Clemson vs. Auburn Football Game Notes

Sept. 13, 2010

Clemson vs. Auburn Series Auburn has a 33-11-2 lead in the series with Clemson. The War Eagles have beaten Clemson 13 consecutive games, as the Clemson Tigers have not gained a victory over Auburn since 1951, a 34-0 win at Clemson. That win gave Clemson five wins in six meetings against Auburn between 1946-51. Clemson defeated Auburn in 1947 by a score of 34-18 as Bobby Gage threw four touchdown passes and gained 374 yards of total offense, both single game records at the time.

Auburn and Clemson first met in 1899 and Auburn came away with a 34-0 win at Auburn. That was just the 14th game in Clemson history. John Heisman coached Auburn in that game. Clemson won three of the next four, including a 16-0 win at Auburn in 1902. Clemson’s coach in that game was the legendary John Heisman. So Heisman gained wins for both teams in this series and both games were played at Auburn.

The two schools have met just twice since 1971, and both meetings took place in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome for the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Auburn won both meetings in close games, 21-17 at the 1998 Chick-fil-A bowl (1997 season), and Auburn won on New Year’s Eve of 2007 by a 23-20 score in overtime. That is Clemson’s only overtime game in a bowl contest.

In that 21-17 Auburn victory in the 1998 Chick-fil-A Bowl, Clemson gained just 146 yards of total offense, 60 rushing and 86 passing.

Despite the offensive problems, Clemson had a 17-6 lead entering the fourth period. But, Auburn scored 15 points in the fourth period to gain the victory. Raymond Priester led Clemson with 19-62 rushing, but Nealon Greene completed just 11-26 passes for 86 yards. Clemson had just four first downs in the game, fewest in history for the Tigers in a bowl game.

Terry Bowden was the head coach for Auburn in that game. Two years later his brother Tommy came to Clemson as the head coach.

Auburn won the last regular season game in 1971 by a 35-13 score on Clemson’s Homecoming. Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan led the way for the War Eagles. Auburn was ranked fifth in the nation entering that game.

The two teams meet again next year at Clemson in a game that is currently scheduled to be played on September 17.