June 4, 2000
Clemson, SC–Clemson clinched three top 10 national finishes in the same day on Saturday, June 3, one of the most remarkable single days in Clemson sports history. Clemson will finish the year with five different teams ranked in the top 10 in the nation, the most top 10s in one academic year for the Tiger program in nine years.
A sixth sport, women’s volleyball, was 22nd in its final coaches poll, but ninth in the final RPI index.
On Saturday afternoon, Larry Penley’s golf team finished seventh at the NCAA Tournament with a 19-under-par total, its second best score versus par in its 20 appearances in the event. It marked the fourth straight year that Clemson has finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Tournament, the first Clemson sports program to do that since the 1980-83 era when both the men’s and women’s cross country programs had four straight top 10s.
Later that night, Clemson’s baseball team won the Clemson Super Regional with a 9-4 triumph over Mississippi State. That gave the Tigers their ninth berth in the College World Series, assuring Jack Leggett’s team of a top eight national finish. The final poll for baseball will be released after the College World Series on June 19th. The victory over Mississippi State gave Clemson 50 victories for the 2000 season.
Finally, late Saturday night, or early Sunday morning, the final team results were released at the NCAA Men’s track and field meet at Durham, NC. Weather delays caused a late finish to the event. Bob Pollocks’s ranked 10th in the final scoring at the meet. Shawn Crawford won the 200 meters and finished sixth in the 100 meters to lead the way for Clemson.
Earlier this academic year the women’s soccer team was ranked eighth in the final poll, while the men’s indoor track team finished 10th at its national meet in Indianapolis. That gives Clemson five top 10 teams for the academic year, most since the 1990-91 academic year when Clemson also had five.
The Clemson volleyball team finished 22nd in its final coaches poll, but the Lady Tigers were ninth in the final RPI index. Clemson’s women’s tennis team was 23rd in its final ranking, giving Clemson seven top 25 teams this year.
Overall, this year’s top 10 team total ties for third highest in an academic year in Clemson history. The record is eight, set in 1982-83, while the 1981-82 Clemson athletic teams had six. Clemson also had five top 10 finishes in 1980-81 and 1988-89, in addition to 1990-91 and this year.
April 18, 2024
