CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Clemson vs Boston College Game Notes

Clemson vs Boston College Game Notes


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Saturday, September 9, 2006

Kickoff: 3:30 PM

Alumni Stadium (44,500)

Sold Out

Television: ABC

Play by Play: Mark Jones

Color: David Norrie

Sideline: Stacey Dales

Clemson Radio Network

Play by Play: Pete Yanity

Color Commentator: Will Merritt

Sideline: Chad Carson

Series History:

Clemson Leads 7-6-2

last Meeting: BC, 16-13 in OT, 2005


Clemson Personnel Update

•Tramaine Billie (LB)--Starting linebacker who

suffered a broken foot in practice in August. Out

for at least first five games.

•Jamarcus Grant (OT) Reserve red-shirt

freshman lineman who suffered a broken foot

during summer weight training.

•Anthony Waters (LB)--Starting linebacker out

for season with torn ACL suffered in opening

game against FAU.

•Roman Fry (OG)--Starting offensive guard

sprained knee, questionable for BC.

*Nathan Bennett (OG)--Starting offensive

guard, sprained ankle, questionable for BC.

*Rashaad Jackson (DT)--Sprained knee vs.

FAU, questionable for BC.

Clemson vs. Boston College Series

•Clemson holds a 7-6-2 advantage in

the series with Boston College, a series that

dates to the 1939 season and the January 1,

1940 Cotton Bowl. That was a landmark

victory for the Clemson program, the school’s

first bowl game and the school’s first ever win

over a top 20 team. Boston College was

ranked 11th in the nation entering the game.

Clemson won 6-3 behind 115 yards rushing

from Charlie Timmons and four pass deflections

in the fourth quarter by Clemson legend Banks

McFadden.

•This will be the 16th meeting between

Clemson and Boston College. Only Miami (FL)

has played Boston College more among ACC

teams entering this year.

•Two of Clemson’s victories in the

series took place during undefeated Tiger

seasons. Clemson won 26-19 in 1948 on the

way to a perfect 11-0 season, and won 35-14 in

1950 on the way to a 9-0-1 season.

•The last meeting between Clemson

and Boston College in Boston took place in

1983, a 31-16 Eagles victory. Clemson had a

16-3 lead with 25 minutes left in the game, but

the Eagles went on a 28-0 run to end the game

behind Doug Flutie. Flutie was 20-36 for 223

yards and two touchdowns against a Clemson

efense that featured All-American William

Perry. The Eagles gained 504 yards of total

offense on the night, 281 rushing and 223

passing. It was Clemson’s only loss in 1983 (9-

1-1).

•The two teams tied in a 1982 game

in Death Valley. The game was televised by

CBS on a regional basis, the first CBS

broadcast from Clemson Memorial Stadium.

Clemson had a 14-0 lead at intermission, but

sophomore quarterback Doug Flutie led Boston

College back to take a 17-14 lead. The Tigers

tied the game in the fourth quarter, then had a

43-yard attempt with eight seconds left to win,

but Donald Igwebuike’s field goal drifted left and

the game ended in a 17-17 tie.

Clemson won the total offense battle

370-343. The Tigers had 218 yards rushing led

by Cliff Austin, who had 20-94. Flutie was 18-

35 for 242 yards and a touchdown. Clemson’s

Homer Jordan was 13-25 for 152 yards. Frank

Magwood led Clemson receivers with 103

yards on six catches, the only 100-yard

receiving game of his Clemson career.

•Clemson had just two losses and two

ties over a three-year period from 1981-83. One

of the losses and one of the ties came against

Boston College in that 1982-83 period.

•Last season’s overtime meeting, a

16-13 Boston College victory, was the first

between the two schools as an ACC matchup.

The game was tied 10-10 at the end of

regulation.

•Clemson has not beaten Boston

College since 1958, a 34-12 victory at Clemson.

Boston College has a 3-0-1 lead in the last four

games that have been played since that Tiger

victory.

•The two teams played three games

at famed Fenway Park in Boston, the home of

the Boston Red Sox. Clemson won the first

meeting there in 1941 by a 26-13 score. The

same two teams met at Fenway the following

year, and Boston College won 14-7. The two

teams played to a 14-14 tie in 1953 at Fenway.

So the series stands at 1-1-1 in games played

at Fenway Park. The two teams also played at

Braves Field in Boston, then the home of the

National League’s Boston Braves (now the

Atlanta Braves). Clemson had a 3-1

advantage in games played at Braves Field all

between 1942-52.

•The series is tied 2-2-1 in games

played at Clemson. The series is tied 4-4-1 in

the nine games played in the city of Boston.

Last Year vs. Boston College

Boston College 16, Clemson 13

September 24, 2005 at Clemson, SC

Making its first trip to Death Valley

since 1982 and playing its first road game as a

member of the ACC, #25 (USA Today) Boston

College outlasted Clemson in overtime, 16-13.

After winning its first five overtime games since

the NCAA adopted the rule in 1996, the Tigers

lost in extra time for the second straight week.

Clemson had lost to Miami (FL) in triple

overtime, 36-30 the previous week.

After the Tigers were forced to punt to

open the game, the Eagles moved the ball 33

yards in seven plays to set up the first points of

the day. Ryan Ohliger connected on a 33-yard

field goal to give Boston College an early lead.

The Eagle defense again forced

Clemson into a three-and-out, and quarterback

Matt Ryan completed four straight passes to move

the ball to the Tiger seven. However, Ryan’s fifth

pass of the drive was intercepted in the endzone

by Jamaal Fudge.

