Re: Hill Watch...25 days!!!

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25 - The Most Exciting 25 Seconds in College Football

Aug 6, 2024, 12:09 AM

As Clemson fans, we know “the most exciting 25 seconds in college football” refers to the joy of seeing the Good Guys start at the top of the Hill, rub Howard’s Rock, and run down the Hill to do battle with the enemy.

Recognizing those 25 seconds for their glory goes back to the 1980s.

Origin of the Quote:

Brent Musburger was the first to (correctly) call Clemson’s entrance - including Howard’s Rock and the Hill – as “The Most Exciting 25 Seconds in College Football.” According to ClemsonTigers.com the origin of the quote occurred when the Clemson-Georgia series was at its height:

“It is the most famous quote about Tiger football in history. The story of how it came about is the story of a brilliant, old-school Clemson publicist. When you arrive at Death Valley and see Bob Bradley’s name on the North upper deck façade as a member of the Clemson Ring of Honor, this story is one of the reasons.

The first game from Memorial Stadium broadcasted nationwide took place on Sept. 13, 1985. The Clemson vs. Georgia rivalry was in the middle of a great run, and in those days, CBS had the rights to the game at Clemson.

With CBS coming to town for a national game, that meant Brent Musburger and Ara Parseghian would provide the commentary for the network.”

https://clemsontigers.com/125-years-of-clemson-football-the-most-exciting-25-seconds-in-college-football/

The Quote Itself:

And, according to the same ClemsonTigers.com article, the quote was not originally expected to become repeated so often:

“On that Friday, after Musburger and Parseghian met with Danny Ford, Clemson’s head coach invited the announcers to come to the Friday afternoon walkthrough in the stadium.
…
During this walkthrough on Sept. 12, 1985, Musburger was chatting with Bradley and asked about the tradition of running down the Hill. “Mr. B” proceeded to give him his long version with every detail.

During a pause in the conversation, Musburger looked up to the Hill and said, “It’s the most exciting 25 seconds in college football.”

https://clemsontigers.com/125-years-of-clemson-football-the-most-exciting-25-seconds-in-college-football/

Another ClemsonTigers.com article provides a video highlight of the quote (click the link to get the video):
https://clemsontigers.com/the-most-exciting-25-seconds-in-college-football/

As for the Most Exciting 25 Seconds in College Football – Click Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KApU_lRPPpM

In 2020, the Post and Courier ran a story exploring The Most Exciting 25 Seconds in College Football:

"The most exciting 25 seconds in college football" are nearing, but first someone needs to roll out the orange carpet. It’s 2:48 p.m., and the show starts in 42 minutes.

Twelve men in baseball caps, orange polos, khaki shorts and black sneakers crouch at the top of The Hill, throwing their arms around the 500-pound rug that stretches nearly 70 feet. They lift the carpet over Howard’s Rock, the emblem of Clemson’s workmanlike ethos, and walk backwards in sync, unfurling the rug, preparing the stage for the Tigers’ second home game of the season on Sept. 7.”

https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/clemson/clemsons-running-of-the-hill-behind-the-most-exciting-25-seconds-in-college-football/article_7307df68-d635-11e9-ae88-07d7db8b94c2.html

Thanks to UpCountry Historical for providing this link to ESPN’s video of Clemson’s entrance in the 2013 opening game against UGa:

Here is a link to the ESPN broadcast of Clemson's entrance before their 2013 game against Georgia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df6KzOd_X_U

https://www.upcountryhistorical.org/items/show/23?tour=1&index=4

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Clemson: Academic Excellence! Athletic Excellence!

Clemson’s first week ranked #1 in the AP poll was after Clemson had finished its regular season in 1981. Its second appearance at #1 was the next ranking after the January 1, 1982 Orange Bowl.

Clemson’s most recent appearance as the #1 ranked team was in the 2020 season.

Wikipedia provides a list of each team that has been ranked #1 (don’t bother looking for the Gamechickens) including how many weeks at #1, the First Appearance in the AP poll as the #1 team, and the Most Recent Appearance.

According to Wikipedia, Clemson has the 16th most appearances in the AP poll as the #1 team.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_college_football_teams_by_weekly_appearances_atop_AP_poll

Sports-Reference.com shows Clemson’s ranking in each appearance in the AP poll. Acordly, Clemson was ranked #1 in the AP poll in each of the following rankings:

1981:
1. November 30
2. Final

2015:
3. November 8
4. November 15
5. November 22
6. November 29
7. December 6

2016:
8. Final

2017:
9. November 27
10. December 3

2018:
11. Final

2019:
12. Preseason
13. September 3
14. September 8
15. September 15
16. September 22

2020
17. Preseason
18. September 13
19. September 20
20. September 27
21. October 4
22. October 11
23. October 18
24. October 25
25. November 2

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/clemson/polls.html

Hill Watch...25 days!!!