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49 - Charlie Whitehurst Threw 49 Touchdown Passes for Clemson

Jul 13, 2024, 5:08 AM

I have heard people call Charlie Whitehurst “Clipboard Jesus.” Personally, I prefer the name “Coot Killa” since he is the only starting QB to go 4-0 in the Clemson-Gamechicken series (not sure if it can really be called a “rivalry”).

Whitehurst had a great career at Clemson. Had Clemson’s newly hired QB coach (and former NC St Head Coach as well as former Clemson QB) Mike O’Cain not talked Tommy Bowden into offering a scholarship, he would have had that great career in Chapel Hill.

Before Clemson:

Of Note: Charles David “Charlie” Whitehurst Jr. grew up the son of an NFL QB. Charles “David” Whitehurst Sr played QB for Furman University before being drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1977. David Whitehurst played eight NFL seasons, seven with the Packers (1977-1983) and one with the Kansas City Chiefs (1984).

As late as December of Whitehurst’s senior year, Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden and staff had not offered him a scholarship. According to the State, Whitehurst described his recruitment as follows:

“I was going to go to North Carolina. Mike O’Cain was a guy that was helping recruit me there. He was the offensive coordinator at North Carolina then under Carl Torbush’s staff.

“They got fired in December, so I was still going to go on my visit at North Carolina and Mike O’Cain had just been hired as the quarterbacks coach at Clemson because Rich Rodriguez had left and gone to West Virginia. I’m on my way to North Carolina for my visit and he said, ‘Hey, just don’t commit this weekend. Let me see if I can get you an offer here at Clemson.’ So I kind of made him that promise. I loved North Carolina. I thought I was going to go there, but he got me an offer on Monday and I went on the trip to Clemson.
…
Chapel Hill would’ve been great, but it’s a basketball school. That’s just the way it is, right? Everybody knows that. I saw firsthand and I just wanted to play big-time college football, so I luckily got that chance.”

https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/acc/clemson-university/article255948217.html

Wow – so, so close to missing out on a key player and key member of Clemson football history! Thank goodness O’Cain convinced Bowden to offer that scholarship and things then worked out so well!

While at Clemson

Clemson QB Charles Whitehurst (2001-2005) had an impressive Clemson career. He redshirted the 2001 season when he still contributed as the scout team QB. I remember reading stories of Clemson defensive players getting chewed out by the coaching staff as Whitehurst was beating them in practice. The defensive players would argue with the coaches that “this is not a scout team QB.”

He started the 2002 season as the backup QB to Willie Simmons (aka “Shotgun Wille”). By midseason, however, that changed with Clemson preparing for a game at Duke. According to Tigernet:

“I remember NC State came to us the week before. I can’t remember but I played at the end of a couple of games that year. And then that Monday, I think I was in Mike O’Cain’s office, the quarterback coach. And he kind of talking about I had played okay in that game, in mop up and he asked me a question. He said, ‘You think you’re ready to start a game?’ And I was like, ‘Oh boy.’ I remember thinking, ‘No!’ but I remember shaking my head like, ‘#### yeah.’ And he said, ‘Alright, because that’s what we’re thinking. Not sure yet, but that’s what we’re thinking.’ I remember walking out of his office going, ‘Oh, ####. What have I gotten myself into?’

https://www.tigernet.com/clemson-football/story/charlie-whitehurst-unfiltered-clipboard-jesus-reflects-on-clemson-career-18866

Clemson won that game at Duke. And the team never looked back! According to Wikipedia:

“Whitehurst left Clemson with 9,665 passing yards, 49 touchdowns and 46 interceptions and a 124.2 quarterback rating. On the ground, he gained 98 yards on 266 attempts and 10 touchdowns.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Whitehurst#:~:text=Charles%20David%20Whitehurst%20Jr.&text=He%20played%20college%20football%20for,Indianapolis%20Colts%20and%20Cleveland%20Browns.