The Tigers could only move three

yards in three plays and punted again, and

Boston College started its third drive of the day

from its own 36.

This time, Ryan completed six straight

passes, and Andre Callender had an 18-yard run

down to the one-yard line. Ryan dove over on a

quarterback sneak to cap an 11-play, 64-yard

scoring drive, giving the Eagles a 10-0 lead.

Clemson quickly answered with a

scoring drive of its own. James Davis ran for 39

yards on three carries, and Charlie Whitehurst

completed two passes to tight end Thomas

Hunter. A third-down sack prevented the Tigers

from scoring a touchdown, but Jad Dean made a

36-yard field goal for Clemson’s first points of the

day.

A holding call helped move the Boston

College offense backwards on its next drive, and

Clemson took over at its own 36 after a punt.

Reggie Merriweather then got in on the

action by carrying four times for 37 yards on a

drive that was capped by a one-yard sneak by

Whitehurst. The extra point by Dean tied the score

10-10. Clemson had 75 yards rushing in the

second quarter against an Eagle defense that was

ranked third in the nation against the run entering

the game.

Both teams had plenty of opportunities

over the remainder of the game, but there was no

scoring. Boston College had the last drive.

Boston College got the ball back with 22 seconds

left. Ryan hit Miller for a 29-yard completion into

Clemson territory, but Tye Hill intercepted Ryan

two plays later to send the game into overtime.

Just as they were the last time the two

met in Death Valley in 1982, Clemson and Boston

College were tied after 60 minutes of play.

The Tigers went on offense first in overtime,

and Whitehurst hit Aaron Kelly for a first down.

But Clemson could not get closer than the

Eagle six-yard line. Dean booted a 24-yard

field goal to the Tigers their first lead of the day

by a score of 13-10.

On Boston College’s drive, Ryan hit

Larry Lester for 10 yards on third down. Callender,

who totaled 116 yards on 22 carries, followed with

a 10-yard run down to the one-yard line, and two

plays later, Brian Toal scored from one-yard out

to give the Eagles the win 16-13.

The Eagles ran 90 plays to the Tigers’

57 and out-gained Clemson 385-251. Boston

College also won the time-of-possession battle

(35:42 to 24:18) and converted 10 of 20 third

downs, while the Tigers were 0-11 on third downs.

It was the first time in recorded history (since

1978) that Clemson went an entire game without

a converted third down.

Anthony Waters led the defense with

14 tackles, while Tramaine Billie added 13

stops. Jackson also had two of the team’s four

tackles for loss.

Clemson Veterans versus Boston College

Gaines Adams (Ban )- Started and played 61

snaps with 4 tackles in 2005 overtime game.

Tremaine Billie (LB)- Started and played 55

snaps with 13 tackles

Duane Coleman (CB)- had 4 tackles in 19

plays as a reserve in 2005

Cole Chason (P )- Started while punting 3

times for a 38.3 average

James Davis (RB)-starter who rushed 8 times

for 44 yards with a 5.5 average

Jad Dean (K)- Had a perfect 2-2 day making

field goals from 36 and 24, while contributing 7

points in the overtime loss in 2005

CJ Gaddis (CB)-starter at safety last year

playing in 79 plays with 11 tackles.

Sergio Gilliam (CB)-logged 79 snaps as a

starter with 4 tackles and 1 pass break up

Micheal Hamlin (S)- Played 25 snaps as a

reserve in 2005 with 4 tackles

Aaron Kelly (WR)- The red-shirt freshmen who

caught 5 passes for 38 yards in 2005

Chansi Stuckey (WR)-starter who played 30

snaps while contributing 2 catches for 7 yards

in 2005

Anthony Waters (LB )- Logged 65 snaps in

2005 with team best 14 tackles including 1

tackle for loss

Nick Watkins (LB)-Had 7 tackles in 64 plays

in 2005

Waters Has Torn ACL

Clemson senior linebacker Anthony

Waters, the Tigers top tackler in 2005 and the

ACC’s top returning tackler for 2006, suffered a

torn ACL during Clemson’s 54-6 victory over

Florida Atlantic and will be lost for the season.

An MRI revealed that Waters has a torn ACL

and he will have surgery sometime within the

next three weeks. Waters is a fifth year senior

who does not have another year of eligibility.

In January, Waters had contemplated

turning professional, but decided to return to

Clemson and finish requirements towards his

degree. He is finished with his class work and

only needs to complete an internship to receive

his degree in December.

“This is certainly a major loss for our

football team,” said Clemson Head Coach

Tommy Bowden. “We have now lost two

starting linebackers (Tramaine Billie is the

other).

“Anthony is a terrific player. I am

confident we will have players who will respond.

But we can’t replace his leadership, experience

and intensity. Everyone knows how hard he

has worked in preparation for his senior year.

He will come back from this. His career as a

football player is not over.”

Waters led Clemson in tackles in

2005 with 109, including 13.5 tackles for loss

and one sack. He added seven passes broken

up. The native of Lake View, SC was listed as

a first-team preseason All-American by Phil

Steele, a second-team All-American by Street &

Smith and The Sporting News.

He was also listed on the preseason

award list for the Bronko Nagurski Award and

the Butkus Award. He was ranked as the #2

linebacker in the nation by Phil Steele and the

#6 linebacker in the nation by Scout.com

entering the 2006 season.

“This is difficult to accept with this

being my senior year,” said Waters. “I will just

have to do whatever I can to help this team

from the sidelines from a leadership standpoint

this year.

