Clemson Tigers football
Encyclopedia
The Clemson Tigers football team is an American
football team from Clemson University
in South Carolina
. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference
. The team is also known as the "Clemson University Fighting Tigers", which name appears on the banner that cheerleaders use at football games.
can be characterized as the "Father of Clemson Football," as he brought the game with him from Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (now Auburn University
). The fact that Auburn and Clemson share the same mascot is no accident. Riggs allowed his players to pick the team mascot and, although he may have influenced their decision, the players chose Tigers because Princeton University
had just won the national championship. Riggs helped organize and coach the infant Tiger team in 1896. Indeed, when the Tigers traveled to Greenville on Halloween
to play Furman in their very first match, only Coach Riggs and backfield player Frank Thompkins had ever seen a football game played. Today in Clemson, the soccer field is named Historic Riggs field after Walter Riggs.
Riggs took the team to a 2–1 record in the inaugural year. He then stepped aside at the urging of the cadets, who felt that he should concentrate on his scholastic duties rather than coach the team for free. William M. Williams coached the Tigers in 1897, guiding them to a 2–2 record. In 1898, John Penton
led the Tigers to a 3–1 record.
In 1899, when the Clemson Athletic Association could not afford a coaching salary, Riggs again took over the reins, one of only two Clemson football coaches to return to the position after stepping down. The 1899 squad went 4–2. Riggs' overall record of 6–3 gives him a .667 winning percentage. Historic Riggs Field
is named for him.
After a decade as a Mechanical Engineering
professor, he was named acting president of Clemson Agricultural College
in 1910, being confirmed by the Board of Trustees as permanent president on March 7, 1911. He served until his untimely death on January 22, 1924 while on a trip to Washington, D.C.
to meet with officials of other land grant institutions.
coached the Tigers to their first undefeated season (6–0) in 1900. Heisman stayed only four years at Clemson, where he compiled a record of 19–3–2, an .833 percentage, the best in Clemson football history. Following a 73–0 defeat of Georgia Tech
in 1903, the Yellow Jackets hired Heisman as their first full-time football coach.
(a former head coach at Rhodes
and assistant at Alabama) became Clemson's head football coach. During his tenure, Neely led the Tigers to a 43-35-7 record. His final season at Clemson was the turning point in the Tigers' program. His team went 9-1 during that season, finishing second to Duke
in the Southern Conference
. The Tigers also received their first bowl invitation and bowl victory that year, defeating nationally ranked Boston College
6-3 in the 1940 Cotton Bowl Classic. The 1939 Tigers finished with a #12 ranking in the final AP poll
. Clemson also had their first Associated Press All-American that year in Banks McFadden
. Jess Neely, along with then athletic director Dr. Rupert Fike, founded the IPTAY Scholarship Fund, which supports the Clemson Athletic Department.
, Frank Howard
(an assistant coach under Neely) was named head coach. In his 30 years at Clemson, Howard compiled a 165–118–12 record, a 3–3 bowl record, won two Southern Conference championships, and six ACC championships. Seven of Howard's teams finished the year ranked in at least one final poll. He also incorporated the Single Wing, T-formation, and I-formation offenses at different points during his coaching career at Clemson. Clemson had two undefeated season under Howard, one in 1948 (11-0), and one in 1950 (9-0-1).
The tradition of rubbing "Howard's Rock" prior to running down the hill before home games began during Coach Howard's tenure . The playing field at Memorial Stadium
was named "Frank Howard Field" in 1974 following his retirement to honor his many years of service for the university. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
, the South Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the Clemson Hall of Fame, the Clemson Ring of Honor, the Helms Athletic Hall of Fame, the State of Alabama Hall of Fame, National Football Foundation Hall of Fame, the Orange Bowl Hall of Honor, and the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame.
, only compiled a 12–21 record. During his tenure, the tradition of running down the hill was stopped from 1970 to the end of the 1972 season, when the team decided it wanted to come down the hill for the final home game against South Carolina. The traditional "tiger paw" logo was introduced by Ingram. Jimmy "Red" Parker coached the Tigers from 1973–1976, compiling a 17-25-2 record.
, where his coaching career would end in 1984 following more NCAA rules violations.
Era began in 1978, after Charlie Pell left for the University of Florida. He won his first game, the 1978 Gator Bowl, with a 17–15 victory over Ohio State
and legendary coach Woody Hayes
, who punched LB Charlie Bauman in the throat after making the game-clinching interception. In his first two seasons, Ford guided the Tigers to 8–4 and 6–5 records and a Peach Bowl bid in 1979. In 1981, Ford led the Tigers to a 12–0 record, and Clemson's only National Championship in 1981, a 22-15 victory over Nebraska
in the Orange Bowl, and the school's first national championship in any sport. During his tenure at Clemson, Ford compiled a 96-29-4 (.760) record, a 6-2 bowl record, won five ACC championships, and finished the year ranked in at least one poll seven times. Ford also coached 21 All-Americans and 41 players who went on to play in the NFL during his 11 seasons at Clemson.
On November 21, 1982, the football program was placed on probation for a 2-year period to include the 1983 and 1984 seasons. This sanction was enforced on the program by the NCAA Committee on Infractions due to a lengthy history of recruiting violations meant to gain an athletic advantage. These recruiting violations took place from 1977 through the Tigers' 1981 National Championship season
and into 1982, under the administration of two head coaches, Charlie Pell and Danny Ford. The Atlantic Coast Conference
imposed a third year of conference penalty.
Over 150 documented violations were found to have been committed under NCAA bylaws in the categories of improper recruiting inducements, extra benefits to student-athletes, unethical conduct, improper financial aid, improper campus visits, improper transportation and entertainment, improper use of funds, improper employment, improper recruiting contact, and distribution of cash to players by members of the coaching staff.
As a result of these violations, Clemson was barred from participating in bowl games following the 1982 and 1983 seasons, and barred from appearing on live television in the 1983 and 1984 seasons. Also, the number of scholarships that the university could allocate to football players was restricted to 20 (from the normal limit of 30) for the 1983-84 and 1984-85 academic years. The Tigers, however, were allowed to keep their 1978 and 1981 ACC titles as well as the 1981 national title.
Charles Alan Wright, chairman of the NCAA Committee on Infractions said at the time, "Due to the large number and serious nature of the violations in this case, the committee believed that institutional sanctions related to appearances on television and in postseason football bowl games were appropriate. In addition, because the violations indicated a pattern of improper recruiting activities, the committee determined that a two-year limitation on financial aid to new recruits should be imposed to offset any recruiting advantage that was gained improperly by the university."
Just five years after their probation ended, Clemson once again found their football program accused of multiple recruiting violations in January 1990. The NCAA accused Clemson of giving cash to players and having illegal contact with recruits over a period from 1984 to 1988. In June 1990, the Tigers found themselves on probation once again, for the second time in less than a decade. This chain of events contributed, in part, to the forced resignation of popular head coach Danny Ford.
After a few years away from coaching, Ford was hired by Arkansas
in 1992, where he would spend five seasons guiding the Razorbacks.
, former coach at Air Force
and Arkansas
, coached the Tigers to their most recent ACC championship in 1991. He had a 32–13–1 record with the Tigers and led them to three bowl games.
Hatfield worked to clean up the program's image in the wake of the Ford-era sanctions. However, Hatfield was never really accepted by Clemson's fans. A common saying among Tiger fans during this time was "Howard built it. Ford tilled it. Hatfield killed it."
Largely due to this discontent, school officials refused to grant him a one-year extension on his contract after the 1993 season, even though the Tigers had rebounded from 5–6 in 1992 to a solid 8–3 record that year and were invited to the Peach Bowl. Angered at what he saw as a lack of support, Hatfield resigned at the end of the regular season. He was later hired at Rice
.
The purple home jerseys used by Clemson in special games made their debut during the 1991 ACC championship season, which was their most recent ACC Championship to date.
replaced Ken Hatfield at the end of the 1993 season, coaching the Tigers to a 14-13 victory in the 1993 Peach Bowl against Kentucky. West had a 31–28 record during his five seasons at Clemson and led the Tigers to three bowl games but no ACC championships. West was fired after a dismal 1998 campaign which saw Clemson go 3-8 and finish last in the ACC. West went on to be the head coach at Memphis
.
, son of Bobby Bowden
and coach at Tulane University
. Bowden led the Tigers to a 6–6 record and a Peach Bowl bid in 1999, with the team that navigated its way through a schedule that included MAC
champions and undefeated Marshall
, Big East
champion and BCS
runner-up Virginia Tech (who went undefeated during the regular season), and eventual National Champion Florida State
(who finished the year undefeated). The 1999 meeting between the Tigers and Seminoles was dubbed the "Bowden Bowl" and was the first time that a father and son coached against each other in Division I football. FSU won the game 17– ;14 in front of the largest crowd in the history of Death Valley.
During Bowden's tenure, the Tigers were bowl eligible every season but didn't win any ACC championships (the 2004 team turned down a bowl invitation as punishment for a massive brawl during a game against the University of South Carolina
). Despite this, Bowden has been criticized for his teams underachieving. The 2000 Tigers started 8–0 and rose as high as #5 in the polls before losing three of their last four. The same thing happened during the 2006 season following a 7–1 start and with the team on the verge of winning the ACC Atlantic Division. The Tigers have also shown great resolve at points during Bowden's tenure. The 2003 team won four games at the end of the season to finish 9–4, which included victories over #3 Florida State and #7 Tennessee
in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. The 2004 season saw the Tigers falter to a 1–4 start only to win five of their last six games (which included an overtime upset of #10 Miami
), while the 2005 team overcame a 2–3 start to finish the season 9–4.
Tommy Bowden agreed to resign for $3.5 million on October 13, 2008, after leading the team to a disappointing 3–3 record (1–2 ACC) at the midpoint of a season in which the Tigers were an almost unanimous preseason pick to win their first ACC title under Bowden and were ranked #9 in the preseason polls. Assistant coach Dabo Swinney
was named interim head coach.
led the Tigers to a 4–2 record, finishing the 2008 regular season
at 7–6. On December 1, 2008, Swinney signed a five-year contract as Clemson's head coach.
On November 21, 2009, Swinney and the Tigers qualified for their first ACC title game berth, only to lose to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
, 39–34. They were awarded a trip to the 2009 Music City Bowl
, and defeated the Kentucky Wildcats
, 21–13, avenging their upset loss in the 2006 Music City Bowl
.
On December 31, 2010 Clemson was defeated by the South Florida Bulls
, 31–26, in the Meineke Car Care Bowl
in Charlotte, North Carolina
. In January 2011, Swinney hired new offensive coordinator Chad Morris, running backs coach Tony Elliott, and defensive line coach Marion Hobby.
On September 17, 2011, Clemson beat the 2010 National Champions, the #21-ranked Auburn Tigers, and ended Auburns 17-game winning streak, the longest winning streak in the nation.
On October 1, 2011, Clemson became the first ACC team to beat three nationally-ranked opponents in a row: #21-ranked Auburn, #11-ranked Florida State, and #11-ranked Virginia Tech.
On November 12, 2011, Clemson defeated Wake Forest, winning the ACC Atlantic Division title.
