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YOUR BALANCE
Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?
Tiger Boards - Clemson Football
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Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

21

Jun 29, 2025, 9:54 PM
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I was at the Anderson Mall parking lot in 1992 when he approached me in a sweat and asked if I had seen a blue 1989 Ford Tempo. I politely told I had not seen a blue 1989 Ford Tempo and asked if he needed any help. He said, "If you would not mind, I have been walking around this lot for two hours and have not had any luck, would you please drive me around because I am late for a team practice?", I said...

"Sure, hop in", as he looked at me, puzzled. I had to explain that my orange 1969 Dodge Charger had the doors welded shut because it used to be a race-car. He slowly lifted 1 leg over and let out a loud yelp, before awkwardly falling headfirst into the car.

After righting himself, I offered to drive him to practice instead, and that my Charger would get him to Practice on time. As we sped down HWY 93 at a 120 miles per hour with he top down, his hand firmly clamped to his toupee, he yelled, "Do you not worry about getting pulled over driving this speed?" I yelled back that local PD has tried, but all I have to do is veer off road, jump over a lake or a quarry, and generally, I can lose the Sheriff.

When we arrived at practice, He reached into his wallet and handed me what looked like a business card, and waved as he ran off to practice with his shoelaces untied. Later, I realised that it was a valet stub from a Chi-Chi's in Pennsauken NJ, for a Blue Ford Tempo. I remember this like it was yesterday.


Those were simpler times.

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Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

12

Jun 29, 2025, 9:57 PM
Reply

Thanks. That was probably the day he installed the wishbone.

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Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

6

Jun 29, 2025, 10:00 PM
Reply

He must have gotten back from his recruiting visit and forgotten that he left his car in NJ. Those were crazy times to be alive. The younger generation would not get it.

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Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

5

Jun 30, 2025, 8:00 AM
Reply

I believed this yarn until you insinuated Hatfield was in NJ recruiting. Every true Clemson fan knows Hatfield never recruited outside Pickens County.

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I think you mean the "Flex Bone"

5

Jun 30, 2025, 8:16 AM [ in reply to Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield? ]
Reply

what a nightmare! fall was a swift, harsh, snd ongoing decline.

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ALL IN!!


Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

7

Jun 29, 2025, 10:03 PM
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crazy he didn’t know Ford was in Arkansas in 92

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Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

4

Jun 29, 2025, 10:03 PM
Reply

Met him one time up close and that was a IPTAY National meeting in Columbia,during the days when IPTAY had a National gathering that is.Don't remember the year from 1990 to '93 but just remember saying hey and have a good season to him and nothing more than that.

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This made me literally LOL.

5

Jun 29, 2025, 10:03 PM
Reply

.

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Doors welded shut race car with the top down.

4

Jun 29, 2025, 10:05 PM
Reply

A convertible race car, have you ever?

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If it ain"t broke, fix it 'til it is.


Re: Doors welded shut race car with the top down.

4

Jun 29, 2025, 10:07 PM
Reply

i used to be able to run full speed, slide across the hood of the car, and deftly jump into the driver's seat whenever we had to make a moonshine run for Uncle Jesse.

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Hatfield is a good man. He got a raw deal at Clemson.***

1
8

Jun 29, 2025, 10:07 PM
Reply



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"All those 'Fire Brownell' guys can kiss it." -Joseph Girard III

"Everybody needs to know that Coach Brownell is arguably the best coach to come through Clemson." -PJ Hall


He is/was a good man put in a bad position following Ford.

8

Jun 29, 2025, 10:28 PM
Reply

But the thing I had an issue with was that he took the job without having visited Clemson. It seemed more to get away from Arkansas and AD Frank Broyles than wanting to be at Clemson.

The funniest thing I remember from his tenure was at the pep rally before the Citrus Bowl New Years Eve 1991 that I attended. Ed McDaniel got up and started cussing and an assistant had to apologize for it. Hatfield suspended McDaniel for the whole first quarter lol. It didn't help that we lost to Cal 37-13.

