College Football Meets Tradition, Clemson Football
By Radio Man Continuing with the second installment of College Football's Powerhouse Programs, Clemson will be examined. As a refresher for what a school must do to make the list, note the following: the list of College Football's powerhouse programs will be defined based on recent history, i.e. 1980 to present day, with a school's all-time tradition being the tie-breaker in separating tier one schools from tier two schools. Heisman winners, winning consistently, consistently playing a good schedule, home game atmospheres, loyalty and size of a school's fan base, great coaches, recruiting prowess, national media attention, and staying within NCAA rules "and" the proverbial "where there's smoke there's fire" cliché, will all count towards a school's standing as either Tier I or Tier II as well.
The one common denominator to make Tier I for this list is that a school must have at least one national championship from 1980 until 2007. Otherwise, Tier II is automatically the best a team can do. Clemson makes the cut as a Tier II school.
Clemson has a rich football tradition. Long before 1980, Clemson Football meant a lot to the Tiger faithful, but it was not until 1981, under then head coach Tommy Ford, that Clemson won its first and only National Championship. The issue with the National Championship season is that it came during a time when Clemson was using various illegal recruiting tactics to gain an advantage over its opponents, and it was hit with severe sanctions by the NCAA. Paying recruits and improper payment for employment being two of the charges that were levied against the Tigers, it is safe to say that Clemson was a renegade program during the Ford era.
What Clemson is also known for is "Running down the hill" after players touch "Howard's Rock." The rock is at the top of the hill due to legendary Clemson head coach Frank Howard, a man that was the rudder of the program from 1940-1969. Howard brought a rock from Death Valley, Calif. to Clemson as an inspirational piece to its players. When the Tigers come out of the tunnel at the top of Memorial Stadium and before they run onto Frank Howard Field, each player touches the rock before his descent, all the while the crowd goes crazy. It was, is, and will continue to be one of the best traditions in all of College Football. Some of the notable Clemson players from 1980 to the present include Jeff Davis, an All-American linebacker that played for the 1981 National Championship team, and Davis' teammate, Terry Kinard, who also played for the 1981 squad. Davis and Kinard are both a part of Clemson's Ring of Honor, a selection for only the greatest of Clemson athletes. More recent Clemson greats include Gaines Adams, a defensive end that was a first round pick of Tampa Bay, defensive tackle Trevor Pryce, and linebacker Keith Adams.
Biggest Positive: The tradition of touching the rock and running down the hill. Tiger fans are loyal and "Death Valley," as it is often called, is one of the most intimidating places to play in all of College Football.
Biggest Negative: The infamous NCAA sanctions that were placed against Clemson for its unethical recruiting tactics that led to serious NCAA sanctions in the early 1980s.
Labels: Clemson Football, Frank Howard, Gaines Adams
posted by Radio Man @ 6:30 AM
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