The 1965 season got off to a good start at home with a win over NC State. On their second series, the Tigers moved the ball 75 yards in 13 plays, with Thomas Ray scoring from two yards out.
While NC State took advantage of a Clemson fumble to score a tying touchdown after a 26-yard drive in the second quarter, the Tigers’ steady play in the second half netted a second touchdown by Ray from the five and a diving score from the two by fullback Bo Ruffner. The final score was Clemson 21, NC State 7.
The 1965 Tigers featured four First-Team All-ACC players in Johnny Boyette (OT), Bill Hecht (LB), Hugh Mauldin (TB) and Butch Sursavage (DE). Sursavage was just the third sophomore in school history to be named First-Team All-ACC. Thomas Ray would be named the team's MVP
Clemson and NC State would go on to share the 1965 ACC Title.
My first Textile Bowl bowl was the 1967 iteration. I was 18 and a high school senior in Charlotte. One of my friend’s father was a NC State engineering grad (manager with Rea construction back then) and the friend later graduated from NC State himself. My father was Clemson 1941. So, a little rivalry there!
We drove down to Clemson in his 1957 Plymouth (with the big tailfins!) and were able to watch the game from the hill. Got to see Jimmy “the needle” Addison and Buddy Gore beat the Wolfpack 14 to 6. Great memories!
Fast-forward 57 years later and I’m taking my son (Clemson 2000) to the game Saturday. Expecting to see yet another Clemson victory.