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YOUR BALANCE
To my fellow 50’s and 60’s grads and fans. We are now in, or
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To my fellow 50’s and 60’s grads and fans. We are now in, or


Sep 16, 2019, 5:59 PM

approaching, our twilight years. Did you ever imagine we would be where we are now? God is good!

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Re: To my fellow 50’s and 60’s grads and fans. We are now in, or


Sep 16, 2019, 6:09 PM

I enrolled in 1968. In my first nine years of paying very close attention, we posted 8 losing records. We did not win the ACC and did not go to a bowl game. I do not remember playing on TV. Those were my first years of live exposure to Clemson football. I knew the history, but we were not the best team in a bad football league that was playing with an academic handicap in those years.

We turned around and played well in 1977 but got waxed in the Gator Bowl by Pitt. FINALLY in 1978 we were an excellent team, won the league, were highly ranked and played Ohio State in the Gator Bowl. Walking out of the Gator Bowl with a victory over the Buckeyes was simply terrific. As we walked out I told the guys I was with, "Football will NEVER get any better than it is right now." Thank goodness, I was wrong.

But to answer your question, I did not know anyone who was dreaming in the late 60s or early 70s of being a top ten team much less winning in all. I think those of us who went through years of mediocrity and multiple losing seasons appreciate the present day in a special and I think different way that the fans who started watching in the 80s and beyond.

Go Tigers!!

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Re: To my fellow 50’s and 60’s grads and fans. We are now in, or


Sep 16, 2019, 6:14 PM

That PItt team that waxed us was loaded. Majors brought in 80 freshmen one year. That led to the NCAA finally establishing scholarship limits. The two bowl loses that sting me the most were to Texas Tech and W Va.

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Re: To my fellow 50’s and 60’s grads and fans. We are now in, or


Sep 16, 2019, 6:24 PM

Matt Cavanaugh dissected us in that 77 game. Long ride home. As was Syracuse several years later. T West let the guys roam Jacksonville Beach the night before (NYE). We saw players out after midnight. Next day McNabb dissected us too.

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Re: To my fellow 50’s and 60’s grads and fans. We are now in, or


Sep 16, 2019, 7:38 PM

My only Bowl was the Syracuse debacle when visiting my parents in Jacksonville. Lousy weather, terrible game.

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Re: To my fellow 50’s and 60’s grads and fans. We are now in, or


Sep 16, 2019, 7:57 PM

Had tickets stayed at home in Florida. Terrible weather and glad I did not drive up to Jax.

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CUTIGERTIM
Clemson Rat 1968
Clemson fan forever


Re: To my fellow 50’s and 60’s grads and fans. We are now in, or


Sep 16, 2019, 9:07 PM [ in reply to Re: To my fellow 50’s and 60’s grads and fans. We are now in, or ]

If you were there in '68 (same for me), then you probably remember Bama coming to Death Valley. They scored more TD's than we would have scored even if the goal line was the 50-yard line.

How the tables have turned. :)

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Re: To my fellow 50’s and 60’s grads and fans. We are now in, or


Sep 16, 2019, 9:49 PM [ in reply to Re: To my fellow 50’s and 60’s grads and fans. We are now in, or ]

I came to Clemson in 67. We had a very good team. Lost to , at the time , a top 5 Ga team by a TD.. We laid eggs against Tech in Atlanta and Auburn. In late Oct Alabama with Ken Stabler came to Clemson. We missed two or three field goals inside the 20 and lost 13 to 10.
The last home game was NC State. They were highly ranked and came in with their white shoes. We had to camp out in the tunnel by the old book store and post office to get tickets. Without the upper decks, Death Valley was packed. Great game. At half some brave or stupid NC State boys decided to run in front of our crowd. They had a banner. "A little
P#### never hurt the pack". There were at least a hundred students who made it onto the field. They caught those guys just beyond the middle of the field. It didnt go well for them. Those guys caught the Wolf mascot and ripped the costume off. We won the game 14 to 6. We thumped the Chickens the next week and won the conference with a 6 and 0 record. From then on my story matches Harley's. I remember several times making sure to see the Bob Hope Christmas Special where a couple times we had an all american that was showcased on that program. There was no exposure for Clemson beyond that. In 1977 it changed, and the rest is history. One point, however, we always had an underlying feeling that we could get there. Before the ACC academic barrier, we were regular participants in bowl games. With that millstone around our neck we went from the 59 Bluebonnet Bowl till the 77 Gator Bowl without a post season appearance. We are the only original ACC team to successfully escape that barrier and become a powerhouse in football. That includes the chickens too. They were a mid level ACC team even then.
Sure is great to be a Tiger.