On November 26, 2011, Clemson lost to South Carolina for the third straight year, the first time any Clemson coach had lost three straight to their instate rival since the 1950's
. This distance is slightly closer than that between Clemson and traditional rival South Carolina (137 miles). As of 2011, Georgia Tech leads the series 51-25-2. The Jackets also lead the series 15-14 since Georgia Tech joined the ACC.
for the schools similar missions in research and development for the textile industry in the Carolinas. The first meeting of the two schools occurred in 1899 and as of 2010, Clemson holds a 51-28-1 series advantage.
and Banks McFadden
, who played during the leather helmet era. The club plans to make this an annual presentation. Clemson first met Boston College on the football field in the 1940 Cotton Bowl Classic, the first ever bowl game for the Tigers and Eagles. Over the next 43 years, the teams met a total of 13 times. In 2005, Boston College joined the ACC and the Atlantic Division. Since then, the game has been played on an annual basis with Boston College winning 3 of the first 5 games as divisional foes. As of 2011 the Tigers lead the series at 10-9-2.
(Father, FSU) and Tommy Bowden
(Son, Clemson). Their first meeting, in 1999, was the first time in Division I-A history that a father and a son met as opposing head coaches in a football game. Bobby Bowden won the first four matchups extending FSU's winning streak over Clemson to 11 dating back to 1992. Since 2002, Clemson won 4 of the last 5, including a 26-10 win in Clemson over then-#3 FSU, the highest ranking opponent to ever be defeated by the Tigers. Also during this time the Tigers recorded a 27-20 win in Tallahassee in 2006 which broke a 17-year losing streak in Doak Campbell Stadium. 2007 was the last Bowden Bowl game as Tommy resigned as head coach in October 2008. As of 2011, Florida State leads the overall series 17-8.
During the two programs’ simultaneous glory days of the early 1980s, no rivalry in all of college football was more important at the national level, as Scott Woerner’s dramatic returns in 1980 and the nine turnovers forced by the Tigers the following fall effectively settled the eventual No. 1 ranking. Likewise, no rivalry of that period was more competitive, as evidenced by the critical eleventh-hour field goals kicked by Kevin Butler in 1984 and by David Treadwell more than once later in the decade. Despite blowouts in 1990, 1994, and 2003, the series typically has remained competitive in more recent days, as two of the last three meetings were decided by two points in 1995 and three points in 2002. However, Georgia maintains a 41-17-4 lead in the series, including 5 wins in a row dating back to 1991.
will host the Auburn-Clemson rivalry in the upcoming 2012 Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
.
{| border="0" width="100%"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="85%"
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Year
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Coach
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Selector
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Record
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Bowl
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Opponent
!bgcolor="#F66733"| PF
!bgcolor="#F66733"| PA
|- align="center"
| 1981
|| Danny Ford
|| AP, UPI/Coaches' Poll† || 12-0 || Orange Bowl
|| Nebraska || 22 || 15
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan="4" bgcolor="#522D80"| National championships:
| colspan="4" bgcolor="#522D80"| 1
|}
† Other consensus selectors included Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, FACT, FB News, Football Research, FW, Helms, Litkenhous, Matthews, National Championship Foundation, NFF, NY Times, Poling, Sagarin, and Sporting News
titles (12 outright, 1 tied) is the all-time ACC football record.
{| border="0" width="100%"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="85%"
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Year
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Coach
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Conference
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Overall Record
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Conference Record
|- align="center"
| 1900 || John Heisman
|| Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
|| 6–0 || 4–0
|- align="center"
| 1902 || John Heisman || Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association || 6–1 || 6–0
|- align="center"
| 1940 || Frank Howard || Southern Conference || 6–2–1 || 4–0
|- align="center"
| 1948 || Frank Howard || Southern Conference|| 11–0 || 5–0
|- align="center"
| 1956 || Frank Howard || Atlantic Coast Conference
|| 7–2–2 || 4–0–1
|- align="center"
| 1958 || Frank Howard || Atlantic Coast Conference || 8–3 || 5–1
|- align="center"
| 1959 || Frank Howard || Atlantic Coast Conference || 9–2 || 6–1
|- align="center"
| 1965 || Frank Howard || Atlantic Coast Conference† || 5–5 || 5–2
|- align="center"
| 1966 || Frank Howard || Atlantic Coast Conference || 6–4 || 6–1
|- align="center"
| 1967 || Frank Howard || Atlantic Coast Conference || 6–4 || 6–0
|- align="center"
| 1978 || Charley Pell
|| Atlantic Coast Conference || 11–1 || 6–0
|- align="center"
| 1981
|| Danny Ford
|| Atlantic Coast Conference || 12–0 || 6–0
|- align="center"
| 1982 || Danny Ford || Atlantic Coast Conference || 9–1–1 || 6–0
|- align="center"
| 1986 || Danny Ford || Atlantic Coast Conference || 8–2–2 || 5–1–1
|- align="center"
| 1987 || Danny Ford || Atlantic Coast Conference || 10–2 || 6–1
|- align="center"
| 1988 || Danny Ford || Atlantic Coast Conference || 10–2 || 6–1
|- align="center"
| 1991 || Ken Hatfield
|| Atlantic Coast Conference || 9–2–1 || 6–0–1
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan=5 bgcolor="#522D80"| Conference Titles: 17
|}
Note: Bold years indicate outright conference titles
† In 1965, South Carolina violated participation rules relating to two ineligibile players and was required to forfeit wins against North Carolina State and Clemson.
North Carolina State and Clemson were then declared co-champions.
Conference affiliations
divided into two divisions of six teams each and began holding a ACC Championship Game
at the conculsion of the regular football season to determine the ACC Football Champions. Clemson won its first outright ACC Atlantic Division championship in 2009, and is 0-1 in the ACC Championship Game
.
{| border="0" width="100%"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="85%"
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Year
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Coach
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Division Championship
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Game Result
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Opponent
!bgcolor="#F66733"| PF
!bgcolor="#F66733"| PA
|- align="center"
| 2009
|| Dabo Swinney
|| Atlantic || L† || Georgia Tech
|| 34 || 39
|- align="center"
| colspan=1 bgcolor="#522D80"| Totals
| colspan=1 bgcolor="#522D80"| --
| colspan=1 bgcolor="#522D80"| 1
| colspan=1 bgcolor="#522D80"| 0-1
| colspan=1 bgcolor="#522D80"| --
| colspan=1 bgcolor="#522D80"| 34
| colspan=1 bgcolor="#522D80"| 39
|}
† On 7/18/2011, Georgia Tech was required to vacate their victory due to NCAA violations and the game is considered by the NCAA and ACC to have no winner.
{| border="0" style="width:100%;"
|-
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:40%;"
|-
! style="background:#F66733;"| Year
! style="background:#F66733;"| Record
! style="background:#F66733;"| AP Poll†
! style="background:#F66733;"| Coaches‡
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
| 1939 || 9–1–0 || 12 || –
|- align="center"
| 1948 || 11–0–0 || 11 || –
|- align="center"
| 1950 || 9–0– 1 || 10 || 12
|- align="center"
| 1951 || 7–3–0 || 20 || –
|- align="center"
| 1956 || 7–2–2 || 19 || –
|- align="center"
| 1957 || 7–3–0 || – || 18
|- align="center"
| 1958 || 8–3–0 || 12 || 13
|- align="center"
| 1959 || 9–2–0 || 11 || 11
|- align="center"
| 1977 || 8–3–1 || 19 || –
|- align="center"
| 1978 || 11–1–0 || 6 || 7
|- align="center"
| 1981 || 12–0–0 || 1 || 1
|- align="center"
| 1982 || 9–1–1 || 8 || –
|- align="center"
| 1983 || 9–1–1 || 11 || –
|- align="center"
| 1986 || 8–2–2 || 17 || 19
|- align="center"
| 1987 || 10–2–0 || 12 || 10
|- align="center"
| 1988 || 10–2–0 || 9 || 8
|- align="center"
| 1989 || 10–2–1 || 12 || 11
|- align="center"
| 1990 || 10–2–0 || 9 || 9
|- align="center"
| 1991 || 9–2–1 || 18 || 17
|- align="center"
| 1993 || 9–3–0 || 23 || 22
|- align="center"
| 2000 || 9–3–0 || 16 || 14
|- align="center"
| 2003 || 9–4–0 || 22 || 22
|- align="center"
| 2005 || 8–4–0 || 21 || 21
|- align="center"
| 2007 || 9–4–0 || 21 || 22
|- align="center"
| 2009 || 9–5–0 || 24 || –
|- align="center"
|}
† AP Poll
began selecting the nation's Top 20 teams in 1939. Only the Top 10 teams were recognized from 1962-1967. The AP Poll expanded back to the Top 20 teams in 1968. In 1989, it began recognizing the Top 25 teams.
‡ UPI/Coaches Poll
began selecting its Top 20 teams on a weekly basis in 1950 before expanding to the nations's Top 25 teams in 1990.
opened in South Bend, Indiana
. Clemson has had 3 players and 3 former coaches inducted into the Hall of Fame.
{|class="wikitable sortable"
! width="150" | Name
! width="150" | Years at Clemson
! width="110" | Position
! width="110" | Year Inducted
|- align="center"
|Jeff Davis
|1978-1981
|Linebacker
|2007
|- align="center"
|John Heisman
|1900-1903
|Head Coach
|1954
|- align="center"
|Frank Howard
|1940-1969
|Head Coach
|1989
|- align="center"
|Terry Kinard
|1978-1982
|Safety
|2001
|- align="center"
|Banks McFadden
|1937-1939
|Halfback
|1959
|- align="center"
|Jess Neely
|1931-1939
|Head Coach
|1971
|-
|}
! width="100" | Number
! width="150" | Name
! width="150" | Years at Clemson
! width="150" | Position
! width="110" | Year Retired
|- align="center"
|4
|Steve Fuller
|1975-1978
|Quarterback
|
|- align="center"
|66
|Banks McFadden
|1937-1939
|Halfback
|1987
|- align="center"
|28
|CJ Spiller
|2006-2009
|Running Back
|2010
|-
|}
Each of Clemson's honorees were All-Americans and former NFL players. The nine selectees from Clemson were:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
football team from Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
. The team is also known as the "Clemson University Fighting Tigers", which name appears on the banner that cheerleaders use at football games.
Early years: 1896–1899
Walter Merritt RiggsWalter Riggs
Walter Merritt Riggs was the president of Clemson University from 1910 to 1924 and the "father of Clemson football" coaching the first football team for what was then Clemson College. Riggs graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's of science in engineering in 1892 and was a member of...
can be characterized as the "Father of Clemson Football," as he brought the game with him from Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (now Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
). The fact that Auburn and Clemson share the same mascot is no accident. Riggs allowed his players to pick the team mascot and, although he may have influenced their decision, the players chose Tigers because Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
had just won the national championship. Riggs helped organize and coach the infant Tiger team in 1896. Indeed, when the Tigers traveled to Greenville on Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
to play Furman in their very first match, only Coach Riggs and backfield player Frank Thompkins had ever seen a football game played. Today in Clemson, the soccer field is named Historic Riggs field after Walter Riggs.
Riggs took the team to a 2–1 record in the inaugural year. He then stepped aside at the urging of the cadets, who felt that he should concentrate on his scholastic duties rather than coach the team for free. William M. Williams coached the Tigers in 1897, guiding them to a 2–2 record. In 1898, John Penton
John Penton
John A. Penton was the head coach of the Clemson college football program in 1898.-Head coaching record:-External links:...
led the Tigers to a 3–1 record.
