On This Date: 1980 Clemson - 13 Virginia Tech - 10

Oct 4, 2023, 8:54 AM

10/4/1980
Clemson, SC

Clemson Historian Sam Blackman explains how the '80 CU/VT game in Death Valley helped mold the CFB world:

“One game that really sticks out in my mind was in 1980. It was homecoming at Clemson, and as you can imagine, the crowd was very, very loud,” says Blackman. “Obed Ariri kicked a field goal in the fourth quarter to make it 13-7, Clemson was winning. Virginia Tech drove down to the Clemson one yard line in the fourth quarter. On the first try, on first and goal from the one, there was no gain. The Clemson defense was very stubborn. Second and third down, same result, no gain.”

The Clemson crowd, at a full roar, would help out their Tigers on fourth and goal, says Blackman.

“On fourth down, the crowd got so loud, and Virginia Tech was going to go for it. But there was so much noise, the Virginia Tech quarterback looked at the referee and said they can’t hear. So they went back to the huddle. They did this not once, not twice, but four times they did this. And that fourth time, well they charged Clemson a timeout. And then on that fourth time, the guard for Virginia Tech, Gary Smith, thought they were going back to the huddle. So he stood up, and this drew the Clemson defenders. They called illegal procedure against Virginia Tech, which backed them up five yards and they had to settle for a field goal. Clemson went on to win the game 13-10...if there was a way, everyone in that crowd should have gotten a game ball.”

Blackman then explained that this game was the basis for a new “crowd noise” rule throughout college football.

“Because of that, they passed some rules saying that too much of this noise business and they’re going to penalize the whole team fifteen yards. But that must be off the books now, because they never call that.”

Once upon a time, the 12th man for Clemson was so fierce that they single-handedly caused a team to get a crushing penalty and changed the rules of college football. Now that’s a home field advantage, and a significant one Clemson still holds today. Just as long as no more noise rules get passed.

(taken from an article on Clemsonsportstalk.com by Lowell Aydlette "Darkness & The 12th Man, A Look at the History of Clemson and Virginia Tech)