“Many players have come back from

this injury to play again. I look at some of my

current teammates who have gone through this

injury (Donnell Clark), and see players from

other ACC schools, like Antonio Cromartie

(Florida State) who overcame the same injury to

become a first-round draft choice just last year.

“I am just leaving everything in God’s

hands at this point.”

Clemson’s top Two Tacklers vs. BC in 2005

are Injured

Clemson’s top two tacklers from last

year’s overtime battle with Boston College were

suppose to return to play against the Eagles

this year. However, both Anthony Waters and

Tramaine Billie will miss the Boston College

game in Boston this weekend due to injury.

Billie suffered a broken foot in

practice in mid-August and he is still on

crutches after having foot surgery. Waters

suffered a torn ACL in the season opener

against Florida Atlantic on September 2. A

year ago, Waters led Clemson in tackles with a

career high 14 against the Eagles, while Billie

added 13 stops to rank second that day.

Clemson had the top returning trio in

the ACC in terms of tackles by returning

linebackers, but two-thirds of that group are

now out. Waters had 109 tackles at middle

linebacker to lead Clemson last year. Nick

Watkins was second on the team with 99 and

he is still starting at a linebacker position.

Billie, Clemson’s third leading tackler last year

with 93, is also out, as stated above. So two of

Clemson’s top three returning tacklers from last

year will miss the Boston College game and

probably the entire season.

This leaves Clemson with a very

young defense. Clemson’s probable starting

lineup on defense will have just two seniors,

Gaines Adams and Duane Coleman, and just

three returning starters from last year, Adams, Watkins and CAT safety

Michael Hamlin.

Despite the youth, Clemson had a strong performance on

defense to open the season. The Tigers did not allow a touchdown, held

Florida Atlantic to 263 yards and just 47 yards rushing. The defense also

forced four turnovers.

Davis Needs 27 Yards for 1000

Clemson sophomore James Davis is already closing in on the

1,000-yard mark for his Tiger career. The native of Atlanta, GA has 973

yards for his 12-game career and obviously needs just 27 yards to reach

the 1000-yard mark.

Chances are, Davis will accomplish the feat in his 13th game,

making him the fourth fastest to 1,000-yards in terms of games played

are concerned. Ronald Williams, who played for the Tigers from 1990-

92, Terry Allen, who played from 1987-89, and Ray Yauger, a Tiger from

1968-70, all reached 1000 yards in 12 games.

However, Davis can still break a record for swiftness to 1,000

yards in terms of carries. Heading into the Boston College game, Davis

has 179 carries for his 973 yards. The record for the fewest carries to

reach 1,000 yards in Clemson history is 185, set by Ronald Williams. So,

if Williams can get to 27 yards in his first five attempts on Saturday, he

will set the record.

Davis would have tied the record for fewest games played to

reach 1000 yards had he not played at Georgia Tech last year. Coming

off a broken wrist suffered at NC State two weeks previously, he played

one play at Tech so he was charged with a game played.

Quickest to 1,000-yards Rushing


				Career Games   Carries 

Rk Players Years Yards to 1000 to 1000

1. Ronald Williams 1990-92 1824 12 185

2. Terry Allen 1987-89 2778 12 187

3. Ray Yauger 1968-70 2439 12 202

4. Buddy Gore 1966-68 2571 14

5. Billy Hair 1950-52 1579 15

6. Fred Cone 1948-50 2172 18

Harold Goggins 1975-78 1377 18

8. Stacey Driver 1982-85 2293 19

Ken Callicutt 1973-77 2256 19

10.Joel Wells 1954-56 1937 20

Soon to join list

James Davis 2005-06 973 12

Merriweather Goes over 1500 Yards

Clemson senior running back Reggie Merriweather had nine

carries for 75 yards and a touchdown in the win over Florida Atlantic.

With the 75 yards, the native of North Augusta, SC went over the 1500

yard mark for his career. He now has 1516 for his career and needs

just 30 more to move into the top 25 in Clemson history. Charlie

Timmons is currently 25th with 1545.

Merriweather averaged 8.3 yards per carry for the season

opener against Florida Atlantic, his best performance on a yards per

carry basis since he had 8-90 against Georgia Tech in 2004. That was

an 11.3 average. Merriweather’s touchdown against Florida Atlantic was

the 19th of his career, all of have been rushing. He is also in the top 25 in

Clemson history in total touchdowns scored.

Stuckey Needs Four Receptions for 100

Clemson graduate wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, the ACC’s

top receiver a year ago, had five receptions for 66 yards and a

touchdown in the season opening victory over Florida Atlantic. It gives

him 96 receptions for his career for 1126 yards and five touchdowns.

Stuckey obviously needs just four receptions to become the

12th player in Clemson history to have 100 catches for a career. That is

quite an accomplishment considering Stuckey didn’t move to wide

receiver until the opening game of the 2004 season. He was a

quarterback his first two seasons at Clemson.

Stuckey’s 96 receptions are now 13th in school history and his

1126 yards rank 19th . He needs just 41 receiving yards at Boston

College to go ahead of Charlie Waters into 18th place on the all-time

Clemson list. There is irony there in that 41 was Waters’s number in the

NFL with the Dallas Cowboys.

Stuckey has now caught at least one pass in 22 straight

games, or every game he has played at Clemson as a wide receiver.

He caught his fifth touchdown pass as a Tiger in the win over Florida

Atlantic, a 30-yard aerial from Will Proctor. Stuckey did not catch a

touchdown pass in his first 17 games as a wide receiver and now has

five in his last five games. He had two apiece against Duke and Florida

State in consecutive games last year, the first Clemson player in history

to have multiple touchdown receptions in consecutive games.