In 1899, when the Clemson Athletic Association could not afford a coaching salary, Riggs again took over the reins, one of only two Clemson football coaches to return to the position after stepping down. The 1899 squad went 4–2. Riggs' overall record of 6–3 gives him a .667 winning percentage. Historic Riggs Field
Riggs Field
Riggs Field is a 6,500-capacity soccer-specific stadium located in Clemson, South Carolina. The stadium is home to the Clemson Tigers men's and women's soccer teams. It has also hosted the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship in 1987. The stadium opened for soccer in 1980, and was renovated in 1987...
is named for him.
After a decade as a Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
professor, he was named acting president of Clemson Agricultural College
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
in 1910, being confirmed by the Board of Trustees as permanent president on March 7, 1911. He served until his untimely death on January 22, 1924 while on a trip to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to meet with officials of other land grant institutions.
John Heisman era: 1900–1903
John HeismanJohn Heisman
John William Heisman was an American player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He served as the head football coach at Oberlin College , Buchtel College, now known as the University of Akron , Auburn University , Clemson University , Georgia Tech , the...
coached the Tigers to their first undefeated season (6–0) in 1900. Heisman stayed only four years at Clemson, where he compiled a record of 19–3–2, an .833 percentage, the best in Clemson football history. Following a 73–0 defeat of Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
in 1903, the Yellow Jackets hired Heisman as their first full-time football coach.
Post-Heisman era: 1904–1930
After Heisman left Clemson to become the head coach at Georgia Tech, the following coaches lead the Tigers football team:- Shack ShealyShack ShealyShack Shealy was the head coach of the Clemson college football program in 1904, and the only Clemson graduate to be head coach of his alma mater....
(1904): 3–3–1 record - the only Clemson graduate (1899) to serve as head coach of his alma mater - Edward B. Cochems (1905): 3–2–1 record
- Bob WilliamsBob Williams (coach)C. Robert "Bob" Williams was a college American football coach active in the 1900s and 1910s. Williams coached at South Carolina, Davidson, Clemson, and Virginia Tech....
(1906, 1909, 1913–1915): 21–14–6 record; only coach to serve as Clemson's head coach three times; also coached at South CarolinaSouth Carolina GamecocksThe University of South Carolina's 19 varsity sports teams are known as the "Gamecocks". The unique moniker is held in honor of Thomas Sumter, a South Carolina war hero who was given the name "The Carolina Gamecock" during the American Revolution for his fierce fighting tactics, regardless of his... - Frank ShaughnessyFrank ShaughnessyFrancis Joseph "Shag" Shaughnessy was an American athlete and sports executive. Shaughnessy played both baseball and football and was an executive in baseball, football and ice hockey. He was born in the United States and moved to Canada in the 1910s, where he was involved with football and ice...
(1907): 4–4 record - John StoneJohn Stone (coach)John N. Stonewas the head coach of the Clemson college football program in 1908.-Head coaching record:-External links:...
(1908): 1–6 record - Frank Dobson (1910–1912): 11–12–1 record; also coached at South Carolina
- Wayne HartWayne HartWayne Hart was the head coach of the Clemson college football program in 1916.-Head coaching record:-External links:...
(1916): 3–6 record - Edward DonahueEdward DonahueEdward Donahue was the head football coach at Clemson from 1917 to 1920. His record stands at 21-12-3 . He also served as the school's basketball and baseball coach, as well as the track coach. He was an alumnus of Washington and Lee College where he played basketball and baseball. He later went on...
(1917–1920): 21–12–3 record - E.J. Stewart (1921–1922): 6–10–2 record
- Bud SaundersBud SaundersBud Saunders was an American football and basketball coach. He served as the head football coach at the Clemson University from 1923 to 1926, compiling a record of 10–22–1. Saunders was also the head basketball coach at Clemson from 1923 to 1925, tallying a mark of 6–28...
(1923–1926): 10–22–1 record - Josh CodyJosh CodyJoshua C. Cody was an American college athlete, head coach and athletics director. Cody was a native of Tennessee and an alumnus of Vanderbilt University, where he was a three-time All-American college football player...
(1927–1930): 29–11–1 record; Tigers were undefeated at home (13-0-1) and against South Carolina (3–0) during Cody's tenure
Jess Neely era: 1931–1939
In 1931, Jess NeelyJess Neely
Jess C. Neely was an American football player and coach of football and baseball. He served as the head football coach at Southwestern University, now Rhodes College , Clemson University , and Rice University , compiling a career college football record of 207–176–19...
(a former head coach at Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
and assistant at Alabama) became Clemson's head football coach. During his tenure, Neely led the Tigers to a 43-35-7 record. His final season at Clemson was the turning point in the Tigers' program. His team went 9-1 during that season, finishing second to Duke
Duke Blue Devils
Duke University's 26 varsity sports teams, known as the Blue Devils, compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The name comes from the French "les Diables Bleus" or "the Blue Devils," which was the nickname given during World War I to the Chasseurs Alpins, the French Alpine light infantry...
in the Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
. The Tigers also received their first bowl invitation and bowl victory that year, defeating nationally ranked Boston College
Boston College Eagles
The Boston College Eagles are the athletic teams representing Boston College. They compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The men's and women's ice hockey teams compete in Hockey East. The women's crew team competes in the Eastern Association of Women's Rowing...
6-3 in the 1940 Cotton Bowl Classic. The 1939 Tigers finished with a #12 ranking in the final AP poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
. Clemson also had their first Associated Press All-American that year in Banks McFadden
Banks McFadden
Banks McFadden was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959. McFadden attended Great Falls High School in South Carolina, where he led the Red Devils to two state championships in football and one in basketball...
. Jess Neely, along with then athletic director Dr. Rupert Fike, founded the IPTAY Scholarship Fund, which supports the Clemson Athletic Department.
Frank Howard era: 1940–1969
After Jess Neely left to become the head coach at RiceRice Owls
The Rice University athletic teams are known as the Rice Owls. The name comes from the owls in Rice's crest.Rice participates in NCAA Division I athletics and is part of Conference USA. Rice was a member of the Southwest Conference until its breakup in 1996. Rice then joined the Western Athletic...
, Frank Howard
Frank Howard (football coach)
Frank J. Howard was an American college football player and coach. He played college football for Alabama. After a career-ending injury, Howard joined the staff at Clemson College and became head coach in 1939. Howard would coach the Clemson Tigers for 30 years, amassing the 15th most wins of...
(an assistant coach under Neely) was named head coach. In his 30 years at Clemson, Howard compiled a 165–118–12 record, a 3–3 bowl record, won two Southern Conference championships, and six ACC championships. Seven of Howard's teams finished the year ranked in at least one final poll. He also incorporated the Single Wing, T-formation, and I-formation offenses at different points during his coaching career at Clemson. Clemson had two undefeated season under Howard, one in 1948 (11-0), and one in 1950 (9-0-1).
The tradition of rubbing "Howard's Rock" prior to running down the hill before home games began during Coach Howard's tenure . The playing field at Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium, Clemson
Frank Howard Field at Memorial Stadium, popularly known as Death Valley, is home to the Clemson University Tigers, a NCAA Division I-A football team, located in Clemson, South Carolina...
was named "Frank Howard Field" in 1974 following his retirement to honor his many years of service for the university. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
, the South Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the Clemson Hall of Fame, the Clemson Ring of Honor, the Helms Athletic Hall of Fame, the State of Alabama Hall of Fame, National Football Foundation Hall of Fame, the Orange Bowl Hall of Honor, and the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame.
Post-Howard era: 1970–1976
Clemson struggled during the years following Frank Howard's retirement. His successor, Hootie IngramHootie Ingram
Cecil W. "Hootie" Ingram is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator in the United States. He played for the University of Alabama from 1952 to 1954 and was selected as an All-SEC defensive back in 1952...
, only compiled a 12–21 record. During his tenure, the tradition of running down the hill was stopped from 1970 to the end of the 1972 season, when the team decided it wanted to come down the hill for the final home game against South Carolina. The traditional "tiger paw" logo was introduced by Ingram. Jimmy "Red" Parker coached the Tigers from 1973–1976, compiling a 17-25-2 record.
Charlie Pell era: 1977–1978
Charlie Pell coached the Tigers for two seasons, winning the ACC Coach of the Year award twice and leading the Tigers to the 1978 ACC Championship en route to a 18-4-1 record. In both seasons, Clemson earned berths to the Gator Bowl. However, Pell became involved in NCAA rules and recruiting violations that came to light under the tenure of his successor, Danny Ford. Charlie Pell would leave after 1978 to become head coach at FloridaFlorida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
, where his coaching career would end in 1984 following more NCAA rules violations.
Danny Ford era: 1978–1989
The Danny FordDanny Ford
Danny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling...
Era began in 1978, after Charlie Pell left for the University of Florida. He won his first game, the 1978 Gator Bowl, with a 17–15 victory over Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of The Ohio State University, named after the state tree, the Buckeye. The Buckeyes participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports...
and legendary coach Woody Hayes
Woody Hayes
Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio...
, who punched LB Charlie Bauman in the throat after making the game-clinching interception. In his first two seasons, Ford guided the Tigers to 8–4 and 6–5 records and a Peach Bowl bid in 1979. In 1981, Ford led the Tigers to a 12–0 record, and Clemson's only National Championship in 1981, a 22-15 victory over Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
in the Orange Bowl, and the school's first national championship in any sport. During his tenure at Clemson, Ford compiled a 96-29-4 (.760) record, a 6-2 bowl record, won five ACC championships, and finished the year ranked in at least one poll seven times. Ford also coached 21 All-Americans and 41 players who went on to play in the NFL during his 11 seasons at Clemson.
On November 21, 1982, the football program was placed on probation for a 2-year period to include the 1983 and 1984 seasons. This sanction was enforced on the program by the NCAA Committee on Infractions due to a lengthy history of recruiting violations meant to gain an athletic advantage. These recruiting violations took place from 1977 through the Tigers' 1981 National Championship season
1981 Clemson Tigers football team
The 1981 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers were led by head coach Danny Ford and played their home games in Memorial Stadium...
and into 1982, under the administration of two head coaches, Charlie Pell and Danny Ford. The Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
imposed a third year of conference penalty.
Over 150 documented violations were found to have been committed under NCAA bylaws in the categories of improper recruiting inducements, extra benefits to student-athletes, unethical conduct, improper financial aid, improper campus visits, improper transportation and entertainment, improper use of funds, improper employment, improper recruiting contact, and distribution of cash to players by members of the coaching staff.
As a result of these violations, Clemson was barred from participating in bowl games following the 1982 and 1983 seasons, and barred from appearing on live television in the 1983 and 1984 seasons. Also, the number of scholarships that the university could allocate to football players was restricted to 20 (from the normal limit of 30) for the 1983-84 and 1984-85 academic years. The Tigers, however, were allowed to keep their 1978 and 1981 ACC titles as well as the 1981 national title.
