Clemson Vs. NC State Game Notes

Oct. 13, 2003

Game Notes in PDF FormatDownload Free Acrobat Reader

Clemson vs. NC State Series NotesThe 23rd Annual Textile Bowl Clemson and N.C. State will do battle in the 23rd annual Textile Bowl when the two teams meet in Raleigh on October 16, 2003. Clemson has a 15-7 advantage in the series since the game took on the Textile Bowl title in 1981, the year Clemson won the National Championship. The Textile Industry has a very important effect on the economy of North Carolina and South Carolina and the two schools competing in Thursday’s game.

Overall, Clemson has a 44-26-1 lead in the series, including an 18-11 record in games played at Clemson. The Tigers are 15-11 against NC State in games played in Death Valley. Clemson is 11-1-1 against NC State in neutral site games and 15-14 in games at Raleigh over the years, including a 45-37 victory in 2001, the last time the two teams met at NC State. NC State has a 10-7 lead in games played in Carter-Finley Stadium.

Many of the Textile Bowl contests have been close. Five of the last six games have been decided by eight points or less. The lone meeting that was not close took place last year when NC State defeated the Tigers, 38-6. Six years ago in Raleigh, Matt Padgett, now a Double AA professional baseball player, booted a 20-yard field goal with just 19 seconds left to give Clemson a 19-17 victory. The Tigers drove 78 yards in 14 plays to set up the winning score. Nealon Greene hit 20-32 passes for 250 yards and Tony Horne caught eight passes for 112 to key the Clemson offense.

In 1998 at Clemson, Torry Holt completed an incredible day with a nine-yard scoring pass from Jamie Barnette with just 37 seconds left. It was his fourth touchdown reception of the day. He had 225 yards receiving in that game and he is the only Clemson opponent to catch four scoring passes in the same game.

In 1999, NC State, behind then Head Coach Mike O’Cain, defeated Clemson 35-31 in an exciting contest in Raleigh that featured 35 first-quarter points between the two teams combined, most combined points ever in the first period of a Clemson game. Clemson had five possessions in the fourth period with a chance to take the lead, but could not drive for a winning touchdown.

The 2000 game was a thriller that came down to the last possession before the Tigers came away with a 34-27 victory. Woody Dantzler completed 18-30 passes for 220 yards and also rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Rod Gardner had 10 catches for 137 yards (most reception yards ever by a Clemson player against NC State), while Travis Zachery added 31-147 and two scores.

In 2001, Dantzler gained 517 yards of total offense, an all-time Clemson record. He had a career best 23-27 passes for 333 yards and four scores, and also rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns. It was arguably the best individual performance in Clemson history. Still, it was a 45-37 outcome, as Phillip Rivers had another outstanding passing game for NC State. Another close game took place in 1993. Clemson held a 20-0 lead after three quarters thanks to an offense that gained 250 yards rushing, but had to hang on in the last minute to gain the victory. Tim Jones broke up each of the Wolfpack’s last two pass plays of the game at the Clemson goal line over the last 12 seconds of the contest to preserve the Tiger victory.

Clemson Has had Success in Raleigh Clemson has had success against NC State in Raleigh. The Tigers have won three of the last four meetings between the two teams in Carter-Finley Stadium. Clemson won in 1995 by 43-22, took a 19-17 verdict in 1997, lost 35-31 in 1999 and won 45-37 in 2001 behind Woody Dantzler’s 517-yard performance. Clemson has moved the ball on offense against the Pack in Raleigh over these four games. Clemson has averaged 23 first downs, 447 yards total offense, 255 yards passing and 34.5 points per game against NC State in Raleigh over the last four games in that facility.

Clemson Record by Uniform Clemson has used many uniform combinations over the last years. The Tigers broke out purple jerseys for the Georgia Tech game in Atlanta on September 20 and the Tigers gained a 39-3 victory. It was the first time Clemson had worn purple jerseys since the 1991 season when Clemson wore them in a regular season game against NC State and for a bowl game against California.

Clemson has had six jersey/pant combinations since Tommy Bowden came to Clemson. The Tigers were in all orange for the homecoming game against Virginia, a 30-27 overtime victory. Here is a list of Clemson’s record by color combination.