Clemson Career Reception Leaders


Rk Player   		Years 	Yrds Avg  TD Rec 

1. Derrick Hamilton 2001-03 2312 13.8 16 167

2. Rod Gardner 1997-00 2498 15.0 13 166

3. Terry Smith 1990-03 2681 16.5 15 162

4. Perry Tuttle 1978-81 2534 16.9 17 150

5. Kevin Youngblood 2000-03 1713 12.1 6 142

6. Jerry Butler 1975-78 2223 16.0 11 139

7. Brian Wofford 1996-99 1857 13.5 13 138

8. Airese Currie 2001-04 2030 14.7 10 138

9. Tony Horne 1994-97 1750 14.6 13 120

10.Phil Rogers 1965-67 1469 13.9 5 106

11.Travis Zachery 1998-01 1057 10.1 9 105

12.Mal Lawyer 1996-99 1255 12.7 9 99

13.Chansi Stuckey 2003-06 1126 11.7 5 96

Stuckey is Walter Johnson of Clemson Football

Chansi Stuckey is the Walter Johnson of Clemson football.

Johnson holds the Major League baseball record for wins on Opening

Day with nine during his Hall of Fame career in the early stages of the

20th Century.

Stuckey has played well in season openers each of the last

three years. He continued the streak in the 2006 opener against Florida

Atlantic when he had 5-66 receiving, including a 30-yard touchdown

reception.

In the 2005 win over Texas A&M to open the season, Stuckey

scored Clemson’s only touchdown on a 47-yard punt return in the first

half. The junior wide receiver also had 3-50 receiving and three yards

rushing, giving him 106 all-purpose yards for the game, second on the

Clemson team behind James Davis’s 107.

Stuckey also had a great game on opening day in 2004

against Wake Forest. The native of Warner Robbins, GA had a career

high eight catches for 112 receiving yards. He also had 10 yards

rushing, three punt return yards, a blocked punt, and a key block on

Justin Miller’s 69-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Ford Sets Punt Return Record in Opener

Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden was looking for a game

breaker as a kicker returner during the recruiting season and it looks like

he found one in first-year freshman Jacoby Ford. In his first ever game

as a Tiger and on his second career punt return, Ford raced 92 yards for

a touchdown, the longest punt return in Clemson history.

Ford broke one of the oldest records in the Clemson media

guide. The previous record for the longest punt return was 90 yards.

Shad Bryant had a 90-yard punt return against VMI in a game at

Charlotte in 1938 and Bobby Gage ran the same distance against NC

State in a 6-0 Clemson victory in 1948.

Ford also had two kickoff returns for 44 yards in the game,

giving him 138 return yards for the opener. Ford’s punt return for a score

was the sixth by Clemson in the eight years of the Tommy Bowden era,

and it marked the third consecutive season opener that Clemson has

returned a punt for a touchdown. Justin Miller did it against Wake Forest

in 2004 and Chansi Stuckey did it against Texas A&M in 2005.

Clemson had just four punt returns for a score in the 28

seasons prior to Tommy Bowden’s arrival (1971-98), but now has six in

the Bowden era (eight years). Clemson went 17 years without a punt

return for a score between 1970-87.

Tigers Score Twice on Returns

Clemson had two returns for touchdowns in the victory over

Florida Atlantic. Freshman Jacoby Ford raced 92 yards for a touchdown

on a punt return in the fourth period and senior Sergio Gilliam raced 31

yards for a touchdown on a fumble return. In fact, the two returns came

just 4:31 apart and accounted for Clemson’s last two scores of the game.

Clemson’s offense was not on the field over the last 6:48 because of the

two returns.

This marked the seventh time in Clemson history that the

Tigers have had two returns for touchdown in the same game. The last

time it took place was 2004 when Justin Miller tied an NCAA record with

two kickoff returns for scores at Florida State.

Clemson scored a touchdown on special teams, one on

defense and five on offense in Saturday’s win over Florida Atlantic. That

marked the first time since the 1997 South Carolina game that Clemson

had scored at least one touchdown in all three phases of the game

(offense, defense and special teams).

The other games Clemson has scored two touchdowns via

return in the same game are 1954 vs. Citadel (when Walt Laraway

scored on an interception return and a blocked punt return), 1970 at

Maryland, 1987 vs. Georgia Tech, and 1990 vs. Long Beach State.

Hamlin Returns Interception 74 Yards

While Clemson scored a touchdown on a punt return and a

fumble return, Clemson almost had the return triple with an interception

return for a score. Sophomore safety Michael Hamlin had a 74-yard

interception return in the first half. He actually scored on the play, but an

illegal block in the back was called on a Clemson player on the return at

the FAU 20. Had the penalty not been called, the 94-yard return would

have tied the all-time Clemson record for the longest interception return.

Hamlin had quite a day as he also had a fumble recovery in the

game, giving him two takeaways on the day. He had just two all of last

season so he has already reached his entire 2005 season total.

Hamlin’s 74-yard interception return contributed to Clemson’s

222 return yards on the day, most in the Tommy Bowden era. The Tigers

had 74 yards on interceptions returns, 31 on fumble returns and 117 on

punt returns. The punt return yards were the most by a Clemson team

since the Tigers had 130 against Georgia Tech in 2000, a game

Clemson lost 31-28.