Charles Alan Wright, chairman of the NCAA Committee on Infractions said at the time, "Due to the large number and serious nature of the violations in this case, the committee believed that institutional sanctions related to appearances on television and in postseason football bowl games were appropriate. In addition, because the violations indicated a pattern of improper recruiting activities, the committee determined that a two-year limitation on financial aid to new recruits should be imposed to offset any recruiting advantage that was gained improperly by the university."
Just five years after their probation ended, Clemson once again found their football program accused of multiple recruiting violations in January 1990. The NCAA accused Clemson of giving cash to players and having illegal contact with recruits over a period from 1984 to 1988. In June 1990, the Tigers found themselves on probation once again, for the second time in less than a decade. This chain of events contributed, in part, to the forced resignation of popular head coach Danny Ford.
After a few years away from coaching, Ford was hired by Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
in 1992, where he would spend five seasons guiding the Razorbacks.
Ken Hatfield Era: 1990–1993
Ken HatfieldKen Hatfield
Ken Hatfield is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the United States Air Force Academy , the University of Arkansas , Clemson University , and Rice University , compiling a career college football record of 168–140–4.-Playing...
, former coach at Air Force
Air Force Falcons football
The Air Force Falcons are a college football team from the United States Air Force Academy, located just outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the NCAA Division I and the Mountain West Conference.-Style:...
and Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
, coached the Tigers to their most recent ACC championship in 1991. He had a 32–13–1 record with the Tigers and led them to three bowl games.
Hatfield worked to clean up the program's image in the wake of the Ford-era sanctions. However, Hatfield was never really accepted by Clemson's fans. A common saying among Tiger fans during this time was "Howard built it. Ford tilled it. Hatfield killed it."
Largely due to this discontent, school officials refused to grant him a one-year extension on his contract after the 1993 season, even though the Tigers had rebounded from 5–6 in 1992 to a solid 8–3 record that year and were invited to the Peach Bowl. Angered at what he saw as a lack of support, Hatfield resigned at the end of the regular season. He was later hired at Rice
Rice Owls football
The Rice Owls football team represents Rice University in NCAA Division I college football. The Owls have competed in Conference USA's Western Division since 2005. Rice Stadium, built in 1950, hosts the Owls' home football games.-Venue:...
.
The purple home jerseys used by Clemson in special games made their debut during the 1991 ACC championship season, which was their most recent ACC Championship to date.
Tommy West era: 1993–1998
Tommy WestTommy West
-External links:* *...
replaced Ken Hatfield at the end of the 1993 season, coaching the Tigers to a 14-13 victory in the 1993 Peach Bowl against Kentucky. West had a 31–28 record during his five seasons at Clemson and led the Tigers to three bowl games but no ACC championships. West was fired after a dismal 1998 campaign which saw Clemson go 3-8 and finish last in the ACC. West went on to be the head coach at Memphis
Memphis Tigers football
The Memphis Tigers football team represents the University of Memphis in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Tigers compete in Conference USA...
.
Tommy Bowden era: 1999–2008
After Tommy West's dismissal following the 1998 season, Clemson hired Tommy BowdenTommy Bowden
Tommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008...
, son of Bobby Bowden
Bobby Bowden
Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons...
and coach at Tulane University
Tulane Green Wave football
The Tulane Green Wave football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents Tulane University in New Orleans. The team is a member of Conference USA and is led by interim head coach Mark Hutson, who took over on October 18, 2011, when fifth-year head coach Bob Toledo resigned...
. Bowden led the Tigers to a 6–6 record and a Peach Bowl bid in 1999, with the team that navigated its way through a schedule that included MAC
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
champions and undefeated Marshall
Marshall Thundering Herd football
The Marshall Thundering Herd football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Marshall University. The team represents the university as a member of the Conference USA Eastern division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, playing at the Division 1 Bowl Subdivision...
, Big East
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
champion and BCS
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
runner-up Virginia Tech (who went undefeated during the regular season), and eventual National Champion Florida State
Florida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
(who finished the year undefeated). The 1999 meeting between the Tigers and Seminoles was dubbed the "Bowden Bowl" and was the first time that a father and son coached against each other in Division I football. FSU won the game 17– ;14 in front of the largest crowd in the history of Death Valley.
During Bowden's tenure, the Tigers were bowl eligible every season but didn't win any ACC championships (the 2004 team turned down a bowl invitation as punishment for a massive brawl during a game against the University of South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks
The University of South Carolina's 19 varsity sports teams are known as the "Gamecocks". The unique moniker is held in honor of Thomas Sumter, a South Carolina war hero who was given the name "The Carolina Gamecock" during the American Revolution for his fierce fighting tactics, regardless of his...
). Despite this, Bowden has been criticized for his teams underachieving. The 2000 Tigers started 8–0 and rose as high as #5 in the polls before losing three of their last four. The same thing happened during the 2006 season following a 7–1 start and with the team on the verge of winning the ACC Atlantic Division. The Tigers have also shown great resolve at points during Bowden's tenure. The 2003 team won four games at the end of the season to finish 9–4, which included victories over #3 Florida State and #7 Tennessee
2008 Tennessee Volunteers football team
The 2008 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the college football season of 2008–2009. The team was coached by head football coach Phillip Fulmer, in his 16th and final season as head coach. The Vols played their home games in Neyland Stadium and competed...
in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. The 2004 season saw the Tigers falter to a 1–4 start only to win five of their last six games (which included an overtime upset of #10 Miami
2008 Miami Hurricanes football team
-Roster changes:University of Miami safety Kenny Phillips and defensive end Calais Campbell made the decision to forgo their senior years and declare for the NFL Draft. Phillips was drafted in the first round, No. 31 overall by the New York Giants. Campbell was drafted in the second round, No. 50...
), while the 2005 team overcame a 2–3 start to finish the season 9–4.
Tommy Bowden agreed to resign for $3.5 million on October 13, 2008, after leading the team to a disappointing 3–3 record (1–2 ACC) at the midpoint of a season in which the Tigers were an almost unanimous preseason pick to win their first ACC title under Bowden and were ranked #9 in the preseason polls. Assistant coach Dabo Swinney
Dabo Swinney
William Christopher "Dabo" Swinney is the head coach of the Clemson University Tigers football team; he was previously assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.-Playing career:...
was named interim head coach.
Dabo Swinney era: 2008–present
Following the departure of Tommy Bowden, Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
William Christopher "Dabo" Swinney is the head coach of the Clemson University Tigers football team; he was previously assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.-Playing career:...
led the Tigers to a 4–2 record, finishing the 2008 regular season
2008 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2008 Clemson football team represented Clemson University in the 2008 college football season. The Tigers were led by oft-maligned head coach Tommy Bowden, who resigned six games into his tenth season. The interim head coach was assistant coach Dabo Swinney...
at 7–6. On December 1, 2008, Swinney signed a five-year contract as Clemson's head coach.
On November 21, 2009, Swinney and the Tigers qualified for their first ACC title game berth, only to lose to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
2009 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team
The 2009 Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology in the 2009–2010 Football Season. The team was coached by second year head coach Paul Johnson...
, 39–34. They were awarded a trip to the 2009 Music City Bowl
2009 Music City Bowl
The 2009 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl was the twelfth edition of the college football bowl game, and will be played at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee. The game was played on Sunday, December 27, 2009 and was telecast on ESPN...
, and defeated the Kentucky Wildcats
2009 Kentucky Wildcats football team
The 2009 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Rich Brooks, in his seventh and ultimately final season at Kentucky, and played its home games at Commonwealth Stadium. The Wildcats competed...
, 21–13, avenging their upset loss in the 2006 Music City Bowl
2006 Music City Bowl
The 2006 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl featured a contest between the Clemson Tigers and the Kentucky Wildcats. Clemson entered the game with a record of 8-4 after having been ranked in the AP poll for most weeks of the season, as high as #10; Kentucky was 7-5 and unranked...
.
On December 31, 2010 Clemson was defeated by the South Florida Bulls
2010 South Florida Bulls football team
The 2010 South Florida Bulls football team represented the University of South Florida in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The USF Bulls played their home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. The 2010 college football season was only the 14th season overall for the Bulls, and...
, 31–26, in the Meineke Car Care Bowl
2010 Meineke Car Care Bowl
The 2010 Meineke Car Care Bowl was the ninth edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The game started at 12:00 PM US EST on Friday, December 31, 2010 and featured the South Florida Bulls of the Big East Conference against...
in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. In January 2011, Swinney hired new offensive coordinator Chad Morris, running backs coach Tony Elliott, and defensive line coach Marion Hobby.
On September 17, 2011, Clemson beat the 2010 National Champions, the #21-ranked Auburn Tigers, and ended Auburns 17-game winning streak, the longest winning streak in the nation.
On October 1, 2011, Clemson became the first ACC team to beat three nationally-ranked opponents in a row: #21-ranked Auburn, #11-ranked Florida State, and #11-ranked Virginia Tech.
On November 12, 2011, Clemson defeated Wake Forest, winning the ACC Atlantic Division title.
On November 26, 2011, Clemson lost to South Carolina for the third straight year, the first time any Clemson coach had lost three straight to their instate rival since the 1950's
Current coaching staff
| Name | Position | Alma Mater |
|---|---|---|
| Dabo Swinney Dabo Swinney William Christopher "Dabo" Swinney is the head coach of the Clemson University Tigers football team; he was previously assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.-Playing career:... |
Head Coach | University of Alabama University of Alabama The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States.... |
| Kevin Steele Kevin Steele -External links:* *... |
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach | University of Tennessee University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States... |
| Charlie Harbison | Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach | Gardner-Webb University Gardner-Webb University Gardner–Webb University is a private university located west of Charlotte in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, USA. The school has a total of 14 academic departments offering 45 major fields of study. Among the most popular of the school's 39 undergraduate majors are those in business , education ,... |
| Chad Morris | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach | Texas A&M University Texas A&M University Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school... |
| Jeff Scott | Recruiting Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach | Clemson University Clemson University Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States.... |
| Dan Brooks | Defensive Line Coach | Western Carolina University Western Carolina University Western Carolina University is a coeducational public university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, United States. The university is a constituent campus of the University of North Carolina system.... |
| Tony Elliott Tony Elliott Tony Elliott is the founder and owner of Time Out Group based in London, England. Previously married to Janet Street-Porter, he is now married to Janey Elliott, and has three sons. He was educated at Stowe School and Keele University.... |
Running Backs Coach | Clemson University Clemson University Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States.... |
| Marion Hobby | Defensive Ends Coach | University of Tennessee University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States... |
| Danny Pearman | Tight Ends/Offensive Tackles Coach | Clemson University Clemson University Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States.... |
| Robbie Caldwell Robbie Caldwell -External links:*... |
Offensive Line Coach | Furman University Furman University Furman University is a selective, private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Furman is one of the oldest, and more selective private institutions in South Carolina... |
| Reference: | ||
Georgia Tech
Clemson's rivalry with Georgia Tech dates to 1898 with the first game being played in Atlanta. The game was played in Atlanta for 45 of the first 47 matchups. When Georgia Tech joined the ACC in 1978, The series went to a more traditional home-and-home setup beginning with the 1983 game. When the ACC expanded to 12 teams and split into two divisions in 2005, Clemson and Georgia Tech were placed in opposite divisions but were designated permanent cross-divisional rivals so that the series may continue uninterrupted. The two schools are 127 miles apart and connected to each other by Interstate 85Interstate 85
Interstate 85 is a major interstate highway in the Southeastern United States. Its current southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 65 in Montgomery, Alabama; its northern terminus interchanges with Interstate 95 in Petersburg, Virginia, near Richmond...