Clemson’s Last Trip to Raleigh (2001)Clemson 45, NC State 37 Woody Dantzler completed 23 of his 27 passes for 333 yards and also threw four touchdown and added 184 yards rushing to lead Clemson to a 45-37 win at NC State in 2001. He accounted for a Clemson record six touchdowns in the game and became the first quarterback in ACC history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 2,000 yards in a regular season career. His passing efficiency of 237 was also a Clemson record for a minimum of 20 attempts.

Dantzler got the Tigers going on just the third play from scrimmage. Dodging would-be tacklers in the middle of the field and breaking out to the left sideline, he sprinted 55 yards down the field to the Wolfpack end zone, giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead less than 90 seconds into the game.

North Carolina State would counter following Clemson’s next possession; Wolfpack quarterback Philip Rivers took advantage of a Tiger miscue on special teams by hitting Jerricho Cotchery in the corner of the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown reception, tying the score 7-7. Rivers and Cotchery connected again on a 19-yard scoring effort seven minutes later to give the Wolfpack a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Dantzler completed all five of his passes on a nine-play, 71-yard drive that he capped off with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Hamilton, tying the score at 14. Racking up 27 rushing yards and completing his sixth and seventh consecutive passes of the game, Dantzler drove the Tigers downfield just before halftime. Tight end Ben Hall’s seven-yard touchdown reception with 56 seconds remaining gave Clemson its second lead of the game. An NC State 20-yard field goal made the halftime score 21-17.

The Tiger defense came out strong in the second half, holding N.C. State to -24 yards on seven plays on its first two drives. Taking advantage right away, Dantzler’s 10th consecutive completion of the game went to Travis Zachery on a rollout pattern, and Zachery coasted 22 yards for the score on the Tigers’ fourth play from scrimmage in the second half. Dantzler finished off the next Tiger drive with an eight-yard touchdown run, giving Clemson a 35-17 lead with 7:53 left in the third quarter. Cotchery’s third touchdown reception of the game, this time from Bryan Peterson, went for 21 yards, rallying Wolfpack fans and cutting the Tiger lead to 12. After the extra point failed, Dantzler and the Tiger offense retaliated once again, delivering a crushing blow to the Wolfpack victory hopes.

Beginning at the eight-yard line, Dantzler led the Tiger offense down the field with the same success he’d experienced the entire game. He carried the ball four times for 54 yards, including a 41-yard tackle breaking scamper worthy of the Sportscenter highlights; he also completed three out of four passes for 21 yards, including a four-yard toss to fullback Chad Jasmin that gave Clemson its biggest lead of the game at 19 points, a lead which would prove to be insurmountable.

Rivers and the Wolfpack offense staged a furious comeback in the fourth quarter. Rivers’ 12-yard touchdown pass to Wright with 2:57 remaining in regulation narrowed Clemson’s lead to eight; but after recovering the ensuing onside kick, Dantzler foiled the Wolfpack defense once more. Scampering 14 yards and achieving a critical first down with two minutes to play, Dantzler proceeded to run out the clock and preserve the Tiger victory.

Interesting Matchup in Passing Game Two of the top three passing teams in the ACC will be on display Thursday evening when Clemson faces NC State in Raleigh. NC State leads the ACC and ranks fourth in the nation in passing offense, accumulating 344 yards per game. Clemson ranks 23rd in the nation in passing offense and third in the ACC with 279 yards per game. Obviously, the play of the team’s respective quarterbacks has had a lot to do with that. NC State’s Philip Rivers is eighth in the nation in passing efficiency and second in total offense heading into this week’s game. Clemson’s Charlie Whitehurst is 31st in passing efficiency and 20th in total offense.

Both Teams Have Just Four Days to Prepare Both teams enter this game after having played a game on Saturday, October 11. It is a quick turnaround for both teams. This is just the third time since 1933 that Clemson has played two games within five days.