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Re: To my fellow 50’s and 60’s grads and fans. We are now in, or


Sep 16, 2019, 9:50 PM [ in reply to Re: To my fellow 50’s and 60’s grads and fans. We are now in, or ]

I came to Clemson in 67. We had a very good team. Lost to , at the time , a top 5 Ga team by a TD.. We laid eggs against Tech in Atlanta and Auburn. In late Oct Alabama with Ken Stabler came to Clemson. We missed two or three field goals inside the 20 and lost 13 to 10.
The last home game was NC State. They were highly ranked and came in with their white shoes. We had to camp out in the tunnel by the old book store and post office to get tickets. Without the upper decks, Death Valley was packed. Great game. At half some brave or stupid NC State boys decided to run in front of our crowd. They had a banner. "A little
P#### never hurt the pack". There were at least a hundred students who made it onto the field. They caught those guys just beyond the middle of the field. It didnt go well for them. Those guys caught the Wolf mascot and ripped the costume off. We won the game 14 to 6. We thumped the Chickens the next week and won the conference with a 6 and 0 record. From then on my story matches Harley's. I remember several times making sure to see the Bob Hope Christmas Special where a couple times we had an all american that was showcased on that program. There was no exposure for Clemson beyond that. In 1977 it changed, and the rest is history. One point, however, we always had an underlying feeling that we could get there. Before the ACC academic barrier, we were regular participants in bowl games. With that millstone around our neck we went from the 59 Bluebonnet Bowl till the 77 Gator Bowl without a post season appearance. We are the only original ACC team to successfully escape that barrier and become a powerhouse in football. That includes the chickens too. They were a mid level ACC team even then.
Sure is great to be a Tiger.

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Re: To my fellow 50’s and 60’s grads and fans. We are now in, or


Sep 16, 2019, 7:56 PM

I was the last Rat Season at Clemson 68-73 and it was only 1/2 year rat season. Went to Freshman pep rally with Frank Howard in Fike Field House and watched the likes of Buddy Gore, Ray Yauger and Charlie Waters. Saw us be pummeled by Auburn and Ga and being from Atlanta hated losing to Ga Tech over and over. Our highs were beating Carolina and the occasional upsets. Was at the Orange bowl in 81 and in disbelief. Oh how different that National Championship was from what the event is today. As for did I ever expect the status we have achieved. No. However the year we beat LSU I knew we were going to finally be a top program. The Ohio state beatdown in the Orange bowl was another notice Clemson was for real. Then the offensive line recruits started selecting Clemson. I thought my Daughter that graduated in 2010 had seen the best there was. Now I sit and watch the blessing that the program has been given. Much can be achieved by Faith. As I sat in the stands at Ga Tech game this year and the Tigers eyes lit up on top of the score board and then the tail again wagged the fans around me seemed confused that it could have excited me so much. The Rat hat is now in safe keeping and no longer makes it to the valley and the cow bell the same but I did go down at Levi Stadium and told the fortunate students in the student section the traditions of Rat Season, rat hats, cow bells, having your head shaved, hall hockey, beating the drum, the bon fire, The Country gentleman, the confederate flag, the Tiger, the canon, meeting at the paw, sliding down the hill, Big Thursday. I have gone from sittin in on the hill on the grass on my ### to sittin on the Dock of the Bay watchin the Tide Roll away. Thanks for the memories, Clemson Tigers and Fans.

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CUTIGERTIM
Clemson Rat 1968
Clemson fan forever


Re: To my fellow 50’s and 60’s grads and fans. We are now in, or


Sep 16, 2019, 9:25 PM

You forgot to mention the Band playing "Dixie" on the field before every game.... not all pride and tradition is racism. As LBB might reply - just sayin'.

Go Tigers!!!

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and the bleachers were wooden***


Sep 16, 2019, 8:01 PM



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Re: and the bleachers were wooden


Sep 16, 2019, 8:36 PM

my behind still hurts from those

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