Saturday’s 222 return yards were the most by a Clemson team

since the Tigers had 227 against Georgia Tech in 1987. All 227 were on

punt returns in that game. The only other game on record in which

Clemson had more return yards was in 1970 when the Tigers had 223

return yards in a game against Maryland. All 223 were recorded by Don

Kelley, who had 167 on punt returns and 56 on interception returns in

that game.

Clemson had just 375 return yards (punt, interception and

fumble) all of last year and had 222 in the opener of 2006.

Proctor Off to Strong Start

Clemson quarterback Will Proctor got off to a strong start to his

final season in the win over Florida Atlantic. Proctor completed 13-20

passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns in the 48-point victory.

Proctor’s passing efficiency of 173 was the best by a Clemson player in

an opener since Woody Dantzler had a 247 rating against The Citadel in

the opener o the 2000 season. That was also the last time a Clemson

quarterback threw three touchdown passes in a season opener.

In two games as a starter, Proctor is now 26-41 for 367 yards

and five touchdowns. He has through just one interception in his two

starts.

Tigers Score 54 in Season Opener

Clemson scored 54 points in the season opener against Florida

Atlantic. Here are some facts on the scoring outburst:

•Most points scored by the Tigers in any game since the 63-17

win at South Carolina in 2003.

•Most points scored by Tigers in Death Valley since the 59-31

win over Duke in final home game of 2001.

•Most points scored in season opener since 55-9 victory over

Western Carolina.

•Most points scored in a season opener against a Division I

team since a 59-0 win over Long Beach State in 1990.

•Sixth most points scored by Clemson in the Bowden era. The

most is the 63-17 win over South Carolina in 2003. It was the seventh

50-point game of the Bowden era.

Seven Different Tigers Score TDs

Clemson had a very balanced attack in the win over Florida

Atlantic. The Tigers gained 199 yards on the ground and 173 through the

air. Clemson was known for its balanced attack last year when it was

the only school in the ACC to rank in the top four in rushing offense and

passing offense.

Clemson’s balance was never more obvious than in regards to

scoring. Clemson scored seven touchdowns by seven different players

in the win over Florida Atlantic. Rendrick Taylor, Chansi Stuckey and

Aaron Kelly all scored on touchdown receptions, while James Davis and

Reggie Merriweather scored on the ground. Jacoby Ford scored on a

punt return and Sergio Gilliam scored on a fumble return.

This marked the first time since 1995 that seven different

Tigers scored a touchdown in a single game. That year seven different

Tigers scored in a 55-9 win over Western Carolina in the season opener.

Three of the touchdown scorers are roommates this semester.

Chansi Stuckey, Reggie Merriweather and Sergio Gilliam are three

seniors who live together and all scored touchdowns against Florida

Atlantic. That might be a Clemson first, especially when you consider

that Gilliam is a defensive player.

Clemson Opens ACC Schedule

This is the 54 th ACC season and Clemson has a 33-19-1

record in its previous 53 ACC openers. Tommy Bowden is 6-1 in ACC

openers as Clemson head coach. He defeated Virginia in 1999 in his

league opener, also his first overall win at Clemson and his first win over

a top 25 opponent, then downed Wake Forest in 2000. In 2001, Virginia

upset a top 25 Clemson team in the ACC opener at Death Valley on the

last play of the game, 26-24. Clemson defeated Georgia Tech in its

league opener in 2002 and 2003, then defeated Wake Forest in its ACC

and season opener in 2004. Last year Clemson won its ACC opener at

Maryland, 28-24.

Clemson is 17-10 in ACC openers at home, 15-9-1 on the road

and 1-0 at neutral sites.

Clemson ACC Openers under Tommy Bowden (6-1)


Year Opponent 		Site Res CU-Opp 

1999 Virginia H W 33-14

2000 Wake Forest H W 55-7

2001 Virginia H L 24-26

2002 Georgia Tech H W 24-19

2003 Georgia Tech A W 39-3

2004 Wake Forest H W 37-30 (2OT)

2005 Maryland A W 28-24

73 Tigers Played in Opener

Clemson played 73 players in the opening game, 34 on

offense, 34 on defense and five who played special teams only. Twenty

of the 73 players were freshmen, eight first year and 12 red-shirt. Last

year Clemson played 34 different players on defense over the course of

the entire season. Fifty-two players appeared in the first quarter alone.

New Rules, No Effect in Season Opener

The new rules that allow the game clock to start after a change

of possession had little effect on Clemson’s opening game win over

Florida Atlantic. An average Clemson game last year took 3:23 to play.

Saturday’s Clemson vs. Florida Atlantic game took 3:29 to play, six

minutes longer than the average a year ago.

Many also said the new rules would reduce the number of

plays in a game by about 12. Clemson games averaged 136 snaps last

year, but this past Saturday’s game saw 139 plays. Clemson had just

62 plays, below the average of 69 plays per game last year. Of course,

Clemson had two returns for touchdowns that reduced the number of

possessions for the Tiger offense on Saturday.

Tigers Haven’t Punted Yet

Clemson had problems with punt protection last year as five

punts were blocked. As a result Clemson averaged just 33.5 yards per

punt in 2005. Many were anxious to see Clemson’s new punt protection

formation when the Tigers opened the season against Florida Atlantic.

But, the unveiling will have to wait until the Boston College

game. Clemson did not have to punt in its opener. The Tigers scored

seven touchdowns and had two field goals. Additionally, Clemson had

four turnovers.

Clemson’s punter Cole Chason did play in the game however,

as he is the holder for Jad Dean, a duty he has done since the 2003

Virginia game.

