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Clemson Icon [25432]
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How many of Clemsons fans were aware the prior to hiring Bobby Bowden
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Nov 18, 2025, 2:05 PM
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There was a lot of talk and serious conversation on canceling the FSU football program. Then they hired BB. The rest is history ! He was a great coach and a mentor and a really good friend of Nick Saban’s.
It only took Jimbo Fisher 5 years to destroy what BB built.
I was at the punt rooskie game. I was on about the 15 yard line. If I remember you could have heard a pin drop whe FSU player came down the sideline. Danny got even the next year at FSU’s house.
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Tiger Spirit [9421]
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Re: How many of Clemsons fans were aware the prior to hiring Bobby Bowden
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Nov 18, 2025, 2:16 PM
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Yep, I remember. CBB was a very aggressive gunslinger offensively and would play anybody. He built the program based on that. I too was at that game and the pin dropping was deafening. I can't remember ever being that stunned at a fb game. Beating them the following year was sweet revenge indeed.
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Orange Blooded [2553]
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Re: How many of Clemsons fans were aware the prior to hiring Bobby Bowden
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Nov 18, 2025, 3:08 PM
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It sure wasn't quiet where I was on the hill. I was too busy cussing and stomping on mt hat lol
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Top TigerNet [32029]
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I was. A little more information.
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Nov 18, 2025, 3:22 PM
[ in reply to Re: How many of Clemsons fans were aware the prior to hiring Bobby Bowden ] |
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I was in my mid 20s at the time. I don't recall the situation being THAT serious about dropping the program but there was great concern. Here is what happened.
Bill Peterson brought the team to prominence. (He had Steve Tensi and Fred Biletnikoff on his team. He beat Penn State in the Gator Bowl. FSU was one of the top independents in the country.) He left for Rice. (Yes, at that time Rice was in the old SWC and they offered him a boatload of money. He took it.
Here is where the downfall began.
Larry Jones was on Peterson's staff. He was promoted to head coach. Here is his record.
8-4
7-4
0-11 (He was also found to be abusing the players by having them "fight" each other in chicken coup style cages. He was fired.)
Darrel Mudra was hired.
1-10
3-8
That's when Bobby was hired. Attendance was so poor the band sat on the 40 yard line. And, FSU could make more money playing away than playing at home. They had to schedule road games because they couldn't pay teams enough to break even when they came to FSU. That's how Bobby became known as "The Road Warrior." They scheduled 5 games in a row at LSU.
In 1981, even after he had started the rebuild and had been to two straight bowl games, they still had to schedule away games. They played 5 straight road games (1 in September and 4 in October) against
Neb
OH ST
ND
Pitt
LSU
Went 3-2 in those games.
He still struggled somewhat in the 1980s. Had a great offense but a terrible defense. Finally, he hired Mickey Andrews and turned the D over to him. Shortly thereafter 14 straight seasons of top 4 finishes occurred.
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Clemson Icon [25432]
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Re: I was. A little more information.
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Nov 18, 2025, 4:34 PM
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Great post ! Thank you for the history lesson. I really enjoy articles and post that are so informative.
👍👍👍
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Ultimate Clemson Legend [109420]
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Heisman Winner [83108]
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Re: I was. A little more information.
Nov 18, 2025, 5:04 PM
[ in reply to I was. A little more information. ] |
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as I recall the FSU team that beat us soundly in DV in 75 was the year before Bowden. I worked that game taking picture s. It was a total behind kicking
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Ring of Honor [21729]
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I was aware.***
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Nov 18, 2025, 2:17 PM
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Orange Blooded [2494]
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Danny sure did get revenge. BB said it was the
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Nov 18, 2025, 2:19 PM
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worst whipping he had experienced at FSU at that time.
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Clemson Icon [25432]
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Re: Danny sure did get revenge. BB said it was the
Nov 18, 2025, 4:38 PM
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Terry Allen owned the night in 1989 at FSU. I consider TA one of the great RB’s to wear Clemson Orange. 🐅
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All-In [11076]
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i believe Bobby was also a HS classmate of Dabo's mom
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Nov 18, 2025, 2:26 PM
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Ultimate Tiger [35175]
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And Lary penley was the clemson golf coach
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Nov 18, 2025, 2:37 PM
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All-TigerNet [5892]
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I was there too. In the rain.***
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Nov 18, 2025, 2:45 PM
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Clemson Icon [25432]
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Re: I was there too. In the rain.***
Nov 18, 2025, 4:48 PM
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My Father in Law knew Clyde Wren former Clemson recruiting coordinator really well. I called him the week before the game. He was very generous. He gave me 11 tickets for the gang we were bringing down. We did pay for them but only face value.
I remember my heart sank when I finally realized that we had been had by BB’s gutsy call. I was already to Celebrate a Clemson Victory when FSU lined up to punt. All we needed was a FG. Instead it ended up being Coor’s post tailgate party !
I still wake up some nights see that FSU player running down the sideline. lol 😂
Message was edited by: wueagle86®
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Orange Blooded [2339]
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You must've been right next to me.
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Nov 18, 2025, 2:46 PM
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The guy I thought had the ball turned around to face our direction and dropped his arms. I was all like, "Where's the ball???" And how my heart sank when I saw out of the corner of my eye that white uniform sprinting down the near sideline.
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Commissioner [1217]
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Re: How many of Clemsons fans were aware the prior to hiring Bobby Bowden
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Nov 18, 2025, 3:01 PM
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I was at the puntrooski game also. I didn’t fully understand what happened until I got home and saw it on television. All I knew was that it was painful!
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CU Guru [1517]
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Re: How many of Clemsons fans were aware the prior to hiring Bobby Bowden
Nov 18, 2025, 4:21 PM
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So Jimbo winning a title within 5 years and making the playoff also and winning the ACC alot tore down what bobby bowden built?
no....bobby had to be pushed out he had gotten awful as a coach, Jimbo actually turned it around.
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Athletic Dir [1191]
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Re: How many of Clemsons fans were aware the prior to hiring Bobby Bowden
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Nov 18, 2025, 4:33 PM
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I was at the Rooskie game as well. If my memory serves we ran down the guy for FSU inside the 5 yard line and held them to a field goal.
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Clemson Icon [25432]
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Re: How many of Clemsons fans were aware the prior to hiring Bobby Bowden
Nov 18, 2025, 4:58 PM
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I was right near where the tackle occurred. Every Clemson fan around me just stood there in Shock. We all looked at each other confused as to what had happened.
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Game Changer [1682]
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Re: How many of Clemsons fans were aware the prior to hiring Bobby Bowden
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Nov 18, 2025, 4:42 PM
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To be fair, the FSU program was on the decline before Jimbo took over...
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Clemson Icon [25432]
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Re: How many of Clemsons fans were aware the prior to hiring Bobby Bowden
Nov 18, 2025, 5:02 PM
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I want disagree with you. But Jimbo had a lot of personal issues going on. Plus IMO he lowered the recruiting standards bring in talent regardless of character or HS grades. I believe he was a dirty recruiter and a HC who let his star players get away with a lot.
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National Champion [7952]
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Re: How many of Clemsons fans were aware the prior to hiring Bobby Bowden
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Nov 18, 2025, 5:00 PM
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Moontiger was there. I remembered getting excited for a moment thinking he had centered the ball over the punter’s head. It did not take long to see Butker running down the sidelines. It took a great effort to catch him but unfortunately he was near the goal line when we made the stop. What an empty feeling.
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