. This distance is slightly closer than that between Clemson and traditional rival South Carolina (137 miles). As of 2011, Georgia Tech leads the series 51-25-2. The Jackets also lead the series 15-14 since Georgia Tech joined the ACC.
NC State
The yearly conference and divisional matchup between NC State is known as the Textile BowlTextile Bowl
The Textile Bowl is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Clemson Tigers football team of Clemson University and the NC State Wolfpack football team of North Carolina State University. The rivalry game has been known as the Textile Bowl since 1981...
for the schools similar missions in research and development for the textile industry in the Carolinas. The first meeting of the two schools occurred in 1899 and as of 2010, Clemson holds a 51-28-1 series advantage.
Boston College
The O'Rourke-McFadden Trophy was created in 2008 by the Boston College Gridiron Club in order to honor the tradition at both schools and to honor the legacy of Charlie O'RourkeCharlie O'Rourke
Charles C. O'Rourke also known as Chuckin' Charlie is a former quarterback and defensive back for the Boston College Eagles, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Dons, and Baltimore Colts. He quarterbacked the BC football team to one of its most famous wins...
and Banks McFadden
Banks McFadden
Banks McFadden was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959. McFadden attended Great Falls High School in South Carolina, where he led the Red Devils to two state championships in football and one in basketball...
, who played during the leather helmet era. The club plans to make this an annual presentation. Clemson first met Boston College on the football field in the 1940 Cotton Bowl Classic, the first ever bowl game for the Tigers and Eagles. Over the next 43 years, the teams met a total of 13 times. In 2005, Boston College joined the ACC and the Atlantic Division. Since then, the game has been played on an annual basis with Boston College winning 3 of the first 5 games as divisional foes. As of 2011 the Tigers lead the series at 10-9-2.
Florida State
Between 1999 and 2007 the ACC Atlantic Division matchup between Clemson and Florida State was referred to as the "Bowden Bowl" to reflect the father-son head coach matchup between Bobby BowdenBobby Bowden
Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons...
(Father, FSU) and Tommy Bowden
Tommy Bowden
Tommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008...
(Son, Clemson). Their first meeting, in 1999, was the first time in Division I-A history that a father and a son met as opposing head coaches in a football game. Bobby Bowden won the first four matchups extending FSU's winning streak over Clemson to 11 dating back to 1992. Since 2002, Clemson won 4 of the last 5, including a 26-10 win in Clemson over then-#3 FSU, the highest ranking opponent to ever be defeated by the Tigers. Also during this time the Tigers recorded a 27-20 win in Tallahassee in 2006 which broke a 17-year losing streak in Doak Campbell Stadium. 2007 was the last Bowden Bowl game as Tommy resigned as head coach in October 2008. As of 2011, Florida State leads the overall series 17-8.
Georgia
The Bulldogs and the Tigers have been perpetual thorns in one another’s sides; Clemson’s only regular-season losses of the 1978, 1982, and 1991 campaigns all came between the hedges, whereas Georgia’s only regular-season setback during the three years of the Herschel Walker era came in Death Valley during Danny Ford’s 1981 national championship run.During the two programs’ simultaneous glory days of the early 1980s, no rivalry in all of college football was more important at the national level, as Scott Woerner’s dramatic returns in 1980 and the nine turnovers forced by the Tigers the following fall effectively settled the eventual No. 1 ranking. Likewise, no rivalry of that period was more competitive, as evidenced by the critical eleventh-hour field goals kicked by Kevin Butler in 1984 and by David Treadwell more than once later in the decade. Despite blowouts in 1990, 1994, and 2003, the series typically has remained competitive in more recent days, as two of the last three meetings were decided by two points in 1995 and three points in 2002. However, Georgia maintains a 41-17-4 lead in the series, including 5 wins in a row dating back to 1991.
Auburn
These old rivals first played in 1899, but until 2010, had not faced each other in the regular season since 1971. Auburn leads the overall series 34-12-2 and had won 14 games in a row, dating back to 1952, before Clemson snapped the streak in 2011, by beating #21 ranked Auburn 38-24 in Death Valley, in front of a crowd of exactly 82,000. Along with snapping one streak, Clemson also snapped Auburn's seventeen game winning streak coming off of the 2009-2011 seasons. The Georgia DomeGeorgia Dome
The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...
will host the Auburn-Clemson rivalry in the upcoming 2012 Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
The Chick-fil-A College Kickoff is an annual college football game played on the opening weekend of the college football season in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia Dome.- History :...
.
All-time record vs. current ACC teams
| Opponent | Won | Lost | Tied | Percentage | Streak | First Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston College Boston College Eagles football The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division... |
10 | 9 | 2 | Won 1 | 1940 | |
| Duke Duke Blue Devils football The Duke Blue Devils football program is a college football team that represents Duke University . The team is currently a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference , which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Blue Devils compete in the Coastal... |
35 | 16 | 1 | Won 3 | 1934 | |
| Florida State Florida State Seminoles football The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
8 | 17 | 0 | Won 1 | 1970 | |
| Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
25 | 49 | 2 | Won 1 | 1898 | |
| Maryland Maryland Terrapins football The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
31 | 26 | 2 | Won 1 | 1952 | |
| Miami Miami Hurricanes football The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships... |
3 | 6 | 0 | Lost 1 | 1945 | |
| North Carolina North Carolina Tar Heels football The North Carolina Tar Heels football team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in collegiate level football. In Carolina’s first 121 seasons of football competition, the Tar Heels have compiled a record of 646–488–54, a winning percentage of .566... |
35 | 19 | 1 | Won 1 | 1897 | |
| North Carolina State | 51 | 27 | 1 | Won 7 | 1899 | |
| Virginia Virginia Cavaliers football Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
37 | 8 | 1 | Won 2 | 1955 | |
| Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Hokies football The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over... |
18 | 12 | 1 | Won 1 | 1900 | |
| Wake Forest Wake Forest Demon Deacons football The Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represents Wake Forest University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Wake Forest plays its home football games at BB&T Field.... |
58 | 17 | 1 | Won 2 | 1933 | |
| Totals | 307 | 206 | 12 |
Bowl games
| Season | Coach | Bowl | Game Date | W/L | Opponent | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Jess Neely Jess Neely Jess C. Neely was an American football player and coach of football and baseball. He served as the head football coach at Southwestern University, now Rhodes College , Clemson University , and Rice University , compiling a career college football record of 207–176–19... |
Cotton | January 1, 1940 1940 Cotton Bowl Classic The 1939 Cotton Bowl Classic was a postseason college football bowl game between the Clemson Tigers and the Boston College Eagles. Clemson won the game 6-3.-References:*... |
W | Boston College Boston College Eagles football The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division... |
6 | 3 |
| 1948 | Frank Howard | Gator Gator Bowl The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally... |
January 1, 1949 | W | Missouri Missouri Tigers football The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996... |
24 | 23 |
| 1950 | Frank Howard | Orange | January 1, 1951 | W | Miami Miami Hurricanes football The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships... |
15 | 14 |
| 1951 | Frank Howard | Gator Gator Bowl The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally... |
January 1, 1952 | L | Miami Miami Hurricanes football The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships... |
0 | 14 |
| 1956 | Frank Howard | Orange | January 1, 1957 | L | Colorado Colorado Buffaloes football The Colorado Buffaloes football program represents the University of Colorado at Boulder in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The team is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, having previously been a charter member of the Big 12 Conference. Before joining the Big 12,... |
21 | 27 |
| 1958 | Frank Howard | Sugar Sugar Bowl The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009... |
January 1, 1959 1959 Sugar Bowl The 1959 edition to the Sugar Bowl featured the top ranked LSU Tigers, and the 12th ranked Clemson Tigers. This game was one of the classic Sugar Bowl games, as LSU won its first ever national championship.... |
L | LSU LSU Tigers football The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as... |
0 | 7 |
| 1959 | Frank Howard | Bluebonnet Bluebonnet Bowl The Bluebonnet Bowl was an annual college football bowl game played in Houston, Texas. A civic group was appointed by the Houston Chamber of Commerce Athletics Committee in 1959 to organize the bowl game. It was held at Rice Stadium from 1959 through 1967, and again in 1985 and 1986. The game was... |
December 19, 1959 | W | TCU TCU Horned Frogs football The TCU Horned Frogs football team is the intercollegiate football team of Texas Christian University. TCU competes as a member of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, but will move to the Big 12 Conference for the 2012 season. TCU began playing football... |
23 | 7 |
| 1977 | Charley Pell Charley Pell Charles Byron "Charley" Pell was an American college football player and coach. Pell was an Alabama native and an alumnus of the University of Alabama, where he played college football. He is most notably remembered as the head coach of the Clemson University and the University of Florida... |
Gator Gator Bowl The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally... |
December 30, 1977 | L | Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Panthers football Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football... |
3 | 34 |
| 1978 | Danny Ford Danny Ford Danny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling... |
Gator Gator Bowl The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally... |
December 29, 1978 | W | Ohio State Ohio State Buckeyes football The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state... |
17 | 15 |
| 1979 | Danny Ford Danny Ford Danny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling... |
Peach | December 31, 1979 | L | Baylor Baylor Bears football The Baylor Bears football team represents Baylor University in Division I FBS college football. They are a member of the Big 12 Conference. The team plays its home games at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas.-History:... |
18 | 24 |
| 1981 1981 Clemson Tigers football team The 1981 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers were led by head coach Danny Ford and played their home games in Memorial Stadium... |
Danny Ford Danny Ford Danny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling... |
Orange | January 1, 1982 1982 Orange Bowl The 1982 edition of the Orange Bowl featured the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and the Clemson Tigers.Clemson, coached by Danny Ford, came into the game unbeaten at 11-0 and ranked #1 and was attempting to win its first national championship... |
W | Nebraska Nebraska Cornhuskers football The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A... |
22 | 15 |
| 1985 | Danny Ford Danny Ford Danny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling... |
Independence Independence Bowl The Independence Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game that is played annually at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, so named because it was inaugurated in the United States bicentennial year, 1976.... |
December 21, 1985 | L | Minnesota Minnesota Golden Gophers football The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as... |
13 | 20 |
| 1986 | Danny Ford Danny Ford Danny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling... |
Gator Gator Bowl The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally... |
December 27, 1986 | W | Stanford Stanford Cardinal football The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The... |
27 | 21 |
| 1987 | Danny Ford Danny Ford Danny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling... |
Florida Citrus Capital One Bowl The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl... |
January 1, 1988 | W | Penn State Penn State Nittany Lions football The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the... |
35 | 10 |
| 1988 | Danny Ford Danny Ford Danny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling... |
Florida Citrus Capital One Bowl The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl... |
January 2, 1989 | W | Oklahoma Oklahoma Sooners football The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association... |
13 | 6 |
| 1989 1989 Clemson Tigers football team The 1989 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the 1989 college football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Danny Ford, who was serving his final season as head coach at Clemson. The Tigers played their home games in Memorial Stadium... |
Danny Ford Danny Ford Danny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling... |
Gator Gator Bowl The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally... |
December 30, 1989 | W | West Virginia West Virginia Mountaineers football The West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the NCAA FBS division of college football. Dana Holgorsen is the team's 33rd head coach. He has held the position since he was promoted in June 2011 after the resignation of Bill Stewart. The Mountaineers play their... |
27 | 7 |
| 1990 | Ken Hatfield Ken Hatfield Ken Hatfield is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the United States Air Force Academy , the University of Arkansas , Clemson University , and Rice University , compiling a career college football record of 168–140–4.-Playing... |