This was the first time since the 1988 season that Clemson

went an entire game without punting. That year Clemson did not have to

punt in consecutive games towards the end of the season against

Maryland and North Carolina. Overall, it was just the fourth time since

1980 that Clemson has not had to punt in a game.

“I told the team after the game that was the best punt

protection I had seen in my nine years as a head coach,” said Bowden.

“Coach (Billy) Napier (who handles the punting team) is a genius when it

comes to punt protection.”

Clemson Played 20 Freshmen in Opener

Clemson’s 2006 freshman class was regarded as among the

best at Clemson in many years and among the best in the nation

according to many services. Eight first-year freshmen played in the

opener against Florida Atlantic and 12 more red-shirt freshmen saw

playing time.

In the last 25 years (including 2006), Clemson has played 140

first-year freshmen, an average of 5.6 per season. Fifty-nine of the first-

year freshmen who have played have been offensive players, while 77

have been defensive players and four have been kickers.

Since Bowden came to Clemson in 1999, the Tigers have played

42 first-year freshmen, 15 on offense, 25 on defense and two special

teams. That is an average of 5.25 first-year freshman per year, so

Bowden is a bit below the Clemson average for the last 25 years.

The record for first-year freshmen played in one season is 11 in

1985. That year Danny Ford played six first-year freshmen on offense

and five on defense. The 1994 Clemson team under Tommy West

played 10 first-year freshmen, including a record nine on offense.

The most wins for a Clemson team that has played at least eight

first year freshmen is 10, set in 1989, a Clemson team that played eight

first-year freshmen in a 10-2 season.

The most first-year freshmen Clemson has played in the

Bowden era is nine, in 2001. That year Bowden played three on offense

and six on defense on the way to a 7-5 season.

Clemson has played at least one first-year freshman for all 25

years of the rule. The fewest was the one used in 2002 (Justin Miller).

Bowden First-Year Freshman Participants

1999: (5)—David Ellis (LB), Rodney Feaster (LB), Brian Mance (DB),

Bernard Rambert (RB), Rodney Thomas (LB)

2000: (4)—Aaron Hunt (PK), Yusef Kelly (RB), John Leake (LB), Ronnie

Thomas (WR)

2001: (9)—Eric Coleman (DT), Roscoe Crosby (WR), Airese Currie

(WR), Moe Fountain (DE), Ben Hall (TE), Leroy Hill (LB), Tavaghn Monts

(DB), Travis Pugh (FS), Eric Sampson (LB)

2002: (1)—Justin Miller (CB)

2003: (5)—Tramaine Billie (SS), Jad Dean (PK), Marion Dukes (OT),

Sergio Gilliam (DB), Brandon Pilgrim (OG)

2004: (2)—La’Donte Harris (WR), Barry Richardson (OT)

2005: (8)—James Davis (RB), Rendrick Taylor (WR), Tyler Grisham

(WR), Philip Merling (DE), Antonio Clay (LB), Josh Miller (LB), Jock

McKissic (DT), Haydrian Lewis (DB).

2006 (8)—Jacoby Ford (WR), C.J. Spiller (RB), Jamie Cumbie (DE),

Ricky Sapp (DE), Jeremy Campbell (LB), Kevin Alexander (LB), Michael

Palmer (TE), Crezdon Butler (CB)

O’Brien Faced Clemson as Virginia Assistant

Boston College Head Coach Tom O’Brien defeated the Tigers

last year at Clemson, 16-13 in overtime. But, it was not the first time he

has gone against Clemson. From 1982-96, O’Brien was an assistant

coach at Virginia under George Welsh.

During that time, Clemson had the upper hand in games in

Clemson Memorial Stadium by a 5-1-1 margin, and had an overall record

of 11-3-1 against Virginia in those 15 years. The tie came in 1991 when

the two teams played to a 20-20 draw. The NCAA overtime rule did not

come into effect until 1996 and as long as the overtime rule exits, that

1991 game with Virginia will be remembered as the last tie in Clemson

football history.

O’Brien was a part of two firsts in Virginia football history when

it came to the series with Clemson. In 1990, at Charlottesville, Virginia

defeated Clemson 20-7, ending Clemson’s 29-game winning streak in the

series. In 1995, Virginia defeated Clemson in Death Valley 22-3, the first

win for the Cavaliers in Clemson Memorial Stadium.

Spiller Opening Game Starter

C.J. Spiller was in the starting lineup along with James Davis in

a two-back set on the opening play of the Florida Atlantic game, making

him a starter in his first game as a first-year freshman. Davis and Spiller

are the only running backs in the last 12 seasons to start the opening

game of the year.

Spiller was just the eighth freshman (first-year or red-shirt) to

start the season opener under Tommy Bowden and just the eighth

running back to make the opening game start since 1953. The other

freshman starters in the opening game under Bowden are Jermyn

Chester (OG) and Aaron Hunt (PK) in 2000, Roscoe Crosby (WR) and

Derrick Hamilton (WR) against Central Florida in 2001, and Cole Chason

(P) and Nathan Bennett (OG) in 2003 and Davis last year at running

back against Texas A&M.

Overall, Spiller was the 37th freshman to starting the opening

game for Clemson since freshmen eligibility was adopted for the 1972

season. That is 37 freshmen in 35 years of freshmen eligibility.

