In just a couple of hours, the Sooners play Clemson in the Russell Athletic Bowl. Clemson is a solid name in college football history, but I get the feeling that Tiger history is a little underserved.
So as a service before kickoff, here’s a primer on Clemson football.
BEST COACH: Frank Howard. Coached Clemson for 30 years, 1940-69, and went 165-118-12. Howard played at Alabama, then joined the Clemson staff in 1931. So he spent 39 seasons coaching at Clemson. Howard remained as athletic director until 1971 and stayed with the university as a vice president until 1974.
STADIUM: Death Valley. Clemson’s Memorial Stadium derives its name from the cemetery on a hill that once overlooked the field, before the upper decks were constructed. In 1948, Presbyterian coach Lonnie McMillian told writers that he had to “take his team up to Clemson and play in Death Valley.” Howard began using the nickname for the stadium in the 1950s.
GREAT TRADITION: Howard’s rock.
“The hill” at Clemson began out of practicality. The football team dressed at Fike Field House and ran from there to the gate and down the grassy hill onto the field to start each game. In 1966, a massive rock from Death Valley, Calif., was placed on a pedestal at the top of the hill, and in 1967, Howard told his players that if they gave 110 percent in a game against Wake Forest, they would receive the privilege of rubbing the rock. Clemson won, and now football players rub it for luck as they run down the hill to the roar of Clemson fans, in what some call the most exciting 25 seconds in the sport.
CHAMPIONSHIPS: Clemson won the 2011 ACC title — its first since 1991. Before Florida State joined the league, Clemson won its share. 1988, 1987, 1986, 1982, 1981, 1978, 1967, 1966, 1965 (tie), 1959, 1958 and 1956.
GREATEST WIN: Clemson upset Nebraska 22-15 in the Orange Bowl to win the 1981 national championship.
POLLS: Clemson has posted back-to-back top-10 finishes in the coaches poll — seventh in 2013, ninth in 2012. Clemson hadn’t finished in the top 10 since 1981. 1978 was the only other season Clemson finished in the top 10; the Tigers were seventh that year.
OU SERIES: The Sooners lead 2-1. Clemson won 13-6 in the Florida Citrus Bowl to end the 1988 season. The Sooners won 31-14 in 1963 and 52-3 in 1972, both in Norman.
COACHING STABILITY: Clemson has been a stable job. Dabo Swinney (60-26) has coached 61/2 years. Tommy Bowden coached 10 seasons, going 72-45 from 1999-08. Tommy West coached six years, 31-28 from 1993-98. Ken Hatfield coached four years, going 32-13-1 from 1990-93. Danny Ford coached 12 years, going 96-29-4 from 1978-89. So the past five Clemson coaches have averaged 7.8 years each on the job.
BEST PLAYER: Defensive back Terry Kinard is Clemson’s only consensus two-time all-American. He led Clemson to the 1981 national title. Among other great Clemson players — defensive backs Brian Dawkins, Donnell Woolfor and Charlie Waters; linebackers Anthony Simmons and Levon Kirkland; defensive linemen Michael Dean Perry, Brentson Buckner, William “The Refridgerator” Perry, Trevor Price, Chester McGlockton, Jeff Bryant; offensive linemen Jeff Bostic; wide receivers Dwight Clark Jimmy Orr; and tailbacks Kevin Mack, C.J. Spiller and Terry Allen.
So as a service before kickoff, here’s a primer on Clemson football.
BEST COACH: Frank Howard. Coached Clemson for 30 years, 1940-69, and went 165-118-12. Howard played at Alabama, then joined the Clemson staff in 1931. So he spent 39 seasons coaching at Clemson. Howard remained as athletic director until 1971 and stayed with the university as a vice president until 1974.
STADIUM: Death Valley. Clemson’s Memorial Stadium derives its name from the cemetery on a hill that once overlooked the field, before the upper decks were constructed. In 1948, Presbyterian coach Lonnie McMillian told writers that he had to “take his team up to Clemson and play in Death Valley.” Howard began using the nickname for the stadium in the 1950s.
GREAT TRADITION: Howard’s rock.
“The hill” at Clemson began out of practicality. The football team dressed at Fike Field House and ran from there to the gate and down the grassy hill onto the field to start each game. In 1966, a massive rock from Death Valley, Calif., was placed on a pedestal at the top of the hill, and in 1967, Howard told his players that if they gave 110 percent in a game against Wake Forest, they would receive the privilege of rubbing the rock. Clemson won, and now football players rub it for luck as they run down the hill to the roar of Clemson fans, in what some call the most exciting 25 seconds in the sport.
CHAMPIONSHIPS: Clemson won the 2011 ACC title — its first since 1991. Before Florida State joined the league, Clemson won its share. 1988, 1987, 1986, 1982, 1981, 1978, 1967, 1966, 1965 (tie), 1959, 1958 and 1956.
GREATEST WIN: Clemson upset Nebraska 22-15 in the Orange Bowl to win the 1981 national championship.
POLLS: Clemson has posted back-to-back top-10 finishes in the coaches poll — seventh in 2013, ninth in 2012. Clemson hadn’t finished in the top 10 since 1981. 1978 was the only other season Clemson finished in the top 10; the Tigers were seventh that year.
OU SERIES: The Sooners lead 2-1. Clemson won 13-6 in the Florida Citrus Bowl to end the 1988 season. The Sooners won 31-14 in 1963 and 52-3 in 1972, both in Norman.
COACHING STABILITY: Clemson has been a stable job. Dabo Swinney (60-26) has coached 61/2 years. Tommy Bowden coached 10 seasons, going 72-45 from 1999-08. Tommy West coached six years, 31-28 from 1993-98. Ken Hatfield coached four years, going 32-13-1 from 1990-93. Danny Ford coached 12 years, going 96-29-4 from 1978-89. So the past five Clemson coaches have averaged 7.8 years each on the job.
BEST PLAYER: Defensive back Terry Kinard is Clemson’s only consensus two-time all-American. He led Clemson to the 1981 national title. Among other great Clemson players — defensive backs Brian Dawkins, Donnell Woolfor and Charlie Waters; linebackers Anthony Simmons and Levon Kirkland; defensive linemen Michael Dean Perry, Brentson Buckner, William “The Refridgerator” Perry, Trevor Price, Chester McGlockton, Jeff Bryant; offensive linemen Jeff Bostic; wide receivers Dwight Clark Jimmy Orr; and tailbacks Kevin Mack, C.J. Spiller and Terry Allen.
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