Hall of Fame | January 1, 1991 | W | Illinois Illinois Fighting Illini football The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51... |
30 | 0 |
| 1991 | Ken Hatfield Ken Hatfield Ken Hatfield is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the United States Air Force Academy , the University of Arkansas , Clemson University , and Rice University , compiling a career college football record of 168–140–4.-Playing... |
Florida Citrus Capital One Bowl The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl... |
January 1, 1992 | L | California | 13 | 37 |
| 1993 | Tommy West Tommy West -External links:* *... |
Peach | December 31,1993 1993 Peach Bowl (December) 1993 Peach Bowl matched the Clemson Tigers of the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Kentucky Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference. Clemson entered the game at 8-3 and ranked #24 in the AP poll after being ranked as high as #21 during the season; Kentucky was 6-5 and unranked. Clemson was... |
W | Kentucky Kentucky Wildcats football The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era... |
14 | 13 |
| 1995 | Tommy West Tommy West -External links:* *... |
Gator Gator Bowl The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally... |
January 1, 1996 | L | Syracuse Syracuse Orange football The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision... |
0 | 41 |
| 1996 | Tommy West Tommy West -External links:* *... |
Peach | December 28, 1996 | L | LSU LSU Tigers football The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as... |
7 | 10 |
| 1997 | Tommy West Tommy West -External links:* *... |
Peach | January 2, 1998 | L | Auburn Auburn Tigers football Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the... |
17 | 21 |
| 1999 | Tommy Bowden Tommy Bowden Tommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008... |
Peach | December 30,1999 1999 Peach Bowl The 2000 edition to the Peach Bowl featured the Clemson Tigers, and the .After a scoreless first half, Mississippi State scored first on a 39 yard Scott Westerfield field goal, taking a 3–0 lead. In the fourth quarter, Wayne Madkin scored on a 2 yard touchdown run increasing the lead to 10-0.... |
L | Mississippi State Mississippi State Bulldogs football The Mississippi State Bulldogs football program represents Mississippi State University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State has produced 38 All-Americans, 171 All-SEC selections, and 124... |
7 | 17 |
| 2000 | Tommy Bowden Tommy Bowden Tommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008... |
Gator Gator Bowl The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally... |
January 1, 2001 2001 Gator Bowl The 2001 Gator Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Clemson Tigers at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on January 1, 2001... |
L | Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Hokies football The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over... |
20 | 41 |
| 2001 2001 Clemson Tigers football team The 2001 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-A college football during the 2001 season. Clemson competed as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference .... |
Tommy Bowden Tommy Bowden Tommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008... |
Humanitarian Bowl | December 31, 2001 2001 Humanitarian Bowl The 2001 edition to the Humanitarian Bowl was the 5th edition of the bowl game. It featured the Clemson Tigers, and the .-Game summary:Louisiana Tech scored first on a 29 yard field goal from placekicker Josh Scobee, giving the Bulldogs a 3–0 lead... |
W | Louisiana Tech Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football program represents Louisiana Tech University in Western Athletic Conference. The team currently competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. Since the Bulldogs first season in 1901, Louisiana Tech has compiled an all-time record of 554 wins, 422... |
49 | 24 |
| 2002 | Tommy Bowden Tommy Bowden Tommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008... |
Tangerine Champs Sports Bowl The Champs Sports Bowl is an annual college football bowl game that is played in Orlando, Florida, at the Citrus Bowl. The bowl is operated by Florida Citrus Sports, a non-profit group which also organizes the Capital One Bowl and Florida Classic... |
December 23, 2002 2002 Tangerine Bowl The 2002 Tangerine Bowl was the 13th edition of the college football bowl game. It was played on December 23, 2002, and featured the Clemson Tigers and the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Texas Tech's 40 point margin of victory is still a bowl game record.... |
L | Texas Tech Texas Tech Red Raiders football Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association... |
15 | 55 |
| 2003 | Tommy Bowden Tommy Bowden Tommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008... |
Peach | January 2, 2004 | W | Tennessee Tennessee Volunteers football The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference .... |
27 | 14 |
| 2005 2005 Clemson Tigers football team The 2005 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tommy Bowden and played their homes game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.-Season:... |
Tommy Bowden Tommy Bowden Tommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008... |
Champs Sports Champs Sports Bowl The Champs Sports Bowl is an annual college football bowl game that is played in Orlando, Florida, at the Citrus Bowl. The bowl is operated by Florida Citrus Sports, a non-profit group which also organizes the Capital One Bowl and Florida Classic... |
December 27, 2005 2005 Champs Sports Bowl The 2005 Champs Sports Bowl was the 16th edition to the college football bowl game and was played on December 27, 2005, featuring the Clemson Tigers and the Colorado Buffaloes. Three weeks prior to the game, Colorado head coach Gary Barnett resigned and so the Buffalos were coached by defensive... |
W | Colorado Colorado Buffaloes football The Colorado Buffaloes football program represents the University of Colorado at Boulder in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The team is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, having previously been a charter member of the Big 12 Conference. Before joining the Big 12,... |
19 | 10 |
| 2006 2006 Clemson Tigers football team The 2006 Clemson football team represented Clemson University in the 2006 college football season The team was coached by Tommy Bowden and played their homes game in the Memorial Stadium.-Notable:... |
Tommy Bowden Tommy Bowden Tommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008... |
Music City Music City Bowl The Music City Bowl is a post-season American college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played in Nashville, Tennessee, since 1998.-Site:The first Music City Bowl was played at Vanderbilt Stadium in 1998... |
December 29, 2006 2006 Music City Bowl The 2006 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl featured a contest between the Clemson Tigers and the Kentucky Wildcats. Clemson entered the game with a record of 8-4 after having been ranked in the AP poll for most weeks of the season, as high as #10; Kentucky was 7-5 and unranked... |
L | Kentucky Kentucky Wildcats football The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era... |
20 | 28 |
| 2007 2007 Clemson Tigers football team The 2007 Clemson football team represented Clemson University in the 2007 college football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Tommy Bowden and played their home games in Memorial Stadium.- Notable :... |
Tommy Bowden Tommy Bowden Tommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008... |
Chick-fil-A Chick-fil-A Bowl The Chick-fil-A Bowl, formerly called the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and before that simply called the Peach Bowl, is an annual college football bowl game played in Atlanta, Georgia since December 1968. The first three Peach Bowls were played at Grant Field on the Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta.... |
December 31,2007 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl The 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl was an edition of the Chick-fil-A Bowl, formerly known as the Peach Bowl and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. It pitted the Auburn Tigers against the Clemson Tigers in a postseason American college football game in Atlanta, Georgia... |
L | Auburn 2007 Auburn Tigers football team The 2007 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Head coach Tommy Tuberville returned for his ninth season at Auburn, the third longest tenure among SEC head coaches in 2007. He was joined by returning offensive coordinator Al... |
20 | 23 |
| 2008 2008 Clemson Tigers football team The 2008 Clemson football team represented Clemson University in the 2008 college football season. The Tigers were led by oft-maligned head coach Tommy Bowden, who resigned six games into his tenth season. The interim head coach was assistant coach Dabo Swinney... |
Dabo Swinney Dabo Swinney William Christopher "Dabo" Swinney is the head coach of the Clemson University Tigers football team; he was previously assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.-Playing career:... |
Gator Gator Bowl The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally... |
January 1, 2009 2009 Gator Bowl The 2009 Gator Bowl was played on January 1, 2009 as part of the 2008 College Football season. It featured the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who finished tied for first in the Big 12 Conference's North Division with Missouri, and the Clemson Tigers, who finished fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference's... |
L | Nebraska 2008 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team The 2008 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Bo Pelini and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.... |
21 | 26 |
| 2009 2009 Clemson Tigers football team The 2009 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the 2009 college football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney, who was in his first full season as head coach. The Tigers played their home games in Memorial Stadium... |
Dabo Swinney Dabo Swinney William Christopher "Dabo" Swinney is the head coach of the Clemson University Tigers football team; he was previously assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.-Playing career:... |
Music City Music City Bowl The Music City Bowl is a post-season American college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played in Nashville, Tennessee, since 1998.-Site:The first Music City Bowl was played at Vanderbilt Stadium in 1998... |
December 27, 2009 2009 Music City Bowl The 2009 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl was the twelfth edition of the college football bowl game, and will be played at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee. The game was played on Sunday, December 27, 2009 and was telecast on ESPN... |
W | Kentucky 2009 Kentucky Wildcats football team The 2009 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Rich Brooks, in his seventh and ultimately final season at Kentucky, and played its home games at Commonwealth Stadium. The Wildcats competed... |
21 | 13 |
| 2010 2010 Clemson Tigers football team The 2010 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney in his second full year and third year overall after taking over the job midway through the 2008 season... |
Dabo Swinney Dabo Swinney William Christopher "Dabo" Swinney is the head coach of the Clemson University Tigers football team; he was previously assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.-Playing career:... |
Meineke Car Care | December 31, 2010 2010 Meineke Car Care Bowl The 2010 Meineke Car Care Bowl was the ninth edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The game started at 12:00 PM US EST on Friday, December 31, 2010 and featured the South Florida Bulls of the Big East Conference against... |
L | South Florida 2010 South Florida Bulls football team The 2010 South Florida Bulls football team represented the University of South Florida in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The USF Bulls played their home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. The 2010 college football season was only the 14th season overall for the Bulls, and... |
26 | 31 |
| Total | 33 Bowl Games | 16-17 | 590 | 651 |
National championship
Clemson finished their undefeated 1981 season with a 22-15 victory over the #4 Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 1982 Orange Bowl, and were named the national champions.{| border="0" width="100%"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="85%"
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Year
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Coach
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Selector
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Record
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Bowl
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Opponent
!bgcolor="#F66733"| PF
!bgcolor="#F66733"| PA
|- align="center"
| 1981
1981 Clemson Tigers football team
The 1981 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers were led by head coach Danny Ford and played their home games in Memorial Stadium...
|| Danny Ford
Danny Ford
Danny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling...
|| AP, UPI/Coaches' Poll† || 12-0 || Orange Bowl
1982 Orange Bowl
The 1982 edition of the Orange Bowl featured the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and the Clemson Tigers.Clemson, coached by Danny Ford, came into the game unbeaten at 11-0 and ranked #1 and was attempting to win its first national championship...
|| Nebraska || 22 || 15
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan="4" bgcolor="#522D80"| National championships:
| colspan="4" bgcolor="#522D80"| 1
|}
† Other consensus selectors included Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, FACT, FB News, Football Research, FW, Helms, Litkenhous, Matthews, National Championship Foundation, NFF, NY Times, Poling, Sagarin, and Sporting News
Undefeated seasons
Since its beginnings in 1896, Clemson has completed five undefeated seasons. This includes three perfect seasons in which the Tigers were undefeated and untied:- 1900, 1906, 1948, 1950, 19811981 Clemson Tigers football teamThe 1981 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers were led by head coach Danny Ford and played their home games in Memorial Stadium...