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If you aint Clemson you aint shhii

4

Jun 29, 2025, 10:55 PM
Reply

Well you know. Stood on a stage rhythmically repeating it over and over. It was an embarrassing moment for sure.

Maybe it was because he had to follow Danny Ford and his legendary ways, I don’t know, but the players absolutely did not respect Hatfield as a coach. He was not a good motivator either.

I think the real Ken Hatfield became evident and the game had passed him by. The wishbone was pretty much dead. He went to Rice and ended up not doing well (55-78) before retiring.

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Re: If you aint Clemson you aint shhii

4

Jun 29, 2025, 11:01 PM
Reply



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Re: If you aint Clemson you aint shhii

6

Jun 30, 2025, 8:06 AM
Reply

Hatfield had some awful teams at Rice, after torpedoing Clemson football……
A really good man, but an awful coach!

Dumbest move of all time for Clemson football, 🏈 was letting Danny Ford go! Left us wandering in the wilderness for almost 20 years……

Dabo finally saved us, and we need him to stay until he retires in 20+ years…..
A bad year with Dabo is better than a good year with some of our other coaches since 1970…..

Go Tigers! Beat LSU!

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You can say that again! Oh ... never mind.***

3

Jun 30, 2025, 9:03 AM
Reply



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Above all else, love and forgive. Understand that people who disagree with you are not necessarily idiots or your enemies. Respect the wisdom of the founding fathers and individual rights and freedoms. Always see the beauty and humor in life.


Re: If you aint Clemson you aint shhii

3

Jun 30, 2025, 8:06 AM [ in reply to Re: If you aint Clemson you aint shhii ]
Reply

Hatfield had some awful teams at Rice, after torpedoing Clemson football……
A really good man, but an awful coach!

Dumbest move of all time for Clemson football, 🏈 was letting Danny Ford go! Left us wandering in the wilderness for almost 20 years……

Dabo finally saved us, and we need him to stay until he retires in 20+ years…..
A bad year with Dabo is better than a good year with some of our other coaches since 1970…..

Go Tigers! Beat LSU!

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You can blame Danny for Danny being let go.

1
1

Jun 30, 2025, 10:25 AM
Reply

Having public feuds with your boss is never a good strategy.

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"All those 'Fire Brownell' guys can kiss it." -Joseph Girard III

"Everybody needs to know that Coach Brownell is arguably the best coach to come through Clemson." -PJ Hall


Re: He is/was a good man put in a bad position following Ford.

5

Jun 29, 2025, 11:13 PM [ in reply to He is/was a good man put in a bad position following Ford. ]
Reply

I remember that game. Clemson wore purple jerseys for the second time. I remember when they first appeared at the top of the hill in them against Nancy State.

The purple jersey/ white pant is our sharpest look. The all Barney look (purple jersey & pants) looks awful.

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Troll on, troll.

2
1

Jun 29, 2025, 10:46 PM [ in reply to Hatfield is a good man. He got a raw deal at Clemson.*** ]
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No shame. None at all. Like a petulant child, really.

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If it were up to you he would have retired from Clemson last year.

6

Jun 30, 2025, 7:29 AM [ in reply to Hatfield is a good man. He got a raw deal at Clemson.*** ]
Reply

as the winningest coach in Clemson football history.

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You keep proving you don't know jack about Clemson football

2

Jun 30, 2025, 8:36 AM [ in reply to Hatfield is a good man. He got a raw deal at Clemson.*** ]
Reply

Hatfield only severed recruiting ties to pretty much our entire recruiting footprint and our strength and conditioning department went to ####.

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I never said that he did everything right.

1
1

Jun 30, 2025, 10:30 AM
Reply

As I've said many times, I don't think he was the right coach for us. The decision to hire him was made in haste. There were better coaches we could've gotten.

