On This Date: 1994 Clemson- 28 (17)North Carolina- 17

Nov 5, 2024, 9:21 AM

11/05/1994
Chapel Hill, NC

Tigers Upset UNC in Chapel Hill 28-17

(from tigerillustrated.com)

The ‘94 Tigers were not very good. The Hatfield marriage, which was doomed from the start, ended after the win over U of SC in Columbia the year before. Clemson’s penny pinching was never more evident than when it went with largely unproven and unknown Tommy West as the new head coach. It was an attempt to reconnect some with the Ford era as West had been a Ford assistant, but in my mind (and many others’ minds), it was like saying you love Kate Upton but you married her third cousin twice removed who really doesn’t look anything like her.

West came in to what was an almost entirely depleted roster, especially on offense, and the Tigers were rolling out true freshmen at quarterback, running back, full back, and wide receiver...and these guys were not Trevor Lawrence or Justyn Ross. West worked to get the program tougher, and that was evident whenever the team was totally outclassed but kept things from getting ugly (like 93 down in Tallahassee when they only lost 17-0).

Florida State’s entry in the ACC created some scheduling quirks which forced Clemson to play the two teams who beat the brakes off of them on the road in 1993, Florida State and North Carolina, on the road back-to-back years. Thanks ACC! Clemson faced Mack Brown’s now relevant North Carolina team which had emerged as the second best program in the conference behind the Seminoles. Clemson came into this game 2-5, with the two wins coming over Furman and a very bad Maryland team who would finish 4-7 that year.

The Tarheels were ranked 19th and there was little to no hope that the Tigers could go in and win, however, an offense that hadn’t topped 27 points all season put up four touchdowns behind a big game from running back Lamont Pegues and took out the ‘Heels 28-17, breathing a little life into the season.

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On This Date: 1994 Clemson- 28 (17)North Carolina- 17

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