Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by HangingCurve (talk | contribs) at 18:08, 1 August 2008 (→Danny Ford Era: 1978-1989: allowed to keep titles in a departure from normal practice; plus, every school placed on probation is reprimanded and censured, so there's no need to repeat it here). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For current information on this topic, see 2008 Clemson Tigers football team. (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The Clemson Tigers are a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

History

Early Years: 1896-1940

Walter Merritt Riggs 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). 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.

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.

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. 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.

John Heisman Era: 1900-1903

John Heisman 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 the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in 1903, the Yellow Jackets hired Heisman as their first full-time football coach.

Frank Howard Era: 1940-1969

Charlie Pell Era: 1977-1978

Danny Ford Era: 1978-1989

On November 21, 1982, Clemson's football program was placed on two years' probation. This sanction was enforced on the program by the NCAA Committee on Infractions due to a lengthy history of recruiting violations to gain an athletic advantage that had taken 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.

70 documented violations were found to have been committed under NCAA bylaws in the categories of improper recruiting inducements, extra benefits to student-athletes, ethical conduct, improper financial aid, improper campus visits, improper transportation and entertainment, improper use of funds, improper employment, and improper recruiting contact.

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. However, in a departure from normal practice, Clemson was allowed to keep its 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 led directly to the forced resignation of popular head coach Danny Ford.

Ken Hatfield Era: 1990-1993

Ken Hatfield coached the Tigers to their most recent ACC championship in 1991.

Tommy West Era: 1993-1998

Tommy Bowden Era: 1999-present

Bowl Games

National Championship

Conference Championships

Note: Bold years indicate outright conference titles

College Football Hall of Famers

Current NFL Players

• Keith Adams - Linebacker, Cleveland Browns
• Gaines Adams - Defensive End, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Charles Bennett - Defensive End, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Brian Dawkins - Safety,Philadelphia Eagles
• Nick Eason - Defensive End, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Dustin Fry - Center, St. Louis Rams
• Jamaal Fudge - Safety, Jacksonville Jaguars
• Leroy Hill - Linebacker, Seattle Seahawks
• Tye Hill - Cornerback, St. Louis Rams
• Steven Jackson - Fullback, Denver Broncos
• Justin Miller - Cornerback, New York Jets
• Trevor Pryce - Defensive End, Baltimore Ravens
• Chansi Stuckey - Wide Receiver, New York Jets
• Anthony Waters - Linebacker, San Diego Chargers
• Charlie Whitehurst - Quarterback, San Diego Chargers

References

1. NCAA Public Infraction Report
2. "Clemson placed on probation" (PDF). The NCAA News. 19 (28). National Collegiate Athletic Association: 10. 1982-11-29. Retrieved 2008-01-21. Partial quote of the NCAA press release
3. For Release After 11 p.m. (EST)
4. Associated Press (1990-01-10). "Clemson Reveals It Is Under Inquiry by N.C.A.A." New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2008-01-21. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
5. Associated Press (1990-06-01). "Clemson on Probation". New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2008-01-21. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
6. Associated Press (1990-01-19). "Clemson Drops Ford With $1 Million Deal". New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2008-01-21. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

• Clemson Tigers football
• Clemson University
• University and college sports clubs