Orange Phenom [14935]
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On this date in Clemson History: September 25th
Sep 25, 2020, 3:05 PM
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2004: Despite a record-setting day from Justin Miller in the return game, Clemson falls to #8 FSU 22-41 in Tallahassee.
Before the Game
The Tigers limped into the game with a 1-2 record. They had come into the season ranked #15 riding a strong finish from 2003. Clemson squeaked by Wake Forest in the opener in 2OT, then lost the meltdown game against GT and a freshman WR named Calvin Johnson the week after that. They had followed that game up with a loss at TAMU following a brutal trip to the stadium in buses without A/C (seriously).
The Seminoles came in at 1-1 but carrying a #8 ranking. They're lone loss to date had been in OT against rival #5 Miami in week 1.
The Game
The Tigers actually played well for the first half, leading 7-3 at the end of Q1 (thanks to Justin Miller) and down 14-17 at the half behind a Whitehurst-to-Curtis Baham TD.
After a safety and another Justin Miller KR TD, the Tigers actually pulled within 2, 22-24, in the 3rd quarter, but the Clemson Offense couldn't muster any more points, thanks largely to 5 turnovers, and the 'Noles pulled away in the 4th quarter.
Final: 22-41
Notable Stats
- Justin Miller: 282 Return yards, 2 TDs (an NCAA record at the time)
The KR yards has been bested since but he's in a 20-way tie for most KRTDs in a single game
- Charlie Whitehurst: 10/24, 88 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs, 2 fumbles... 13 rushes (!) for 27 yards
- Duane Coleman: 5 rushes, 29 yards
- Reggie Merriweather: 5 rushes, 19 yards
- Kelvin Grant: 2 catches, 32 years (leading receiver)
- Wyatt Sexton: 17/26, 162 yards, 1 TD (Chris Rix was injured in the 1st Quarter
- Lorenzo Booker: 20 rushes, 92 yards
- Chauncey Stovall: 7 catches, 96 yards, 1 TD
- Antonio Cromartie: 1 INT
After the Game
The 2004 season was a typical Tommy Bowden Roller Coaster. Clemson would lose again the next week to a Top 10 UVA team before reeling off 4 straight wins. The Tigers beat a Top 10 Miami Team on the road in OT on November 6th, only to lose on a last-second FG to a 2-win Duke team the very next week.
The season memorably ended with a 29-7 win over the Gamecocks that featured 3 TDs by Reggie Merriweather and, of course, a bench-clearing brawl (also won by the Tigers). Despite being eligible, both teams would decline their bowl invitations. It would also be the last game Lou Holtz ever coached.
Despite a pre-season Top 15 ranking, Clemson's final record would be 6-5.
FSU would finish out the regular season 8-3 (with losses to unranked Maryland as the #5 team and archival Florida), losing the ACC Title to new conference member VT. After beating WVU and former Clemson OC Rich Rod in the Gator Bowl, the 9-3 'Noles would finish the season ranked #14 in the Coaches Poll and #15 in the AP Poll. It would actually be the highest ranked-finish of the rest of Bowden's career.
It was not a memorable outcome, but we did get to see this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-llxEcSiIM
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