Conference championships
Clemson won the Southern Inercollegiate Athletic Association in 1900 and 1902 along with the Southern Conference title in 1940 and 1948. Their 13 ACCAtlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
titles (12 outright, 1 tied) is the all-time ACC football record.
{| border="0" width="100%"
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{| cellpadding="3" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="85%"
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Year
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Coach
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!bgcolor="#F66733"| Overall Record
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Conference Record
|- align="center"
| 1900 || John Heisman
John Heisman
John William Heisman was an American player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He served as the head football coach at Oberlin College , Buchtel College, now known as the University of Akron , Auburn University , Clemson University , Georgia Tech , the...
|| Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association was one of the first collegiate athletic conferences in the United States. Twenty-seven of the current Division I FBS football programs were members of this conference at some point, as were at least 19 other schools...
|| 6–0 || 4–0
|- align="center"
| 1902 || John Heisman || Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association || 6–1 || 6–0
|- align="center"
| 1940 || Frank Howard || Southern Conference || 6–2–1 || 4–0
|- align="center"
| 1948 || Frank Howard || Southern Conference|| 11–0 || 5–0
|- align="center"
| 1956 || Frank Howard || Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
|| 7–2–2 || 4–0–1
|- align="center"
| 1958 || Frank Howard || Atlantic Coast Conference || 8–3 || 5–1
|- align="center"
| 1959 || Frank Howard || Atlantic Coast Conference || 9–2 || 6–1
|- align="center"
| 1965 || Frank Howard || Atlantic Coast Conference† || 5–5 || 5–2
|- align="center"
| 1966 || Frank Howard || Atlantic Coast Conference || 6–4 || 6–1
|- align="center"
| 1967 || Frank Howard || Atlantic Coast Conference || 6–4 || 6–0
|- align="center"
| 1978 || Charley Pell
Charley Pell
Charles Byron "Charley" Pell was an American college football player and coach. Pell was an Alabama native and an alumnus of the University of Alabama, where he played college football. He is most notably remembered as the head coach of the Clemson University and the University of Florida...
|| Atlantic Coast Conference || 11–1 || 6–0
|- align="center"
| 1981
1981 Clemson Tigers football team
The 1981 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers were led by head coach Danny Ford and played their home games in Memorial Stadium...
|| Danny Ford
Danny Ford
Danny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling...
|| Atlantic Coast Conference || 12–0 || 6–0
|- align="center"
| 1982 || Danny Ford || Atlantic Coast Conference || 9–1–1 || 6–0
|- align="center"
| 1986 || Danny Ford || Atlantic Coast Conference || 8–2–2 || 5–1–1
|- align="center"
| 1987 || Danny Ford || Atlantic Coast Conference || 10–2 || 6–1
|- align="center"
| 1988 || Danny Ford || Atlantic Coast Conference || 10–2 || 6–1
|- align="center"
| 1991 || Ken Hatfield
Ken Hatfield
Ken Hatfield is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the United States Air Force Academy , the University of Arkansas , Clemson University , and Rice University , compiling a career college football record of 168–140–4.-Playing...
|| Atlantic Coast Conference || 9–2–1 || 6–0–1
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan=5 bgcolor="#522D80"| Conference Titles: 17
|}
Note: Bold years indicate outright conference titles
† In 1965, South Carolina violated participation rules relating to two ineligibile players and was required to forfeit wins against North Carolina State and Clemson.
North Carolina State and Clemson were then declared co-champions.
Conference affiliations
- 1899–1921: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationThe Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association was one of the first collegiate athletic conferences in the United States. Twenty-seven of the current Division I FBS football programs were members of this conference at some point, as were at least 19 other schools...
(charter member) - 1921–1953: Southern ConferenceSouthern ConferenceThe Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
(charter member) - 1953–present: Atlantic Coast ConferenceAtlantic Coast ConferenceThe Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
(charter member)
Divisional championships
In 2005, the Atlantic Coast ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
divided into two divisions of six teams each and began holding a ACC Championship Game
ACC Championship Game
The Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game is an American college football game held on the first Saturday in December by the Atlantic Coast Conference each year to determine its football champion. The game pits the champion of the Coastal Division against the champion of the Atlantic Division in a game...
at the conculsion of the regular football season to determine the ACC Football Champions. Clemson won its first outright ACC Atlantic Division championship in 2009, and is 0-1 in the ACC Championship Game
ACC Championship Game
The Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game is an American college football game held on the first Saturday in December by the Atlantic Coast Conference each year to determine its football champion. The game pits the champion of the Coastal Division against the champion of the Atlantic Division in a game...
.
{| border="0" width="100%"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="85%"
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Year
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Coach
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Division Championship
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Game Result
!bgcolor="#F66733"| Opponent
!bgcolor="#F66733"| PF
!bgcolor="#F66733"| PA
|- align="center"
| 2009
2009 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2009 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the 2009 college football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney, who was in his first full season as head coach. The Tigers played their home games in Memorial Stadium...
|| Dabo Swinney
Dabo Swinney
William Christopher "Dabo" Swinney is the head coach of the Clemson University Tigers football team; he was previously assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.-Playing career:...
|| Atlantic || L† || Georgia Tech
2009 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team
The 2009 Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology in the 2009–2010 Football Season. The team was coached by second year head coach Paul Johnson...
|| 34 || 39
|- align="center"
| colspan=1 bgcolor="#522D80"| Totals
| colspan=1 bgcolor="#522D80"| --
| colspan=1 bgcolor="#522D80"| 1
| colspan=1 bgcolor="#522D80"| 0-1
| colspan=1 bgcolor="#522D80"| --
| colspan=1 bgcolor="#522D80"| 34
| colspan=1 bgcolor="#522D80"| 39
|}
† On 7/18/2011, Georgia Tech was required to vacate their victory due to NCAA violations and the game is considered by the NCAA and ACC to have no winner.
National polls
Clemson has ended their football season ranked 25 times in either the AP or Coaches Poll.{| border="0" style="width:100%;"
|-
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:40%;"
|-
! style="background:#F66733;"| Year
! style="background:#F66733;"| Record
! style="background:#F66733;"| AP Poll†
! style="background:#F66733;"| Coaches‡
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
| 1939 || 9–1–0 || 12 || –
|- align="center"
| 1948 || 11–0–0 || 11 || –
|- align="center"
| 1950 || 9–0– 1 || 10 || 12
|- align="center"
| 1951 || 7–3–0 || 20 || –
|- align="center"
| 1956 || 7–2–2 || 19 || –
|- align="center"
| 1957 || 7–3–0 || – || 18
|- align="center"
| 1958 || 8–3–0 || 12 || 13
|- align="center"
| 1959 || 9–2–0 || 11 || 11
|- align="center"
| 1977 || 8–3–1 || 19 || –
|- align="center"
| 1978 || 11–1–0 || 6 || 7
|- align="center"
| 1981 || 12–0–0 || 1 || 1
|- align="center"
| 1982 || 9–1–1 || 8 || –
|- align="center"
| 1983 || 9–1–1 || 11 || –
|- align="center"
| 1986 || 8–2–2 || 17 || 19
|- align="center"
| 1987 || 10–2–0 || 12 || 10
|- align="center"
| 1988 || 10–2–0 || 9 || 8
|- align="center"
| 1989 || 10–2–1 || 12 || 11
|- align="center"
| 1990 || 10–2–0 || 9 || 9
|- align="center"
| 1991 || 9–2–1 || 18 || 17
|- align="center"
| 1993 || 9–3–0 || 23 || 22
|- align="center"
| 2000 || 9–3–0 || 16 || 14
|- align="center"
| 2003 || 9–4–0 || 22 || 22
|- align="center"
| 2005 || 8–4–0 || 21 || 21
|- align="center"
| 2007 || 9–4–0 || 21 || 22
|- align="center"
| 2009 || 9–5–0 || 24 || –
|- align="center"
|}
† AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
began selecting the nation's Top 20 teams in 1939. Only the Top 10 teams were recognized from 1962-1967. The AP Poll expanded back to the Top 20 teams in 1968. In 1989, it began recognizing the Top 25 teams.
‡ UPI/Coaches Poll
Coaches Poll
The USA Today Coaches' Poll is the current name for a weekly ranking of the top 25 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and Division I college basketball teams....
began selecting its Top 20 teams on a weekly basis in 1950 before expanding to the nations's Top 25 teams in 1990.
College Football Hall of Fame inductees
In 1951, the College Football Hall of FameCollege Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
opened in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
. Clemson has had 3 players and 3 former coaches inducted into the Hall of Fame.
{|class="wikitable sortable"
! width="150" | Name
! width="150" | Years at Clemson
! width="110" | Position
! width="110" | Year Inducted
|- align="center"
|Jeff Davis
|1978-1981
|Linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
|2007
|- align="center"
|John Heisman
John Heisman
John William Heisman was an American player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He served as the head football coach at Oberlin College , Buchtel College, now known as the University of Akron , Auburn University , Clemson University , Georgia Tech , the...
|1900-1903
|Head Coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
|1954
|- align="center"
|Frank Howard
Frank Howard (football coach)
Frank J. Howard was an American college football player and coach. He played college football for Alabama. After a career-ending injury, Howard joined the staff at Clemson College and became head coach in 1939. Howard would coach the Clemson Tigers for 30 years, amassing the 15th most wins of...
|1940-1969
|Head Coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
|1989
|- align="center"
|Terry Kinard
Terry Kinard
Alfred "Terry" Terance Kinard , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New York Giants in the 1st round of the 1983 NFL Draft. A 6'1", 200-lb...
|1978-1982
|Safety
|2001
|- align="center"
|Banks McFadden
Banks McFadden
Banks McFadden was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959. McFadden attended Great Falls High School in South Carolina, where he led the Red Devils to two state championships in football and one in basketball...
|1937-1939
|Halfback
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
|1959
|- align="center"
|Jess Neely
Jess Neely
Jess C. Neely was an American football player and coach of football and baseball. He served as the head football coach at Southwestern University, now Rhodes College , Clemson University , and Rice University , compiling a career college football record of 207–176–19...
|1931-1939
|Head Coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
|1971
|-
|}
Retired Numbers
{|class="wikitable sortable"! width="100" | Number
! width="150" | Name
! width="150" | Years at Clemson
! width="150" | Position
! width="110" | Year Retired
|- align="center"
|4
|Steve Fuller
|1975-1978
|Quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
|
|- align="center"
|66
|Banks McFadden
Banks McFadden
Banks McFadden was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959. McFadden attended Great Falls High School in South Carolina, where he led the Red Devils to two state championships in football and one in basketball...
|1937-1939
|Halfback
|1987
|- align="center"
|28
|CJ Spiller
|2006-2009
|Running Back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
|2010
|-
|}
National award winners
- CBS/Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year
- Terry KinardTerry KinardAlfred "Terry" Terance Kinard , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New York Giants in the 1st round of the 1983 NFL Draft. A 6'1", 200-lb...
(1982)
- Ted Hendricks AwardTed Hendricks AwardThe Ted Hendricks Award is given annually to college football's top defensive end. The award is named after Ted Hendricks, who is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is presented by his own 501 foundation, called the Ted Hendricks...
