The Clemson tradition, Part II of V: The rise

By Marc Hudgens  |   Monday, July 30, 2007  |  Comments( 3 )

Clemson Tigers
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In 1970, Clemson broke ties with the legendary Frank Howard era, which lasted 30 years. Upon that, the Tigers began a new era -- a quest for national recognition.

But the results weren't immediate by a long shot.

Former Arkansas assistant Hootie Ingram became Clemson's head coach in 1970, and he stayed three seasons. His record wasn't very good at all (12-21), with every season being a losing one. However, under Ingram's watch two great events took place.

First, there was construction of Jervey Athletic Center, which became the official place for athletic operations in 1973. Jervey is the main building for the Clemson athletic department; it houses a training room and volleyball facility. The building of Jervey was a huge step for recruiting.

The second and most popular event of Ingram's tenure was the creation of Clemson's trademarked tiger paw design. At first, a few athletic department officials were skeptical of implementing the unique design, but they went with it; the logo was and still is a hit among Clemson fans.

After a 7-6 win over rival South Carolina Gamecocks in 1972, Ingram suddenly resigned. Some say he was in over his head in following legend Howard, and others say it was because Ingram realized being a head coach was vastly different than being an assistant. However, all the while Ingram had a job offer in his pocket from the Southeastern Conference for the assistant commissioner position, and that led to his resignation.

1973 ringed in with a new coach, Red Parker, who came from The Citadel. In his four seasons with the Tigers, Parker wasn't much better in terms of won-lost record than Ingram, going 17-25-2 overall. However, there was one winning record in there, 1974, when Clemson amassed a 7-4 mark, beating longtime rival Georgia along the way. And most fans will tell you that a win over the Bulldogs is always a huge plus. It also included a victory in the Tigers' very first home game against Georgia Tech. Ultimately, the '74 season was the first winning campaign Clemson had since 1967.

Aside from his poor record, Parker was known as a strong recruiter and a very fiery individual. He was responsible for bringing in legendary Tigers such as wide receiver Jerry Butler, who is known for "The Catch" against South Carolina in 1977; star offensive lineman Joe Bostic; and most notably, Heisman-candidate quarterback Steve Fuller. But frustration mounted in 1975-76 because, in spite of improved talent, the Tigers weren't winning games. So after the 28-9 win over South Carolina that ended a 3-6-2 mark in '76, Parker was let go and assistant coach Charley Pell was promoted to head coach.

It is believed by some that Parker was betrayed by his assistant, and that incited an uproar among fans because of the way the coaching change was handled. Pell wasn't exactly looked upon favorably by at least a big faction of Tiger fans. But regardless of the controversy Pell took over in 1977, and for the following two years Clemson enjoyed more on-field success than it had in many years.

In Pell's very first season Clemson went 8-3-1, which included a Gator Bowl invite to play Pittsburgh; that was the first bowl trip the Tigers made since 1959. In spite of the 34-3 wipeout the Panthers laid on the Tigers, the season was considered a raging success given the immense drought Clemson endured prior to then.

Clemson had a memorable campaign in 1977, but Pell wasn't done. Along with Fuller, Butler, ex-49er Dwight Clark and running back Lester Brown, he trumped that the next year by leading the Tigers to a mind-boggling 10-1 regular-season record, which included the Tigers' first ACC championship in 11 years, a top-10 ranking, and a second consecutive Gator Bowl invitation. After returning to Greenville-Spartanburg Airport following the 28-24 win over Maryland that secured the ACC title, fans were so overjoyed that they met their team at the airport, numbering at least 20,000 strong, to welcome their heroes home. The outpouring of devotion and love was so bafflingly huge, Greenville County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to ensure crowd safety. It was a deliriously grand time for Clemson fans.

But controversy once again reared its ugly head for Pell. Upon waiting to play Ohio State in the Gator Bowl, rumors circulated that the Clemson coach was leaving the school, specifically for the Florida Gators.

Pell insisted, "Tiger fans, this is your old buddy, Charley Pell. I wouldn't lie to you. Charley Pell is here to stay. I'm a Clemson Tiger."

That infamous statement proved untrue. Soon after, Pell was indeed named Florida's next head coach. Although Pell eventually laid the groundwork for Steve Spurrier's legendary success in Gainesville, the wind was completely taken out of the Tigers' sails and serious doubt ensued among fans.

Danny Ford, one of Pell's assistants, was immediately named head coach and led the dejected Tigers into Jacksonville to face Woody Hayes' Buckeyes. After a scoreless first quarter, Fuller and Tiger running backs Marvin Sims, Warren Ratchford and Cliff Austin turned it on, leading Clemson to a 17-15 victory. With that victory over an elite Big Ten team, Clemson owned the nation's longest winning streak. But that accomplishment paled in comparison to what happened toward the end of the game.

In their final drive, at the Clemson 24-yard line, Buckeye quarterback Art Schlichter threw a pick to Clemson nose guard Charlie Bauman, who ran out of bounds on the Ohio State sideline. After the dead ball, the 65-year-old Hayes ran over and slugged Bauman. With the ensuing consecutive unsportsmanlike flags, Clemson got the ball back and was able to run out the clock for the win. This was the last game the legendary Hayes coached for the Buckeyes, as he was fired the morning after the bowl loss.

Redeemed after Pell's sudden departure, Ford led the Tigers in 1979 to an 8-3 regular-season record and a Peach Bowl invitation to face Baylor, which defeated the Tigers 24-18. Ford's first full season was that year, and although it wasn't as good a record as the '78 season, it was still considered a mild success.

However, the 1980 season proved to be a trying time for Ford. Clemson went only 6-5 and did not make a bowl game. Fans began calling for Ford's head, believing that he was not head coach material.

The very next year, Ford silenced his doubters.
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About Marc Hudgens

Marc Hudgens has been with RealFootball365 since 2007, covering college football, specifically Clemson and Oregon. He also writes for SouthernPigskin.com covering the ACC. He enjoys the acidic wit of Hunter S. Thompson, is a freelance graphic designer and has written several screenplays. He...
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