That was the case last year when Clemson met NC State. The Wolfpack won that contest by a 38-6 score. The only other time Clemson played two games within a five-day period since 1933 took place in 1982. That year Clemson opened the season on a Monday night on ABC with a loss at Georgia (13-7), then played at home against Boston College and Doug Flutie the following Saturday, a game that ended in a 17-17 tie. That was quite a challenge as both teams ended the year in bowl games and were a combined 19-4-2. Clemson ran the table after that tie with Boston College and ended the season 9-1-1.

Prior to 1982 you have to go all the way back to 1933 to find the last time Clemson played two games in five days. That year Clemson defeated The Citadel on November 25th, then lost to Furman five days later on November 30, 6-0. The last time Clemson won a game on just four days rest was in 1929. Clemson defeated The Citadel 13-0 on November 23, then defeated Furman on November 28, 7-6.

Playing games in short time periods was commonplace in the early days of college football. In fact, Clemson played three games in seven days twice, once in 1907 and once in 1911. Clemson lost to Auburn on November 4, lost to Georgia on November 7 and to Davidson on November 9 in 1907. The Tigers defeated South Carolina on November 2, defeated The Citadel on November 4 and lost to Georgia on November 9 in 1911.

Overall, Clemson has a 10-13-4 record in its history with five days or fewer in between games.

O’Cain Faces Former Team Current Clemson quarterbacks coach Mike O’Cain will face a past employer this week. O’Cain, a 1977 Clemson graduate, served as head coach of NC State from 1993-99. He replaced Dick Sheridan at NC State in 1993 and took the Pack to an 8-4 record, including a Peach Bowl invitation. The next year he had the Wolfpack at 9-3 in the regular season, including a victory over Clemson in Death Valley, the first Clemson graduate to defeat the Tigers.

His 1998 season featured a win at Texas and a triumph over Florida State, just the second loss for Florida State in its ACC history dating to 1992. He took the Pack to another bowl game in 1998, his third as head coach of the Pack.

In 2001 he coached the Tiger quarterback in the 45-37 victory over NC State. Clemson had 567 yards total offense in that game, most ever in a road game, including a school record 517 yards from Woody Dantzler. Clemson is 1-1 against NC State since O’Cain came to Clemson.

Ironically, one of O’Cain’s top games as a player at Clemson came against NC State. In 1976, he rushed for 140 yards against NC State, the Clemson quarterback rushing record for a game until 1994. As a Tiger he still ranks 16th in school history in passing efficiency.

Bowden and Amato Were on Same FSU Staff Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden and NC State Head Coach Chuck Amato were both on Bobby Bowden’s Florida State staff in 1982. That Florida State team finished 9-3, ranked 13th in the country and appeared in the Gator Bowl. Bowden was a part-time coach working with the receivers, while Amato was a fulltime coach in charge of the defensive line. Amato worked for Bobby Bowden from 1982-99 before becoming the head coach at NC State this year. Both coaches have had success early in their respective head coaching careers. Bowden took Tulane to an undefeated 11-0 record in the regular season of 1998 and brought the Tigers to a top 15 final ranking in 2000 after an 8-0 start. Amato has NC State to a bowl game in each of his first three years and led the Pack to a record 10 wins and a top 15 final ranking in 2002.