- Da'Quan Bowers (2010)
- Bronko Nagurski TrophyBronko Nagurski TrophyThe Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the membership of the Football Writers Association of America to be the best defensively in the National Collegiate Athletic Association; the award is presented by the Charlotte...
- Da'Quan Bowers (2010)
National coaching awards
- AFCA Coach of the YearAFCA Coach of the YearThe AFCA Coach of the Year award is given annually to a college football coach by the American Football Coaches Association . The award has had several different sponors over the years, including Eastman Kodak Corporation, and thus also been named the Kodak Coach of the Year Award.-Football Bowl...
- Danny FordDanny FordDanny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling...
(1981)
- Woody Hayes Trophy
- Danny FordDanny FordDanny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling...
(1981)
- Eddie Robinson Coach of the YearEddie Robinson Coach of the YearThe Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award is given annually to a college football coach by the Football Writers Association of America. The award honors Eddie Robinson, former coach at Grambling State who holds the second best record for most Division I wins with 408 behind only Joe...
- Danny FordDanny FordDanny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling...
(1981)
Atlantic Coast Conference awards
- ACC Player of the Year (7)Atlantic Coast Conference football honorsThe Atlantic Coast Conference honors players and coaches upon the conclusion of each college football season with the following individual honors as voted on by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.-Coach of the Year:*1953: Jim Tatum, Maryland...
- Buddy Gore (1967)
- Steve Fuller (1977, 1978)
- Jeff DavisJeff Davis (American football)Jeff Davis is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He played college football at Clemson.Davis was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.-College career:Davis...
(1981) - William PerryWilliam Perry (American football)William Perry is a former professional American football player. He is best known for his years as a defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears. In reference to his large size, he was popularly known as "The Refrigerator" or, abbreviated, "The Fridge".-Life and athletic career:Perry was born in...
(1984) - Michael Dean PerryMichael Dean PerryMichael Dean Perry is a former American football defensive lineman and the younger brother of William Perry. His parents are Mrs. Inez S. Perry [deceased] and Hollie Perry, Sr. of Aiken, South Carolina. He learned to play football from his older brothers...
(1987) - CJ Spiller (2009)
- ACC Coach of the Year (8)Atlantic Coast Conference football honorsThe Atlantic Coast Conference honors players and coaches upon the conclusion of each college football season with the following individual honors as voted on by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.-Coach of the Year:*1953: Jim Tatum, Maryland...
- ACC Coach of the Year (8)
- Frank Howard (1958, 1966)
- Red ParkerRed ParkerJimmy "Red" Parker is an American football coach. From 1961 to 1965, he served as the head football coach at Arkansas A&M, where he compiled a 29–19–2 record. From 1966 to 1972, he coached at The Citadel in South Carolina. He compiled a 46–37 record there. From 1973 to 1976,...
(1974) - Charley PellCharley PellCharles Byron "Charley" Pell was an American college football player and coach. Pell was an Alabama native and an alumnus of the University of Alabama, where he played college football. He is most notably remembered as the head coach of the Clemson University and the University of Florida...
(1977, 1978) - Danny FordDanny FordDanny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling...
(1981) - Tommy BowdenTommy BowdenTommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008...
(1999, 2003)
- ACC Offensive Player of the Year (1)Atlantic Coast Conference football honorsThe Atlantic Coast Conference honors players and coaches upon the conclusion of each college football season with the following individual honors as voted on by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.-Coach of the Year:*1953: Jim Tatum, Maryland...
- CJ Spiller (2009)
- ACC Defensive Player of the Year (4)Atlantic Coast Conference football honorsThe Atlantic Coast Conference honors players and coaches upon the conclusion of each college football season with the following individual honors as voted on by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.-Coach of the Year:*1953: Jim Tatum, Maryland...
- ACC Defensive Player of the Year (4)
- Keith AdamsKeith Adams (American football)Keith A. Adams is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
(1999) - Leroy HillLeroy HillLeroy Hill, Jr. is an American football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks. He played high school football in Milledgeville, GA for the Baldwin High School Braves...
(2004) - Gaines AdamsGaines AdamsGaines Adams was an American football defensive end in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round in the 2007 NFL Draft and in 2009 was traded to the Chicago Bears...
(2006) - Da'Quan Bowers (2010)
- ACC Rookie of the Year (6)Atlantic Coast Conference football honorsThe Atlantic Coast Conference honors players and coaches upon the conclusion of each college football season with the following individual honors as voted on by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.-Coach of the Year:*1953: Jim Tatum, Maryland...
- Chuck McSwain (1981)
- Terry Allen (1987)
- Ronald Williams (1990)
- Anthony Simmons (1995)
- James DavisJames Davis (running back)-Cleveland Browns:On September 12, Davis was involved in a minor one-car accident and suffered a head injury.He was briefly hospitalized and released a few hours later....
(2005) - Sammy WatkinsSammy Watkins (American football)Sammy Watkins is an American football wide receiver for the Clemson Tigers. He leads the nation in reception yards per game, all-purpose yards and touchdowns for freshmen in 2011.-High school:...
(2011)
Atlantic Coast Conference 50th Anniversary football team
On July 23, 2002 in celebration of the Atlantic Coast Conference's 50th Anniversary, a 120-member blue ribbon committee selected the Top 50 football players in ACC history. Clemson led all conference schools with the most players selected to the Golden Anniversary team.Each of Clemson's honorees were All-Americans and former NFL players. The nine selectees from Clemson were:
- Joe BosticJoe BosticJoe Earl Bostic, Jr. is a former American football offensive lineman, primarily guard, who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals...
, (1975–1978) - Jerry ButlerJerry Butler (American football)Jerry O'Dell Butler is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played his entire career with the Buffalo Bills . Butler was a Pro Bowl selection in 1980. In his career, he caught 278 receptions for 4,301 yards and 29 touchdowns...
, (1975–1978) - Bennie CunninghamBennie CunninghamBennie Lee Cunningham, Jr. is a retired American football tight end.Cunningham was drafted out of the Clemson University in the 1976 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played for the Steelers his entire career...
, (1973–1975)
- Jeff DavisJeff Davis (American football)Jeff Davis is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He played college football at Clemson.Davis was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.-College career:Davis...
, (1978–1981) - Steve Fuller, (1975–1978)
- Terry KinardTerry KinardAlfred "Terry" Terance Kinard , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New York Giants in the 1st round of the 1983 NFL Draft. A 6'1", 200-lb...
, (1978–1982)
- Michael Dean PerryMichael Dean PerryMichael Dean Perry is a former American football defensive lineman and the younger brother of William Perry. His parents are Mrs. Inez S. Perry [deceased] and Hollie Perry, Sr. of Aiken, South Carolina. He learned to play football from his older brothers...
, (1984–1987) - William PerryWilliam Perry (American football)William Perry is a former professional American football player. He is best known for his years as a defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears. In reference to his large size, he was popularly known as "The Refrigerator" or, abbreviated, "The Fridge".-Life and athletic career:Perry was born in...
, (1981–1984) - Anthony Simmons, (1995–1997)
Current NFL players
- Thomas AustinThomas AustinThomas Austin was an English settler in Australia who is generally credited with the introduction of rabbits into Australia in 1859.- Personal life :...
- Offensive Line, New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... - Da'Quan Bowers - Defensive EndDefensive endDefensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
, Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... - Crezdon ButlerCrezdon ButlerThe Pittsburgh Steelers selected Butler with their fifth round selection, 164th overall, of the 2010 NFL Draft. Butler was regarded as a long and athletic cornerback with good ball skills, albeit with a weak statistical senior season...
- CornerbackCornerbackA cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
, Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... - Miquel Chavis - Defensive EndDefensive endDefensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
, Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... - Chris ClemonsChris Clemons (safety)Chris Clemons is an American football safety for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Clemson....
- Safety, Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Kavell ConnerKavell ConnerKavell Conner is an American football linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Colts in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Clemson.-External links:**...
- LinebackerLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... - Jamie Cumbie - Defensive Tackle - Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
- Brian DawkinsBrian DawkinsBrian Patrick Dawkins is an American football safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
- Safety, Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Nick EasonNick EasonNicholas Eason is an American football defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
- Defensive EndDefensive endDefensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
, Arizona CardinalsArizona CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - Jacoby FordJacoby FordJacoby Ford is an American football wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He is also an accomplished track and field athlete. He played college football as a wide receiver and return specialist for the Clemson Tigers at Clemson University...
- Wide ReceiverWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Maurice FountainMaurice FountainGregory Maurice Fountain is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a practice squad member of the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . Fountain was first signed by the Manchester Wolves of AF2 as a free agent in 2007...
- Defensive EndDefensive endDefensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
, Seattle SeahawksSeattle SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... - Marcus GilchristMarcus GilchristMarcus Gilchrist is an American football cornerback for the San Diego Chargers. He played college football at Clemson. He is considered one of the best cornerback prospects for the 2011 NFL Draft.-Professional career:...
- CornerbackCornerbackA cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
, San Diego ChargersSan Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Tyler GrishamTyler GrishamTyler Grisham is an American football wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Clemson.-Pittsburgh Steelers:...
- Wide ReceiverWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... - Chris HairstonChris HairstonChris Hairston is an American football offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills. He was drafted by the Bills in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Clemson University Tigers.-References:...
- Offensive Tackle, Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Mike Hamlin - Safety, Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
- Jamie HarperJamie HarperJamie Harper is an American football running back for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He played college football for the Clemson Tigers.-College career:Harper fumbled on his first career carry at Clemson...
- Running BackRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, Tennessee TitansTennessee TitansThe Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... - Leroy HillLeroy HillLeroy Hill, Jr. is an American football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks. He played high school football in Milledgeville, GA for the Baldwin High School Braves...
- LinebackerLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, Seattle SeahawksSeattle SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... - Jarvis JenkinsJarvis JenkinsJarvis Jenkins is an American football defensive end for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Redskins with the 41st pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.-College career:...
- Defensive EndDefensive endDefensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
, Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... - Byron MaxwellByron MaxwellByron Maxwell is an American football cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seahawks in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Clemson.-External links:...
- CornerbackCornerbackA cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
, Seattle SeahawksSeattle SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... - Phillip MerlingPhillip MerlingPhillip Blaine Merling is an American football defensive end for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dolphins in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Clemson.-Early years:Played tight end and defensive end at Fork Union...
- Defensive EndDefensive endDefensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
, Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Michael PalmerMichael Palmer (American football)Michael Palmer is an American football tight end for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He played college football at Clemson.-Professional career:...
- Tight EndTight endThe tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
, Atlanta FalconsAtlanta FalconsThe Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - Barry RichardsonBarry Richardson (American football)Barry Devon Richardson is an American football offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Clemson....
- Offensive Line, Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a... - Darell Scott - Defensive Tackle, St. Louis RamsSt. Louis RamsThe St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
- C.J. Spiller - Running BackRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Chansi StuckeyChansi StuckeyChansi V. Stuckey is an American football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
- Wide ReceiverWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, Arizona CardinalsArizona CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - Charlie WhitehurstCharlie WhitehurstCharles David Whitehurst is an American football quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
- QuarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, Seattle SeahawksSeattle SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...