Tuesday November 03, 2009

November to Remember

A November to Remember
Back in the glory days of Clemson football, the Tigers were dominant in the month of November and it was that dominance that helped the Tigers to several ACC championships.

From 1978 to 1991 Clemson won seven ACC titles. The Tigers won ACC titles in 1978, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1888 and 1991. In those championship seasons, Clemson was 25-1-2 in the month of November and 17-0-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Even in the years where the Tigers did not win the ACC Clemson still played very well in November. From 1978 to 1991 Clemson went 37-8-2 in the month of November.

The next 14 seasons the Tigers went 27-17 in November.

Clemson has won 13 ACC championships and the Tigers have a record 41-8-3 in the month of November in those championship seasons.

Some Clemson coaches have enjoyed a ton of success in November. John Heisman was 9-1-1 in the month of November. Charley Pell was 5-1-1 in his two Novembers at Clemson. Danny Ford was 28-8-2 in the month of November. Dabo Swinney is now 4-1 in the month of November.

Josh Cody struggled in the month of November with a 7-9 mark. Jess Neely went 17-3-2 in the month. Frank Howard won the most games in November (72) but he lost the most also (39). Ken Hatfield and Tommy West had excellent November records. Hatfield went 9-3 and West compiled a 12-4 mark. Tommy Bowden was 18-11.

November 2009
So, the case can be made that championships are won in November and Clemson’s history is a great example of that fact. Here is what the Tigers face in order to make this a November to remember:

Florida State (4-4, 2-3)-The Seminoles come into Saturday’s game on a two-game winning streak after saving their season with two fourth quarter comebacks in the last two games. Christian Ponder has been fantastic and charged the Noles back for a 30-27 victory at North Carolina. Last week FSU scored late to beat NC State 45-42 in Tallahassee. Three weeks ago the Seminoles were dead in the water and their season was headed nowhere. Now they have a chance to perhaps take control of the Atlantic division if they can win in Clemson. This one could be a close shootout. The Noles have played five games that have been decided by a touchdown or less this season. They have scored at least 30 points in five games this season as well. Clemson has won three in a row at home versus FSU who has not won here since 2001. Dabo is 0-1 against FSU after last year’s 41-27 loss in Tallahassee.

@NC State (3-5, 0-4)-The Wolfpack are struggling and still are looking for their first conference win of the season. Year three of the Tom O’Brien era at State has not been what most anticipated. This NC State team has major issues on defense. They have given up at least 30 points in each of the last five games including 146 points in the last three games. State will try to break a five game losing streak at home against Maryland this Saturday. Clemson has won five in a row in the series including the last two in Raleigh. The Tigers have won three of the last four times they have played at NC State and actually lead the series in games played in Raleigh 17-15. This will be the first time Dabo will face NC State as a head coach.

Virginia (3-5, 2-2)-The Cavs have been a streaky team all season. They lost their first three including a home loss to William & Mary. Virginia then won its next three including a win in Chapel Hill. Now they have lost their last two including a home loss to Duke. The Cavs have a road game at Miami and a home tilt with Boston College before coming south to play the Tigers in Clemson for the first time since 2003. Dabo is 1-0 against Virginia with last year’s 13-3 win in Charlottesville.

@South Carolina (6-3, 3-3 SEC)-Clemson fans understand how dominant the Tigers have been against South Carolina, especially in Columbia. Sometimes I still have to remind myself that South Carolina has only beaten Clemson twice in Columbia since 1979. In Clemson’s last 14 trips to Williams-Brice Stadium the Tigers are 12-2. South Carolina was ranked until Saturday’s loss at Tennessee. The Gamecocks do have an open date before the Clemson game but I have no idea what kind of football team USC will bring into the game this season. A lot will depend on how South Carolina plays at Arkansas and at home against Florida. Dabo is 1-0 against South Carolina after last year’s 31-14 win in Clemson.

So Dabo and his staff will try to do what other great Clemson teams and staffs have done in the past. They will try to dominate the month of November and win the ACC championship

Clemson’s final four opponents are 16-17 overall. The ACC opponents are 4-9 in the conference heading into November. The Tigers control their own destiny beginning with Saturday night’s game with Florida State.

One of the things I remember so well about Danny Ford and his staffs was the way they were able to keep their teams focused on the next opponent in the march to another title. Many of those teams did not look ahead and focused only on the next obstacle in their way to their goal. Ford’s teams went 19-5-1 in November games against ACC opponents.

Dabo will need an impressive November to help this team win the Atlantic division. If this team plays well, it could be a November to remember.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Ann Fallaw, Bob Pollock, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Mike Kingsmore,Perrin Seigler, Carole White Begley, Candee Massee.