Regardless, he was treated like crap from the first moment he stepped on campus. He was greeted by hundreds of "fans" standing outside the stadium, booing when he arrived for his introductory press conference. Boosters actively recruited against him, telling recruits to go elsewhere. I understand that people were upset about Danny leaving, but the inability for many fans to grow up and be adults and move forward was striking.

To this day, many people still aren't over something that happened over 30 years ago. That is unbelievable to me.

I bet you are one of those people.

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"All those 'Fire Brownell' guys can kiss it." -Joseph Girard III

"Everybody needs to know that Coach Brownell is arguably the best coach to come through Clemson." -PJ Hall


Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

6

Jun 29, 2025, 10:09 PM
Reply

I used to see him up Tiger Tails almost daily talking Jaeger Bombs and getting lap dances. He was wild.



Nah...never met him. Doesn't seem like he would be very interesting. Probably about as interesting as his offense.

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I heard that he was a good man

8

Jun 29, 2025, 10:11 PM
Reply

and got a raw deal at Clemson.

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Re: I heard that he was a good man

5

Jun 29, 2025, 10:15 PM
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I am sure he was.

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Re: I heard that he was a good man

6

Jun 29, 2025, 10:22 PM
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and Clemson did get a raw deal when he was selected to come Tigertown.

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Ah yes, ol TigerTails..

3

Jun 29, 2025, 11:00 PM [ in reply to Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield? ]
Reply

Top notch entertainment for sure.

Across the way from Betty’s Lounge. Open all night with beer and pool. Always there as a backup to end a night on the town. Was a nice little spot until someone got shot there. Betty’s Lounge closed ☹️

Thanks for those memories

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Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

6

Jun 29, 2025, 10:17 PM
Reply

I dozed off in church and came within a couple of inches of falling over and hitting him on the head.

True story. I was working full-time and taking some classes 3 nights a week.

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"It is not part of a true culture to tame tigers any more than it is to make sheep ferocious."
--Henry David Thoreau


Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

6

Jun 29, 2025, 10:53 PM
Reply

I met and talked with Hatfield at several different IPTAY meetings, and those were frustrating experiences. He was always friendly, but when I asked him questions, his answers were never related to my questions.

If I asked him how one of his OLs was progressing, he would respond that the entire OL was was going to be great that year and never mention the player I questioned. He usually walked away after several questions. One of my young sons would comment, "Dad, he didn't answer any of your questions."

I really wanted him to be successful at Clemson, but after the 1992 disaster, it was evident that it was not going to happen.

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Similar. Zero charisma.

5

Jun 29, 2025, 11:07 PM
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He was a good Christian man though. Seriously.

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Re: Similar. Zero charisma.

4

Jun 29, 2025, 11:16 PM
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Yep. I have a signed pic of him and my dad on the golf course. He always signed with a Bible verse.

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Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

4

Jun 29, 2025, 11:51 PM [ in reply to Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield? ]
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He was a good man, but I was not a big fan of his coaching.

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"It is not part of a true culture to tame tigers any more than it is to make sheep ferocious."
--Henry David Thoreau


He was friends with my uncle from his days at Air Force

7

Jun 29, 2025, 10:31 PM
Reply

Met him a few times. Always nice to me.

Probably should have stayed at USAFA

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This sounds made up. I dont believe you.

4

Jun 29, 2025, 10:46 PM
Reply

🤣

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chatted with him in the elevator at the team hotel in Orlando, day before the

8

Jun 30, 2025, 12:04 AM
Reply

embarrassing Citrus Bowl debacle against Cal. Seemed like a nice guy, but no Danny Ford, obviously.
Which was Max Lennon (spit) and Bobby Robinson's whole point.

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"Anybody that says Coach Brownell is the best coach to come through Clemson is going to start an argument." -JP Hall


Re: chatted with him in the elevator at the team hotel in Orlando, day before the

5

Jun 30, 2025, 7:59 AM
Reply

I met Max Lennon walking across campus one time by the amphitheater. He was no Ken Hatfield.