Here is a list of opening day freshmen starters for Clemson

since 1972. An asterisk means they were red-shirt freshmen:

1973 Ken Callicutt (TB), Nelson Wallace (DT)

1974 Jeff Mills (DT)

1979 *Gary Brown (OT), *Terry Kinard (FS)

1980 Jeff Wells (TE), James Farr (C)

1981 *Donald Igwebuike (PK)

1983 *Tence Mack (DE), *Henry Walls (LB), *Keith Williams (LB)

1984 *Michael Dean Perry (DT)

1985 *Frank DeIuliis (OT)

1986 *James Lott (FS)

1987 John Johnson (OLB), *Eric Harmon (OT), *Terry Allen (TB)

1988 Chris Gardocki (PK)

1991 *Nelson Welch (PK)

1992 *Marrio Greer (FB)

1993 *Emory Smith (FB), *Brett Williams (DE)

1994 Anthony Downs (TB), *Jim Bundren (OT), *Glenn Rountree

1995 Anthony Simmons (LB)

1996 *Rahim Abdullah (OLB)

1998 *Travis Zachery (RB), * Alex Ardley (CB)

2000 *Jermyn Chester (OG), *Aaron Hunt (PK)

2001 Roscoe Crosby (WR), *Derrick Hamilton (WR)

2003 *Nathan Bennett (OG), *Cole Chason (P)

2005 James Davis (RB)

2006 C.J. Spiller (RB)


Vince Ciurciu Common Denominator for both Schools

There haven’t been a lot of common denominators between

Clemson and Boston College. But, one player has played for both

coaches and both schools in Saturday’s game, Vince Ciurciu. The

current linebacker for the Carolina Panthers played at Clemson during

the 1998 and 1999 seasons and at Boston College for the 2001 and

2002 seasons.

Ciurciu was a running back at Clemson as a freshman and

sophomore. He gained 99 yards in 27 attempts as a freshman under

Tommy West and was the fourth leading rusher on the team. Then, in

1999 under Tommy Bowden he had three rushes for five yards and had

four receptions for 22 yards.

After two years at Clemson, the native of Paramus, NJ decided

to play closer to home and at a school where he thought he would get

more playing time as a fullback. Coach Bowden wanted to move Ciurciu

to linebacker, but Vince wanted to remain a running back.

After a year at Boston College as a red-shirt due to the NCAA

transfer rule, Ciurciu became a starting linebacker with the Eagles. All

Ciurciu did was lead the Eagles in tackles in 2001 with 87 and rank

second on the club in tackles in 2002 with 102.

Boston College won 17 games in the two years he played in

Boston, including a pair of wins over rival Notre Dame. A tri-captain as a

senior in 2002, his final college game was against Toledo. The offensive

coordinator of that Toledo team was current Clemson offensive

coordinator Rob Spence.

Ciurciu has been successful in the NFL with the Panthers. He

is now in his fourth year with that NFL team after signing as a free agent

out of Boston College.

Clemson Record by Uniform

Clemson has used seven different uniform combinations since

Tommy Bowden became the head coach in 1999. Clemson wore orange

jerseys and white pants for the season opener against Florida Atlantic

and is now 21-7 under Bowden in that uniform combination.

In 2003, the Tigers broke out purple jerseys for the Georgia

Tech game in Atlanta on September 20 and the Tigers gained a 39-3

victory. It was the first time Clemson had worn purple jerseys since the

1991 season when Clemson wore them in a regular season game

against NC State and for a bowl game against California. Clemson is a

perfect 5-0 under Bowden in Purple jerseys and orange pants.

Clemson Record by Uniform Combination Under Bowden


Jersey Pant 	2006 	Record 	Pct 

Purple White 1-0 1.000

Purple Orange 5-0 1.000

Orange White 1-0 21-7 .750

White Orange 11-10 .524

White White 4-3 .571

Orange Orange 8-7 .533

White Purple 3-6 .333

1-0 53-33 .616

Tigers Look for Start 2-0

Clemson will be looking for a 2-0 start when the Tigers

travel to Boston College this weekend. Clemson opened with a

2-0 ledger last year, the third time under Tommy Bowden that the

Tigers have started 2-0. Historically, Clemson has struggled in

the second game of the year and when the Tigers do start 2-0 it

is usually the indicator of a strong season. Clemson has been

2-0 just 10 times since 1971 and the Tigers have gone on to

have a 75 percent winning percentage in those 10 years.

Clemson 2-0 Starts Since 1971


Year Start 	Final Record 

1981 12-0 12-0

1984 2-0 7-4

1987 6-0 10-2

1988 2-0 10-2

1989 4-0 10-2

1991 3-0 9-2-1

1997 2-0 7-5

2000 8-0 9-3

2001 2-0 7-5

2005 2-0 8-4

Total 89-29-1 (.752)

Clemson on Five-Game winning Streak

Clemson won its last four games of the 2005 season to finish

with an 8-4 record. The Tigers won their season opener for 2006 and

are on a five-game winning streak. Finishing strong has been the norm

for Clemson the last three years. The Tigers won five of their last six and

each of the last four in 2003, then won five of the last six in 2004 before

winning six of the last seven of 2005. The 2005 season marked the first

time since the 1991 season that Clemson won six of its last seven

games.

Clemson has a 7-9 record in the first five games of the year

over the last four years (including 2006), but is 17-4 in the remaining

games of the year over the last three years.

The current five game winning streak is Clemson’s longest

since the last four games of 2003 and the opener of 2004. Clemson has

not won six in a row since it won its first eight games of 2000. That is

Clemson’s longest winning streak under Tommy Bowden.

Clemson was one of just nine teams nationally entering he

2006 season with a winning streak of at least four games. Texas had

the longest winning streak entering this year at 20 in a row. TCU is the

only other school with a double digit win streak, as the Horned Frogs

have won 10 in a row dating to a loss to SMU early last year.

