!!***

New pfp player spotlight

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I wish tnet posted this yesterday so I couldve put this in my post

ALL IN!!!***

Re: ALL IN!!!***

Re: Hill Watch 64 days!!!

Re: Hill Watch 64 days!!!

Re: Hill Watch 64 days!!!

Lets goooo!!!

Re: Lets goooo!!!

Thanks, O.J.!

Appreciate you , O.J.!***

Re: Hill Watch 64 days!!!

Re: Hill Watch 64 days!!!

Slowly but Shirley!!! We're getting there!!

Good morning sir!***