Re: 32 years ago, 1990: PICS AND VIDEOS!

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32 years ago, 1990: General Manuel Noriega surrenders in

Aug 4, 2022, 8:42 AM

Panama. As part of the Dissolution of the USSR, Yugoslav Communists end 45-year monopoly of power. South Africa frees Nelson Mandela, who had been a political prisoner for 27½ years. A US-Soviet summit reaches accord on armaments.

Iraqi troops invade Kuwait, setting off the Persian Gulf War. East and West Germany are finally reunited. Margaret Thatcher resigns as British Prime Minister, and is succeeded by John Major. Lech Walesa wins Poland's runoff Presidential election.

In Clemson, South Carolina, a new football era was beginning that pretty much NOBODY outside the Board of Trustees wanted. Danny Ford had resigned after losing an internal power struggle, and like it or not, Ken Hatfield was now the Clemson Head Football Coach. And NOT liking it were a whole lot of Clemson people, including myself.

ACC Champions for 1990 were the 6-0-1, 11-0-1 Georgia Tech Yellowjackets of Coach Bobby Ross. They were also either National Champions (UPI Coaches Poll), or No.2 (AP Poll.) The “other” (AP Poll) National Champion was the 11-1-1 Colorado Buffaloes of Coach Bill McCartney. And, neither of those were liked universally, as the Miami Hurricanes, or the Washington Huskies were also named Champion in a couple other, minor polls..

Ken Hatfield had a serious, dour disposition, and this did nothing to endear him to Clemson fans, from the start. He inherited a team that was ranked No.10 to open the season. We eventually finished at 5-2-0, 10-2-0, and were ranked No.9 in both Polls at season's end.

The Hatfield era started with a bang, as we demolished Long Beach State 59-0 in the Valley to kick things off. But then, Hatfield proceeded to do something no Clemson coach had ever done. He lost to VIRGINIA! Never mind that it was a road game, or that Coach George Welsh had his Cavaliers ranked No.14, Clemson was just not supposed to lose to VIRGINIA. But, lose we did, 20-7. Needless to say, the natives were immediately restless in Clemson, South Carolina. Still on the road the next week, the now No.16 Tigers squeaked by Maryland by the thinnest of margins, 18-17.

That close win dropped us a spot in the Polls, and we were at No.17 when we blasted a good Appalachian State team 48-0 in the first game of a three game home stand. Somehow, that didn't impress Pollsters either, and we were down to No.19 when we beat Duke 26-7 the next week. Next up, the Georgia Bulldogs. In what was far from the norm in this series, No.16 Clemson blasted the Dawgs by a score of 34-3. Georgia was now being coached by Ray Goff, who struggled mightily in his 2nd season. The Dawgs would only win four games, and finish near the bottom of the SEC, something Dawg fans were DEFINITELY not used to seeing.

The fact that Georgia had fallen on hard times was borne out by the fact that our rout of them only advanced us one spot in the Polls. But, a Georgia Tech team that was ranked No.18 at the time awaited at Bobby Dodd Stadium, and took down the Tigers in a close one, 21-19. That loss tumbled the Tigers down to No.22 in the rankings, but it would be the last time Clemson would tasted defeat in 1990.

Up next, Coach Sheridan's NC State Wolfpack once again proved tough, but this time, the Tigers were just a little bit tougher, grinding out a 24-17 win. Up to No.19, we took care of Wake Forest, also on the road, by a score of 24-6. We would return home to the Valley to finish out the year with a two game home stand.

Now at No.18, Clemson showcased some stout defense to take down North Carolina by a score of 20-3. Next, the South Carolina Gamecocks came to town, and played us tough, before falling 24-15. Clemson now leads the series 52-32-4. Clemson would accept an Invitation to the Hall of Fame Bowl, where the No.14 Tigers would face the No.16 Fighting Illini of Illinois. Once again, Clemson put on a defensive show, shutting out the Illini by a score of 30-0.

When all the dust settled from other bowls winners and losers, Clemson wound up with a final No.9 ranking in both major polls. It had been a good season, but the first ever loss to Virginia, when added to the fact that Hatfield was taking over from the best coach in Clemson history, when nobody in the fanbase wanted him gone, meant that Ken Hatfield never would really be accepted in Clemson, South Carolina.

Long Beach State No. 10 W 59–0
At No. 14 Virginia No. 9 L 7–20
At Maryland No. 16 W 18–17
No. 16 (I-AA) Appalachian State No. 17 W 48–0
Duke No. 19 W 26–7
Georgia No. 16 W 34–3
At No. 18 Georgia Tech No. 15 L 19–21
At NC State No. 22 W 24–17
At Wake Forest No. 19 W 24–6
North Carolina No. 18 W 20–3
South Carolina No. 17 W 24–15 (Clemson leads series 52-32-4.)

January 1, 1991
No. 14 Clemson vs. No. 16 Illinois
(Hall of Fame Bowl)
W 30–0

I haven't mentioned it in these "History Lessons", but this time period was one where Clemson could be seen on TV just about every game, in one form or another. If it was not ABC, or one of the ESPNs, Jefferson Pilot Sports had local rights, and would most likely pick up the game for regional broadcast in our "home area." It was a great time to be a Tiger fan for viewing purposes.

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Hill Watch...32 days!!!

Re: Hill Watch...32 days!!!

Re: Hill Watch...32 days!!!

Re: Hill Watch...32 days!!!

Re: Hill Watch...32 days!!!

Re: Hill Watch...32 days!!!

Re: Hill Watch...32 days!!!

32 years ago, 1990: General Manuel Noriega surrenders in

Seeing all those "Smiling Suits" in that Tiger Turnover