Ohio State and West Virginia entered the year having won

seven in a row, while Louisiana-Lafayette, Penn State and Nevada had a

five-game winning streak entering this year.

Bowden Now Third in Clemson Coaching Wins

Tommy Bowden has a 53-33 record as Clemson’s head coach

and he is already third in total victories among the 24 Clemson mentors

in history. Bowden trails only Frank Howard (165) and Danny Ford (96)

on the Clemson list. When Bowden defeated South Carolina in the final

game of the 2004 season, he moved ahead of Hall of Fame coach Jess

Neely, who had 43 wins for the Tigers in his nine seasons (1931-39). He

gained his 50 th victory at Clemson last year when he defeated Florida

State and his father, Bobby Bowden.

Clemson’s Winningest Coaches


Coach 		Yrs Seasons 	Record 

Frank Howard 30 1940-69 165-118-12

Danny Ford 11 1978-89 96-29-4

Tommy Bowden 7 1999-Pres. 53-33

Jess Neely 9 1931-40 43-35-7

Ken Hatfield 4 1990-93 32-13-1

Tommy West 5 1993-98 31-28-0

Josh Cody 4 1927-30 29-11-1

2006 Schedule Notes

•Clemson will play 11 consecutive weeks to open the season, the first

time Clemson has played 11 consecutive weeks since 1986. “That is a

positive if you get on a roll, like we did in 2000 (when Clemson played

the first 10 weeks of the season), but it can be a negative if you run into

injury problems,” said Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden. Clemson

actually doesn’t play 11 consecutive Saturdays, the Tigers have a pair of

Thursday night games (October 12 vs. Temple in Charlotte and October

26 at Virginia Tech).

•Clemson’s 2006 football schedule includes six bowl teams, including

road games at Atlantic Division rivals Boston College and Florida State

to open the ACC schedule in early September. Clemson also travels to

Virginia Tech for a Thursday evening game in late October.

•Clemson will have a 12-game regular season schedule in 2006, the third

time Clemson has played a 12-game regular season schedule. The

other seasons were 2002 and 2003.

•The Tigers will open and close the 2006 season against teams led by

coaches who have won the national championship. Florida Atlantic

coach Howard Schnellenberger guided Miami (FL) to the 1983 National

Championship and he will bring his team to Death Valley in the season

opener. Steve Spurrier will bring the South Carolina Gamecocks to

Death Valley in the season finale November 25. Spurrier coached

Florida to the 1996 National Championship. Bowden has gained seven

wins over coaches who have won the national championship since 2003.

•Clemson’s next two games are on the road against ACC upper echelon

teams Boston College (September 9) and Florida State (September 16).

It will be Clemson’s first trip to Boston since 1983 when Doug Flutie

handed the Tigers their only loss in a 9-1-1 season. This will be the

earliest date on the calendar that Clemson has played in Tallahassee

since 1993. The Tigers have not won at Florida State since 1989.

•Clemson will return home to face North Carolina on September 23. It

will be North Carolina’s only game at Clemson between 2004 and 2011.

The Tigers won a thrilling 36-28 game at Death Valley in 2003 the last

time the two teams met. Clemson will celebrate its 25-years anniversary

of the 1981 National Championship on this weekend.

•Clemson will meet Louisiana Tech on September 30. The Bulldogs are

coached by Jack Bicknell, who brought Boston College to face the Tigers

in Death Valley in 1982. it is the only father-son opposing coaching

combination in Clemson history. Bicknell also brought Louisiana Tech to

Clemson in 2002 for the season opener.

•The Tigers will travel to Wake Forest for the third time in the last four

years on October 7, when Clemson travels to Wake Forest. Clemson

has beaten Florida State two of the last three years, but has lost at Wake

Forest two of the last three years.

•Clemson will have just five days to prepare for Temple on October 12, a

game that will be played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. This

will be Temple’s home game.

•Four of the last five games will be at home. Clemson will attempt to end

its two-game losing streak against Georgia Tech when the Yellow Jackets

come to Death Valley on October 21. The two teams have played

games decided by five points or less nine of the last 10 years.

•Clemson will then play at Virginia Tech in a Thursday night match up on

ESPN on October 26. The contest will be just five days after the Georgia

Tech game and will be just the fifth time (twice in October 2006) since

1933 that Clemson has had just four days in between games.

• It will be the first meeting between Clemson and Virginia Tech since

the Gator Bowl at the conclusion of the 2000 season. They also met in

the regular season in 1998 at Clemson and at Virginia Tech in 1999 in

Tommy Bowden’s first season as Tiger head coach. Clemson has not

won at Virginia Tech since 1989.

•Clemson concludes the season with three consecutive home games for

the first time since 1998. Maryland travels to Death Valley on November

4. The Tigers have won consecutive games by four points or less on

touchdowns inside the last three minutes by Reggie Merriweather

against the Terps.

•NC State will close Clemson’s ACC schedule on Saturday November

11. It will be just the second time in the last five years that the two

teams have played on a Saturday. Clemson and Florida State are the

only two ACC teams who will conclude their ACC schedule on

November 11.

•The Tigers will have two weeks to prepare for South Carolina, as the

annual state rivalry game will be played the Saturday after Thanksgiving

for the first time since 1984. The November 25 date is the latest for the

South Carolina game since the two teams played on the same date in

1978.

•Clemson will not play ACC teams Miami (FL), Duke or Virginia during

the regular season. It will be the first time Clemson has not played Duke

since 1964.

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