Tuesday 01/05/2010
Jan. 5, 2010
Team Notes Won ACC’s Atlantic Division championship, the first Division Championship for Clemson program. Won Division with 6-2 conference record, tied for best ACC record by Clemson program since 1991. Won Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl with 21-13 win over Kentucky. It was 16th bowl win in school history, the 18th best total in college football history. Tied for 22nd in nation and third in ACC in wins with nine. Clemson closed first decade of the 21st century with winning season every year of the decade, one of 14 schools to accomplish the feat. First Clemson team to defeat Miami (FL) and Florida State in same year, Tigers scored at least 40 points against each team. Win over eighth ranked Miami tied for highest ranked team Clemson has defeated on the road. Ranked in top 20 of Final Sagarin Computer Poll. Schedule ranked in top 20 according to Warren Nolan computer ranking and NCAA. Clemson played four games against top 15 teams, just the second Clemson team to do that (1999). Ranked as high as 15th in the nation on November 22. Had six-game winning streak, second longest streak by an ACC team in 2009. Had five First-team Freshman All-ACC selections on Rival’s team, more than any other school. Three freshmen, Kyle Parker, made various freshman All-America teams. Had eight selections on first or second-team All-ACC teams, second most in the ACC. All-ACC selections included Michael Palmer, DeAndre McDaniel, Chris Hairston, Ricky Sapp, and Jacoby Ford. Eleven players on the 2009 Music City Bowl roster had their degrees, including leading rusher, Thomas Austin. Had seven returns for touchdowns in 2009, tying school record. Clemson finished in top 25 nationally in punt returns and kickoff returns. DeAndre McDaniel both named first-team All-American by Football Writers Association. Clemson joined Alabama, Florida and Texas as only schools with at least two Football Writers All-Americans. C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford finished career with 11,671 all-purpose yards, more than any other duo in college football history and over 1,000 yards more than previous record. Spiller finished sixth in Heisman Trophy balloting, tied for highest finish by a Clemson player.
Notes on Clemson Offense Highest scoring team in Clemson history with 436 total points. Scored 54 touchdowns, third most in Clemson history. Third in school history in yards per play at 5.7. Seventh team in Clemson history to gain 5000 yards. Had school record streak four straight games of scoring at least 40 points and record six straight games with at least 34 points. Third team in Clemson history to gain at least 2300 yards rushing and 2300 yards passing in same year. Most balanced team in Clemson history in terms of scoring. Had 24 rushing touchdowns and 23 passing. Just the fourth team in Clemson history with three 500-yard receivers. Set record for most completions and yards to tight ends in school history (60) and (617) Michael Palmer set Clemson record for receptions and reception yards by a tight end with 43-507. Kyle Parker earned second-team Freshman All-America honors and threw for 2526 yards, fifth best for a freshman in ACC history. Parker tied for most wins by a freshman quarterback in the nation. Thomas Austin made third-team All-American. Dalton Freeman made first-team freshman All-American.
Notes on Clemson Defense Led ACC in interceptions with 21, Tigers finished tied for third in the nation. Ranked in the top 25 in the nation in seven different categories. Ranked sixth in the nation in pass defense, first in the ACC. Had 4-0 record against the ACC’s top four passers. Ranked 10th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 30 Ranked 13th in the nation in tackles for loss and second in ACC in sacks. Ranked 20th in nation in total defense, allowing 314 yards per game Ranked 25th in nation in scoring defense and 21st in pass efficiency defense. Held a Boston College team that would win eight games to 54 yards total offense, best defensive performance by a Clemson team since 1963. Held TCU, the nation’s fifth highest scoring team, to just 14 points, their low total of the regular season. Brandon Maye established school record for caused fumbles in a season with five. Safety DeAndre McDaniel tied Clemson record for interceptions with eight and ranked fourth in the nation. McDaniel made five different All-America teams, including first-team Football Writers. Freshman Rashard Hall was first-team Freshman All-American and ranked 19th in nation in interceptions Cornerback Crezdon Butler finished career second in school history in interception return yards.
Head Coach Dabo Swinney Notes Led Clemson to its first ACC Atlantic Division Championship. Named ACC Coach of the Year by Sporting News One of 10 Finalists for Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year. His Nine wins ranked second nationally in most wins among coaches in first full season. The nine wins were second most in Clemson history and fourth most in ACC history for a first-year head coach. Defeated Hall of Fame Head Coach Bobby Bowden, the second winningest coach in college football history. First coach in Clemson history to defeat a top 10 team (Miami) in his first full season. Tied Clemson record for ACC wins by Tigers coach in his first year as head coach.
C.J. Spiller Notes Unanimous First-Team All-American (3rd in Clemson History). Sixth in Voting for Heisman Trophy (tied for highest finish by Clemson player). Player of the Year in Atlantic Coast Conference by ACC Sports Media Association. Most Valuable Player of the ACC Championship game when he rushed for championship game record 233 yards. First Player on losing team to win ACC Championship game MVP honors. Most Valuable Player of the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl. National All-Satellite Player of the Year by ESPN’s Todd McShay. Winner of Banks McFadden Award as top college player in South Carolina. National Kick Returner of the Year by College Football Performance Awards. Finalist for Doak Walker Award (top running back). Offensive Player of the Year in Atlantic Coast Conference by ACC Sports Media Association. First-team All-American All-Purpose player by Associated Press. Also first-team All-American by Football Writers Association, Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, College Football News, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, and CBS Sportsline. First College Player in History to Make Walter Camp All-American teams at two positions. First-team All-ACC Kick Returner by ACC Sports Media. First-team All-ACC RB by Sporting News. National Offensive Player of the Week vs. Miami (FL) by Walter Camp Foundation. National Offensive Player of the Week vs. Miami (FL) by Rivals.com. Runner-up for AT&T All-American of the Week vs. Miami (FL). First player in ACC history with 1000 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving in same season. Finished career second in NCAA history and first in ACC history in all-purpose yardage with 7,588. Averaged 191.4 yards per game in 2009, breaking an ACC record that had stood for 41 years. First player in college football history with 3,000 yards rushing, 2,000 yards in kickoff returns, 1,000 yards receiving, and 500 in punt return yards. Ranked third in nation in kickoff returns, fourth in all-purpose running and fifth in touchdowns scored in 2009. Only player in the nation to score a touchdown in every game this year. Established over 30 Clemson game, season and career records. Received standing ovation from Clemson Board of Trustees at graduation ceremonies on Dec. 17, the first Clemson athlete so honored.
December 8, 2024