Clemson Tigers football, 1980–1989

The Clemson Tigers football teams of 1980–1989 represented Clemson University in NCAA Division I-A college football competition.

Contents
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

1980

1980 Clemson Tigers football
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
1980 record	6–5 (2–4 ACC)
Head coach	Danny Ford
Captain	Lee Nanney, Willie Underwood
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1979 1981 »

Clemson won its 100th ACC game November 1 against Wake Forest.

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 13*	Rice		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 19–3	60,361
September 20*	at #10 Georgia		Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA	L 16–20	61,200
September 27*	Western Carolina		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 17–10	58,490
October 4*	Virginia Tech		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 13–10	64,558
October 11	at Virginia		Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VA	W 27–24	32,443
October 18	Duke		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	L 17–34	59,873
October 25	at North Carolina State		Carter–Finley Stadium • Raleigh, NC (Textile Bowl)	L 20–24	44,400
November 1	at Wake Forest		Groves Stadium • Winston-Salem, NC	W 35–33	28,200
November 8	#14 North Carolina		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	L 19–24	62,288
November 15	at Maryland		Byrd Stadium • College Park, MD	L 7–34	32,650
November 22*	#19 South Carolina		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Battle of the Palmetto State)	W 27–6	64,200
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1981

1982

1982 Clemson Tigers football
ACC Champion
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Ranking
AP	#8
1982 record	9–1–1 (6–0 ACC)
Head coach	Danny Ford
Captain	Homer Jordan, Terry Kinard
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1981 1983 »

Clemson was placed on probation near the end of the season for recruiting violations, and was ineligible for a bowl bid.

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 6*	at #7 Georgia	#11	Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA	L 7–13	82,122
September 18*	Boston College	#16	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	T 17–17	63,118
September 25*	Western Carolina		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 21–10	61,369
October 2*	Kentucky		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 24–6	63,115
October 9	at Virginia		Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VA	W 48–0	30,971
October 16	Duke	#20	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 49–14	62,822
October 23	at North Carolina State	#18	Carter–Finley Stadium • Raleigh, NC (Textile Bowl)	W 38–29	47,300
November 6	#18 North Carolina	#13	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 16–13	63,788
November 13	at Maryland	#11	Byrd Stadium • College Park, MD	W 24–22	51,750
November 20*	South Carolina	#10	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Battle of the Palmetto State)	W 24–6	66,210
November 28	vs. Wake Forest	#10	National Olympic Stadium • Tokyo, Japan (Mirage Bowl)	W 21–17	80,000
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1983

1983 Clemson Tigers football
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Ranking
Coaches	#10
AP	#11
1983 record	9–1–1 (7–0 ACC)
Head coach	Danny Ford
Captain	James Farr, James Robinson
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1982 1984 »

Clemson was on probation for recruiting violations, and was ineligible for the ACC championship and a bowl bid.

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 3*	Western Carolina		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 44–10	69,962
September 10*	at Boston College		Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, MA	L 16–31	32,500
September 17*	#11 Georgia		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	T 16–16	79,815
September 24	Georgia Tech		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Clemson – Georgia Tech rivalry)	W 41–14	73,882
October 8	Virginia		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 42–21	78,376
October 15	at Duke		Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, NC	W 38–31	19,300
October 22	North Carolina State		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Textile Bowl)	W 27–17	73,773
October 29	Wake Forest		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 24–17	65,475
November 5	at #10 North Carolina		Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC	W 16–3	53,689
November 12	#11 Maryland	#17	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 52–27	80,615
November 19*	at South Carolina	#13	Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC (Battle of the Palmetto State)	W 22–13	74,550
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1984

1984 Clemson Tigers football
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
1984 record	7–4 (5–2 ACC)
Head coach	Danny Ford
Captain	Mike Eppley, William Perry
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1983 1985 »

Clemson was on probation for recruiting violations, and was ineligible for the ACC championship.

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 1*	Appalachian State	#4	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 40–7	75,398
September 8	at Virginia	#3	Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VA	W 55–0	38,676
September 22*	at #20 Georgia	#2	Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA	L 23–26	82,122
September 29	at #20 Georgia Tech	#13	Grant Field • Atlanta, GA (Clemson – Georgia Tech rivalry)	L 21–28	57,704
October 6	North Carolina		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 20–12	80,111
October 20	Duke		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 54–21	80,617
October 27	at North Carolina State		Carter–Finley Stadium • Raleigh, NC (Textile Bowl)	W 35–24	44,100
November 3	Wake Forest		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 37–14	71,697
November 10*	Virginia Tech		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 17–10	77,754
November 17	at Maryland	#20	Memorial Stadium • Baltimore, MD	L 23–41	60,575
November 24*	#9 South Carolina		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Battle of the Palmetto State)	L 21–22	82,093
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1985

1985 Clemson Tigers football
Independence Bowl, L 13–20 vs. Minnesota
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
1985 record	6–6 (4–3 ACC)
Head coach	Danny Ford
Captain	Steve Berlin, Steve Reese
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1984 1986 »

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 14*	at Virginia Tech		Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, VA	W 20–17	31,000
September 21*	Georgia		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	L 13–20	80,473
September 28	Georgia Tech		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Clemson – Georgia Tech rivalry)	L 3–14	79,309
October 5*	at Kentucky		Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY	L 7–26	58,230
October 12	Virginia		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 27–24	79,110
October 19	at Duke		Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, NC	W 21–9	31,800
October 26	North Carolina State		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Textile Bowl)	W 39–10	72,316
November 2	Wake Forest		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 26–10	71,179
November 9	at North Carolina		Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC	L 20–21	50,000
November 16	Maryland		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	L 31–34	78,037
November 23*	at South Carolina		Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC (Battle of the Palmetto State)	W 24–17	75,026
December 21*	vs. Minnesota		Independence Stadium • Shreveport, LA (Independence Bowl)	L 13–20	42,800
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1986