According to Sports-Reference.com, Whitehurst registered the following statistics at Clemson:

Charlie Whitehurst (2002-2005)
- 817 of 1368 Completions for 9,665 Yards
- 49 Passing Touchdowns
- 266 Carries for 98 Yards (0.4 Average)
- 10 Rushing Touchdowns
- 1 Reception for 2 Yards
- 1 Punt for 25 Yards (25.0 average)

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/charlie-whitehurst-1.html

Coot Killa:

Of his crowning moments came as the starting QB (and arguably the architect) of Clemson’s classic 63-17 pasting in Columbia in 2003. But, that was not his only chicken basting. In four starts against the Chickens, he led Clemson to the following victories:

- 2002: Clemson 27 Chickens 20
- 2003: Clemson 63 Chickens 17
- 2004: Clemson 29 Chickens 7
- 2005: Clemson 13 Chickens 9

If you were to combine those scores you would discover a collective score of:
- (2002-2005): Clemson 132 Chickens 53.

Charlie Whitehurst is the only starting QB to go 4-0 in the Clemson-Chicken series – thus cementing his Coot Killa nickname. Part of the 4-0 record included the classic 63-17 bludgeoning in 2003. Part of the 4-0 record also included 1st and 35. Both of those great moments occurred in Columbia.

2003: 63-17
According to Sports-Reference.com, Charlie Whitehurst had the following stats in this classic game:

Charlie Whitehurst 63-17 Pasting:
- 18 of 26 Completions for 302 Yards
- 4 Passing Touchdowns
- 6 Carries for 43 Yards (7.2 Average)

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2003-11-22-south-carolina.html

It is all the more impressive considering he (assumedly) sat out the 4th Quarter.

GoUpstate.com described Whitehurst’s performance in the 63-17 game as follows:

“Another 20 yards, another first down and another picture-perfect play to add to Whitehurst's collage of dominance.

The quarterback emerged as the latest, greatest South Carolina nemesis with his second straight outstanding performance in the series as the Tigers blasted USC 63-17.

It was the most points scored by either rival in 101 total meetings and the most Clemson had scored in a game since 1981.
…
Whitehurst has shown all season if given enough time, he can make a defense look downright silly and so it was Saturday night as he helped thousands of Gamecock fans to an early third quarter exit with all hope lost.”

https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2003/11/23/offense-clicks-with-whitehurst/29693084007/

2005: 1st and 35

Whitehurst was also the QB who seemingly pulled out the impossible. He brought Clemson back from 1st and 35 in Columbia two years later. According to ESPN:

“Whitehurst completed three straight passes to dig his team out. from a first-and-35 hole.”

https://africa.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/253232579

As Whitehurst described it to Tigernet:

“We got a holding penalty. Then we got a clipping penalty and we’re at 1st and 35 and I don’t know how much time was left. I think it was six minutes.
…
I hit Chansi (Stuckey) for 15. We got it to like 3rd-and-18. And, that’s the hard one right there. I mean, ####, but we hit three and then, I think we hit a quarter or I hit Curtis Baham on a corner to the right. And I was like, ‘Oh my goodness. I mean, we actually overcame.’

https://www.tigernet.com/clemson-football/story/charlie-whitehurst-unfiltered-clipboard-jesus-reflects-on-clemson-career-18866

After Clemson:

The San Diego Chargers selected Charlie Whitehurst with the 81st Pick (3rd Round) of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played one season with the Chargers (2006) then 2 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks (2010-2011), a second season with the Chargers (2013), one season with the Tennessee Titans (2014), one season with the Indianapolis Colts (2015), and one season with the Cleveland Browns (2016).

According to Pro-Football-Reference.com, Whitehurst registered the following NFL statistics:

Charlie Whitehurst (2006-2016: Chargers, Seahawks, Titans, Colts, Browns)
- 219 of 396 Completions for 2463 Yards
- 11 Passing Touchdowns
- 56 Carries for 156 Yards (2.8 Average)
- 2 Rushing Touchdowns

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitCh02.htm

After finishing his playing career, Whitehurst described his recent hobbies to Tigernet in 2020:

“I’ve got a bunch of hobbies and stuff. I tinker with my cars. I’ve got some cars I like to take apart and put back together, but yeah, I haven’t delved into a new career or anything.”

https://www.tigernet.com/clemson-football/story/charlie-whitehurst-unfiltered-clipboard-jesus-reflects-on-clemson-career-18866

Excellent recap of Whitehurst’s carer at Clemson from Scott Rhymer and the Tiger Tailgate Show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA6_M519O9I

Whitehurst Clemson Highlight video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANY7ZipBA2w

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Clemson: Academic Excellence! Athletic Excellence!

Apparently, Clemson OL Barry Devon Richardson (2004-2007) was soft-spoken off the field. But he was a monster on the gridiron.

