Postgame Notes

Oct. 12, 2002

Clemson 17, Virginia 22 Scott Stadium

Clemson had the ball for 19 plays on its first drive of thegame and moved the ball 93 yards for a lead field goal. It was themost plays in a drive by Clemson since 9-22-79 when Clemson had a19-play drive in a 12-7 victory against Georgia. The highest numberof plays in a drive in Clemson history is 20, set in a 1978 victoryby Clemson over Virginia Tech. Clemson’s 93-yard drive in the firstquarter was its longest of he season and longest since a 96-yarddrive at South Carolina last year. Clemson had two drives of 92yards or more in today’s game the first time in school historyClemson has two of 92 yards or more in the same game. Clemsonoutgained Virginia 412-288 in today’s game, the sixth straight gameClemson has outgained the opposition this year, yet the Tigers arejust 3-3. Clemson had a +124 total offense margin, yet lost thegame at Virginia. It was the largest total offense margin in aClemson loss since the 1999 Peach Bowl when Clemson outgainedMississippi State 391-265 in a 17-7 loss. Clemson had 25 firstdowns at Virginia, yet lost the game. It was the first time sincelast year’s Florida State game that Clemson has had at least 25first downs yet lost. Last year Clemson had 29 first downs againstVirginia, yet lost, the most first downs in Clemson history in aTiger defeat. Clemson has gained 845 yards and had 54 first downsthe last two games against Virginia, yet lost both games. BillyMcMullen, Virginia’s big play performer, has scored the keytouchdown in a Virginia victory each of the last two years.Ironically, both plays were just one yard. Last year he caught aone-yard touchdown pass with one second left to beat Clemson 26-24.This year his one-yard rush put Virginia up for good in the fourthquarter. Clemson backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst is now 11-11passing on the season for 113 yards and a score. He is the firstClemson quarterback to complete each of his first 11 careerattempts. The Clemson record for consecutive completions at anytime is 17 by Nealon Greene in 1997. He completed his last 13,ironically against Virginia in a Tiger loss, then completed hisfirst four vs. Maryland in a Tiger victory. Clemson held Virginiato under 300 yards total offense (288). It marked the second timethis year Clemson had held a team under 300 and lost. It alsohappened against Georgia. Last year Clemson went the entire seasonwithout holding a team under 300 yards total offense. Clemson hadbeen 10-1 under Tommy Bowden when holding the opposition under 300yards total offense entering this season. Clemson injuries: BernardRambert did not play in the second half due to bruised ribs. GaryByrd, starting offensive tackle, did not play in the fourth perioddue to a sprained ankle and a sprained knee. Nathan Gillespie tookhis place in the fourth period and was in the lineup on Clemson’s92-yard scoring drive in the fourth period. Derrick Hamilton hadhis third 200-yard all-purpose running game of the season. He had81 receiving, 107 in kickoff returns, 15 in punt returns and threerushing yards for 206 total yards. Tye Hill had his first careertouchdown when he raced 32 yards for a score in the second periodwith a minute left. That score gave Clemson a touchdown within thelast 90 seconds of the first half in five of the first six games.Clemson has scored a touchdown just before halftime in every gamebut Louisiana Tech this year. Over the last two games Clemson hasgained 853 yards in 134 plays, an average of 6.4 yards per play.Clemson is 0-2 in those two games. Brian Mance’s interception justbefore halftime was his third of the year and ninth as a ClemsonTiger. He has had exactly three interceptions each of the lastthree years. Aaron Hunt booted a pair of extra points and becameClemson’s career leader in that category in the process. The junioris now 108 for 112 in his career. He broke the record of 107 madeextra points that had been held by Bob Paulling in 1979-83. Huntscored five points in the game on a field goal and two PATs and nowhas 192 career points, tied for seventh in Clemson history withLester Brown. Clemson saw its streak of consecutive games improvingits total offense end at four. It was the longest such streak bythe Tigers since 1983. Still, Clemson did gain 412 yards in thegame, the third straight game Clemson has gained at least 400yards. It as the fourth straight game Clemson has gained at least5.2 yards per play. As a team, Clemson is now completing 61 percentof its passes for the year, ahead of the record pace of the 60.5percent set in 1997.