25 years later, Clemson plans to return to glory

By Stephen Jerdan  |   Monday, May 15, 2006  |  Comments( 6 )

Clemson Tigers
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While former Clemson players and fans alike celebrate the silver anniversary of their 1981 national title, Tommy Bowden's plans for his Tigers returning to the national spotlight are becoming apparent.

During the late 1970's and early 80's, many didn't expect former Alabama standout and Tigers' head coach Danny Ford to mold anything out of a small, Southern school in rural South Carolina. The Tigers' had lost head coach Charley Pell, who had boosted Clemson into the national spotlight with an 18-4-1 record in the '77 and '78 seasons, and they were coming off mediocre 8-4 and 6-5 seasons in Ford's first two years at the helm.

Then in 1981, the pieces came together.

With plans to build an upper-deck to Memorial Stadium and 49 lettermen returning, including all 11 members of the Tigers' option-heavy offense, Tiger fans and players were energized. Entering the season unranked, Clemson made a statement by publicly-embarrassing the defending National Champion Georgia Bulldogs in the third week of the season. Then right before their annual bloodbath with in-state rival, South Carolina, the Tigers marched into Chapel Hill and defeated a Tarheel squad ranked #8 in the nation.

Finishing the season undefeated, the Clemson Tigers earned an Orange Bowl berth against collegiate-powerhouse Nebraska and emerged as national champs with a 22-15 victory.

Soon after, however, the Tigers suffered probation problems thanks to multiple NCAA violations from Pell's short stint, as well as minor violations under Ford. Although the Tigers produced an astounding 96-24-1 record under Ford, he was forced to retire following the 1989 season under pressure from the university and its desire to please the NCAA. Clemson soon tumbled from the national spotlight from which they haven't returned.

Tommy Bowden plans to change that.

Although Bowden hasn't completed a 10-win season in his 7-year career with the Tigers, he has slowly built a program that is attracting national attention. Over Bowden's last 3 seasons, he notched six Top 20 victories to include two wins over Florida State, one over Miami (FL), and another against a #6 rated Tennessee Vols squad in the 2003 Peach Bowl.

The upcoming season appears promising, and could very well be the year for Bowden and his Tigers to shine in the ACC, as well as make noise in the National Championship race. The Tigers return 15 starters, including ACC Rookie of the Year James Davis and standout DE Gaines Adams. Clemson also return all five offensive linemen in 2006 - the first year this has happened since the coveted 1981 National Championship season.

With a laundry list of star-studded talent returning for Clemson, impressive West End Zone renovations to Memorial Stadium, and a favorable home schedule, 2006 shows an uncanny resemblance to 1981.

This could easily be the year Bowden brings the glory days back home to Clemson.
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