1986 Clemson Tigers football
ACC Champion
Gator Bowl, W 27–21 vs. Stanford
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Ranking
Coaches	#18
AP	#17
1986 record	8–2–2 (5–1–1 ACC)
Head coach	Danny Ford
Captain	Terrence Flagler, Terence Mack
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1985 1987 »

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 13*	Virginia Tech		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	L 14–20	75,930
September 20*	at #14 Georgia		Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA	W 31–28	81,377
September 27	at Georgia Tech		Grant Field • Atlanta, GA (Clemson – Georgia Tech rivalry)	W 27–3	46,062
October 4*	The Citadel		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 24–0	75,540
October 11	at Virginia	#20	Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VA	W 31–17	44,300
October 18	Duke	#17	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 35–3	81,320
October 25	at #20 North Carolina State	#16	Carter–Finley Stadium • Raleigh, NC (Textile Bowl)	L 3–27	51,300
November 1	at Wake Forest		Groves Stadium • Winston-Salem, NC	W 28–20	20,370
November 8	North Carolina		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 38–10	79,210
November 15	at Maryland	#15	Memorial Stadium • Baltimore, MD	T 17–17	58,758
November 22*	South Carolina	#19	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Battle of the Palmetto State)	T 21–21	82,492
December 27*	vs. #20 Stanford	#21	Gator Bowl Stadium • Jacksonville, FL (Gator Bowl)	W 27–21	80,104
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1987

1987 Clemson Tigers football
ACC Champion
Florida Citrus Bowl, W 35–10 vs. Penn State
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Ranking
Coaches	#11
AP	#12
1987 record	10–2 (6–1 ACC)
Head coach	Danny Ford
Captain	Michael Dean Perry, John Phillips
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1986 1988 »

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 5*	Western Carolina		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 43–0	71,465
September 12*	at Virginia Tech	#10	Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, VA	W 22–10	42,000
September 19*	#18 Georgia	#8	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 21–20	81,875
September 26	Georgia Tech	#9	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Clemson – Georgia Tech rivalry)	W 33–12	78,832
October 10	Virginia	#8	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 38–21	79,963
October 17	[[{{{school}}}|Duke]]	#7	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 17–10	70,294
October 24	[[{{{school}}}|NC State]]	#7	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Textile Bowl)	L 28–30	73,613
October 31	Wake Forest	#14	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 31–17	69,711
November 7	at [[{{{school}}}|North Carolina]]	#10	Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC	W 13–10	53,115
November 14	Maryland	#9	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 45–16	76,773
November 21*	at #12 [[{{{school}}}|South Carolina]]	#8	Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC (Battle of the Palmetto State)	L 7–20	75,043
January 1*	vs. #20 Penn State	#14	Citrus Bowl • Orlando, FL (Florida Citrus Bowl)	W 35–10	53,152
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1988

1988 Clemson Tigers football
ACC Champion
Florida Citrus Bowl, W 13–6 vs. Oklahoma
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Ranking
Coaches	#10
AP	#9
1988 record	10–2 (6–1 ACC)
Head coach	Danny Ford
Captain	Rodney Williams, Donnell Woolford
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1987 1989 »

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 3*	[[{{{school}}}|Virginia Tech]]	#4	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 40–7	78,714
September 10*	[[{{{school}}}|Furman]]	#3	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 23–3	80,620
September 17*	#10 [[{{{school}}}|Florida State]]	#3	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	L 21–24	85,576
September 24	at [[{{{school}}}|Georgia Tech]]	#12	Bobby Dodd Stadium • Atlanta, GA (Clemson – Georgia Tech rivalry)	W 30–13	45,106
October 8	at [[{{{school}}}|Virginia]]	#11	Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VA	W 10–7	42,000
October 15	#22 [[{{{school}}}|Duke]]	#11	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 49–17	83,356
October 22	at #24 [[{{{school}}}|North Carolina State]]	#9	Carter–Finley Stadium • Raleigh, NC (Textile Bowl)	L 3–10	55,000
October 29	at Wake Forest	#15	Groves Stadium • Winston-Salem, NC	W 38–21	27,300
November 5	[[{{{school}}}|North Carolina]]	#17	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 37–14	78,369
November 12	at Maryland	#16	Byrd Stadium • College Park, MD	W 49–25	45,000
November 19*	#25 South Carolina	#15	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Battle of the Palmetto State)	W 29–10	84,867
January 1*	vs. #10 Oklahoma	#9	Citrus Bowl • Orlando, FL (Florida Citrus Bowl)	W 13–6	53,571
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1989

References

• Games: Bourret, Tim. "2010 Clemson Football Media Guide". Clemson University. p. 202. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/clem/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/football_media_guide_2010.pdf. Retrieved 11 August 2011. 
• Games: Howell, James. "Clemson Historical Scores". Division I-A Historical Scores. Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Clemson.htm. Retrieved 11 August 2011. 
• Coaches & captains: 2010 Media Guide, p. 198

Clemson Tigers football Venues Bowman Field (1900–1914) Riggs Field (1915–1941) Memorial Stadium (1942–present) Bowls & rivalries Bowl games Georgia Tech South Carolina Textile Bowl (NC State) Culture & lore The Tiger "Tiger Rag" Clemson University Tiger Band Clemson–South Carolina football brawl People Head coaches NFL draftees Seasons 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 National championship seasons in bold