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Danny knew exactly what other big-time football schools were doing, and

4

Jun 30, 2025, 9:15 AM [ in reply to chatted with him in the elevator at the team hotel in Orlando, day before the ]
Reply

knew exactly what we needed to stay competitive at that level. He probably got a little too big for his britches, but he was right and ultimately lost a pissing contest with Max Lennon. The powers that be made choices and we suffered the consequences.

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Above all else, love and forgive. Understand that people who disagree with you are not necessarily idiots or your enemies. Respect the wisdom of the founding fathers and individual rights and freedoms. Always see the beauty and humor in life.


Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

5

Jun 30, 2025, 6:43 AM
Reply

Did you know who that sheriff answered to? I met him once, this short fat guy with a white suit and fancy white hat. Angry little fellow, but he knew what he wanted out of that sheriff’s department. Looking back, maybe he was really constipated.

I’m glad you were always able to get away from them.

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Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

3

Jun 30, 2025, 6:53 AM
Reply

Yeah raised hand, always met him during fan appreciation day .. just like Frank Howard, Danny , Tommy West , and TB....
He was shorter then I thought!!
Go Tigers!! 💪💪

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Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

4

Jun 30, 2025, 8:03 AM
Reply

There was only one reason, and one reason only, for anyone to be near the Anderson Mall in 92'. The fried cheese sticks at Applebees.

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Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

3

Jun 30, 2025, 9:36 AM
Reply

Regrettably. I was at a Sandy Springs (SC) furniture store in 1992 the Friday before the NC State game. About 4:30pm. I had purchased a couch, loveseat, and "modern" dining room set. The owner is writing up my order when Mr. & Ms. Hatfield walk in. My first thought was..."Don't we have a big game tomorrow? Shouldn't you be somewhere preparing?"

The owner passes my paperwork off to an assistant and he rushes over to assist the lovely couple. About 10 minutes pass and I has just handed to sales girl my check and was working out delivery instructions for Saturday morning. The owner omes over and tells me "Coach" wants the same table I just bought and would I be willing to let him order me the same table so "Coach" can have this one for his house immediately. I replied that I bought the table because I needed it and he could order one for "Coach" same as he could order one for me. (Meanwhile..."Coach" and wife are standing back at a distance watching the onversation and "Coach" has his head pulled down in his jacket sort of like a turtle.)

The owner walked over to "Coach" and shared the disappointing news. Words were exchanged. The owner comes back and says "Coach said he would really consider it a personal favor if I would give up the table." I told the owner I would be glad to cancel my purchase of everything and to never come here again (I had purchased quite a bit there in the previous weeks for myself and my mother), but I was not going to wait weeks for the same table just so "Coach" didn't have to. The owner informed the HAtfield's and they left his premises as he followed them out the door offering a number of apologies.

I found the whole experience very unpleasant. We had already lost to FSU and GA Tech. And we went on to lose that NC State game that I recall was shrouded in purple. It just seemed to me to be an odd time for a coach to be out shopping for furniture.

Hatfield later was asked if he would leave Clemson. He said he would leave "...when God tells me to leave..." Between you, me, and everyone else...I know for a fact that Hatfield later received a letter from "God" that told him his work at Clemson was finished!

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Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

3

Jun 30, 2025, 9:51 AM
Reply

So if you had given up the table we would have beaten State? Way to take one for the team.

BTW,do you still have that table?

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Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

2

Jun 30, 2025, 10:31 AM
Reply

Nope. It departed with the former Ms. The Mole.

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Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

1

Jun 30, 2025, 11:54 AM
Reply

Sorry for your loss. Sounds like it was a great table.

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Re: Put your hand up if you have ever met Kenny Hatfield?

1

Jun 30, 2025, 12:00 PM
Reply

i did

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Thank you for sharing.

1

Jun 30, 2025, 12:25 PM
Reply

null


Message was edited by: Francis Marion®


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"I've played multiple sports and would bet any amount that I'm still more athletic than you at this present time...."


Replies: 46
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Tiger Boards - Clemson Football
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