According to a ClemsonTigers.com article from his senior season in 2007:

“It is not hard to miss Barry Richardson. At 6’7″ and 330 pounds, he is as imposing on the football field as he is walking around campus. Surprisingly enough, the native of Mount Pleasant, SC is about as quiet and soft-spoken as they come. Former running back Reggie Merriweather does not remember him saying much after “hello” during Richardson’s recruiting visit. Regardless, the gentle giant has earned the respect of his coaches and teammates in four years as Clemson’s starting left offensive tackle.

Besides, what is there to talk about as #79 pancakes you into the ground?”

https://clemsontigers.com/clemson-football-game-program-feature-barry-richardson/

Before Clemson:

Richardson finished high school in three years, graduating from Wando High (Mount Pleasant, SC) a year younger than he could have had he chosen to stay the traditional four years. Given his young age, it would have been easy to assume that he needed a year to develop – particularly playing on OL.

While at Clemson:

According to ClemsonTigers.com:

“Little did Clemson coaches realize at the time was that he would also start eight games as a true-freshman, the most in school history by a first-year freshman offensive lineman. Most offensive linemen are expected to go through a year of conditioning and development before seeing large amounts of playing time, but by overcoming doubts about his age and demonstrating his pure athleticism, Richardson made an early impact on the offensive line.”

https://clemsontigers.com/clemson-football-game-program-feature-barry-richardson/

He continued to develop over his four years. ClemsonTigers.com provides a bio of individual All Americans. Here is Richardson’s bio from his All American senior year:

“BARRY RICHARDSON
Offensive Tackle • 2007

First-team All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com … second-team All-American by Walter Camp Foundation … First-Team All-ACC selection each of the last two years; he was the first Tiger offensive tackle to be a first-team pick since Jim Bundren (1996,97) … chosen to play in the Senior Bowl … graduated with a degree in health science in December 2007 … two-time ACC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Week in 2007, as he received the honor at Maryland and Duke; he had three selections in his career; he also won the award as a sophomore at NC State … Clemson’s highest-graded offensive lineman eight times in 2007, including five consecutive games … led the offensive line in snaps five times … graded at least 89 percent in four consecutive games (Central Michigan through Wake Forest games); Clemson won all four games … had 8.5 knockdown blocks and a 91-percent grade at Duke; he was named ACC Lineman-of-the-Week for that performance … one of the more reliable linemen in Clemson history, as he played 49 consecutive games and started 44 in a row … played 890 snaps in 2007 … played 2,778 career snaps.”

https://clemsontigers.com/all-americans/

Immediately after the regular season, ClemsonTigers.com noted the following information about Richardson’s 2007 All American season:

Richardson has been a starter since his freshman year and has started 44 consecutive games. He was a two-time ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week this year and led Clemson in blocking grade in five of the last six games. He finished the regular season with 59 knockdown blocks and has an even 200 for his career. He has played 2706 plays in his career, seventh highest total in Clemson history.

https://clemsontigers.com/richardson-mcduffie-named-all-americans/

After Clemson:

The Kansas City Chiefs selected Barry Richardson with the 170th Pick (6th Round) of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played four seasons with the Chiefs (2008-2012), one season with the St. Louis Rams (2012), and one season with the Detroit Lions (2013). According to Pro-Football-Reference.com, he played a total of 65 NFL games – starting 49 of them.

Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

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Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

I'm not O.J.

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Re: I'm not O.J.

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Go Tigers !***

Go Tigers !***

Go Tigers !***

49 - Charlie Whitehurst Threw 49 Touchdown Passes for Clemson

Re: 49 - Charlie Whitehurst Threw 49 Touchdown Passes for Clemson

Re: 49 - Charlie Whitehurst Threw 49 Touchdown Passes for Clemson

Re: 49 - Charlie Whitehurst Threw 49 Touchdown Passes for Clemson

Re: 49 - Charlie Whitehurst Threw 49 Touchdown Passes for Clemson

49 - Barry Richardson Played in 49 Straight Clemson Games

Re: 49 - Barry Richardson Played in 49 Straight Clemson Games

Re: 49 - Barry Richardson Played in 49 Straight Clemson Games

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Wayne Simmons Richard Yeargin Chris Lancaster day!

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)

Re: Hill Watch...49 days!!!(7 weeks!)