Clemson Veterans versus N.C. State Eric Coleman (DT) – Had one tackle in 24 snaps in 2002; played 29 snaps in the 2001 win over the Wolfpack. Airese Currie (WR) – Had two catches for 24 yards in 2002; caught a 79-yard pass, the longest play of the year, in the 2001 game in Raleigh. Maurice Fountain (DE) – Had three tackles, including one for loss, in the 2002 game; Had one tackle in 23 snaps in 2001. Toure Francis (CB) – Had five tackles in 54 snaps in 2001 win; also had two pass deflections in that game, his first career start. Jamaal Fudge (ROV) – Had two tackles in 21 snaps last year. Ben Hall’s (TE) – Played 19 snaps against the Wolfpack last year; caught three passes for 39 yards, including his first collegiate touchdown, in the 2001 win. Derrick Hamilton (WR) – Had three catches for 16 yards in last year’s game; caught eight balls for 106 yards and his first career touchdown in the 2001 game. LeRoy Hill (LB) – Has played just one snap in two years against the Wolfpack. Tye Hill (RB) – Had one special teams tackle last year. J.J. Howard (DE) – Did not have a tackle in 21 plays against the Pack last year. Aaron Hunt (PK) – Did not play in the game last year, the only game he has not tried a field goal or extra point in his career at Clemson; made a field goal and seven extra points for 10 points in the 2001 game; made 4-5 extra points in 2000 game. Chad Jasmin (RB) – Played eight snaps in last year’s game; caught a four-yard touchdown pass in 2001 game. Cedric Johnson (OG) – Led the team in knockdown blocks in 2002 game. Yusef Kelly (RB) – Had six carries for 29 yards last year; did not play against the Wolfpack in 2000. John Leake (LB) – Had eight tackles last year; totaled 14 tackles in the 2001 game. Justin Miller (CB) – Had a career-high 12 tackles and a pass breakup last year; returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown, his first career return, for Clemson’s only score of the game. DeJuan Polk (DT) – Had three tackles in 24 snaps last year. Travis Pugh (FS) – Had three tackles in the game last year. Eric Sampson (WHIP) – Posted nine tackles, including one for loss last year; had two tackles in 2001. Khaleed Vaughn (DE) – Had seven tackles and one for loss in 2002; had a tackle for loss in 2001; had one tackle in 13 snaps in 2000. Donnell Washington (DT) – Had five tackles, two quarterback pressures, and a tackle for loss in last year’s game; had two sacks and five tackles in 2001. Charlie Whitehurst (QB) – Played in relief last year against the Wolfpack; was 6-for-17 for 64 yards and an interception. Kevin Youngblood (WR) – Caught one pass for 23 yards last season against N.C. State; played nine snaps in 2000 game but did not catch a pass.

Last Year vs. NC StateN.C. State 38 Clemson 6 Ninth ranked NC State defeated Clemson 38-6 in Death Valley last year, ending a two-game losing streak against the Tigers and earning them a ninth consecutive victory. The Wolfpack totaled 240 rushing yards and out-gained the Tigers by 170 yards. The Wolfpack special teams unit held Clemson to an average of only 32 yards per punt and also blocked one of Wynn Kopp’s punts in the first half, resulting in a touchdown by Terrence Holt. Receiver Jerricho Cotchery also returned an onside kick attempt for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Philip Rivers completed 60 percent of his passes and also had a touchdown run, but he averaged just 5.4 yards per attempt and threw for a season low 129 yards. Freshman T.A. McLendon amassed 178 rushing yards and scored twice. It was the most yards rushing by an individual against a Tommy Bowden coached team.

On defense, N.C. State forced five turnovers and frustrated both of Clemson’s quarterbacks throughout the game. Starter Willie Simmons completed only seven of his 15 passes for 99 yards and backup Charlie Whitehurst completed just six of his 17 passes for 64 yards. The quarterbacks combined for all five of the team’s turnovers. Clemson’s running game was limited to 66 yards. The play of freshman Justin Miller was a standout performance for the Tigers. He had 12 tackles and broke up a pass on defense. He also scored all of Clemson’s points when he returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown in the final period, negating the Wolfpack’s shutout. Senior defensive back Brian Mance also had a solid performance with his fifth interception of the season and another pass deflection.

Kopp’s blocked punt in the first quarter was recovered by defensive back Terrance Holt and returned 39 yards for a touchdown, yielding the first points of the game. McLendon scored the first of his two touchdown runs early in the second period, when he burst through the Clemson line and rumbled 31 yards downfield to make the score 15-0. After Simmons fumbled three plays later, and Rivers capped off the ensuing five-play, 15-yard drive with a one-yard leap into the end zone the Wolfpack had a commanding 22-0 lead at halftime.

Clemson’s problems continued in the third period. After driving the offense inside the N.C. State red zone, Simmons failed to convert on fourth down when he was stopped by the NC State line. N.C. State’s following drive resulted in a 26-yard field goal by Adam Kiker, and neither team scored again until McLendon added his second touchdown run of the game with 12:45 remaining.

The two teams then traded kickoff return touchdowns, meaning there was a touchdown scored on three consecutive plays, leading to the 38-6 NC State victory. It was Clemson’s fourth straight loss on Thursday nights, the second of 2002.