Twice a decade not enough for Georgia-Clemson!
The news this week that Georgia and Clemson finally have set the dates for their 2013-2014 series and will open those seasons against each other has gotten a lot of us longtime fans nostalgic for what was once one of football’s greatest, most hotly contested rivalries.
The Bulldogs have met the Tigers 62 times on the gridiron, second only to in-state rival Georgia Tech among nonconference foes, and they played every year except two between 1962 and 1987, before conference schedule requirements got in the way.
While Georgia leads the series 41-17-4 and has won the past five meetings, the rivalry was dead even during its glory days in 1977-87 — a period that saw each school win a national championship — with the two teams going 5-5-1.
Younger fans probably may not appreciate just how big the Georgia-Clemson rivalry used to be, but I think a good argument can be made that in that decade the close proximity of the schools and the parity between them on the field made Clemson UGA’s biggest rival, topping even Florida and Georgia Tech.
Clemson’s only regular-season losses in 1978, 1982 and 1991 were to the Dogs, and Georgia’s only regular-season loss during that great three-year Herschel Walker run was in Death Valley to the eventual 1981 national champion Tigers.
Great rivalries make for great trash talking, and aside from Tech, Lewis Grizzard got off some of his best shots at “Clempson,” the school he referred to as “Auburn with a lake.” My favorite was after protesting farmers staged a tractorcade at the state Capitol in 1978. Lewis cracked that he hadn’t seen that many tractors since the last time Clemson played in Athens.
It’s a real shame that the two schools no longer play each other on a regular basis in football. I know the desire of some fans to see the Dogs and Tigers play every year isn’t realistic, given that both schools are locked into annual battles with major nonconference opponents, but twice a decade just isn’t enough. When the two schools play in 2013, the decade break in the series will be the longest ever since they first met in 1897.
Hopefully with Georgia now having an athletic director who grew up a Bulldog in Athens during the years when the rivalry was at its peak we’ll see some consideration given to upping the frequency of the meetings. Ideally, I’d like to see Georgia and Clemson play home-and-home series every two years, meaning two years on and two years off, but even playing the Tigers just four years out of every 10 would be an improvement.
Anyway, as a reminder of what a great rivalry Georgia-Clemson has been in the past, here are my favorite games from the series:
1968: Georgia wins 31-13 in Athens. I remember after I finished selling my game programs at Sanford Stadium I managed to snag a seat near the 50-yard line in the south stands for this great game in an SEC championship season. The typically tough Erk Russell defense notched two safeties that day, but it actually was an atypical game for the Dawgs in the Vince Dooley era in that Georgia had 300 yards passing, including a 37-yard touchdown strike from Mike Cavan to big Dennis Hughes.
1969: Georgia wins 30-0 at Clemson. Cavan threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score as the Dogs shut out the Tigers in Death Valley.
1976: Georgia wins 41-0 at Clemson. Before a national television audience on ABC, Georgia’s quarterback tandem of Ray Goff and Matt Robinson humiliated the Tigers. Goff had a 73-yard scoring run and Robinson threw three touchdown passes, including an 85-yarder to Gene Washington. Quite a day.
1980: Georgia wins 20-16 in Athens. A tightly fought game during the national championship season in which Scott Woerner ran back a punt 67 yards for a touchdown and returned an interception 98 yards to set up a Buck Belue score.
1982: Georgia wins 13-7 in Athens. This was a big, big game, Georgia’s first under the new Sanford Stadium lights as the two preceding national champions met on national TV on Labor Day night. Hey, Jim Nabors was there to sing the national anthem! Herschel had an injured thumb and no one was sure how much he’d play, if at all. When he entered the game as a decoy in the second quarter the focus was so much on him that Tron Jackson was able to score on a 41-yard reverse, though the score was wiped out by a penalty. But the Georgia defense rose to the occasion, intercepting Athens native Homer Jordan four times and blocking a punt that turned into a touchdown for the Dogs. And Kevin Butler kicked two field goals.
1984: Georgia wins 26-23 in Athens. Speaking of Butler, his legend was made on this day as the Dogs upset the No. 2-ranked Tigers when he kicked it 100,000 miles, as Larry Munson said (actually 60 yards) for the winning field goal with 11 seconds to go. The stadium, as Munson screamed, was “worse than bonkers.”
1985: Georgia wins 20-13 in Clemson. Breaking out their red britches for the first time in a few years, the Dogs won a big upset in Death Valley thanks mostly to the spark provided by second-string quarterback James Jackson.
1991: Georgia wins 27-12 in Athens. On Goff’s best day as head coach, the Dogs upset the No. 6-ranked Tigers on national television.
2002: Georgia wins 31-28 in Athens. The close calls that characterized Georgia’s first SEC title season in 20 years started on this day at Sanford Stadium as QB David Greene struggled. But backup D.J. Shockley threw for one touchdown and ran for another, Fred Gibson returned a kickoff 91 yards for a score and Billy Bennett made a late fourth-quarter field goal for the margin of victory. A Tiger field goal attempt that would have tied it up fell short, and the Dogs clinched it when they converted on fourth down with 40 seconds left. Whew.
2003: Georgia wins 30-0 at Clemson. The Dogs entered the game with a shaky offensive line, two starters out injured and eight other players out on suspension, but Greene connected early with Gibson on a beautiful 56-yard touchdown strike. Greenie also had a 3-yard touchdown run, Shockley scored on a 29-yard run, Bennett added three field goals and the defense, which held Clemson to 7 yards rushing in the first half, saved a shutout with a David Pollack interception. Perfect.
And that’s the last time Georgia and Clemson played.
Feel free to share your own memories of the rivalry. And do you agree that the Dogs and Tigers should meet more often?
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106 comments Add your comment
CJ
May 20th, 2011
2:34 pm
Florida Gators…
All the tradition of Wake Forest but with the arrogance of Notre Dame.
WDE
May 20th, 2011
2:39 pm
At gator 2177 so you’ve been around a whole year have you? A little advice for you sonny UGA owns the series record vs the Gators and they will NEVER catch us. Been a good run for them the last 20 years but let me repeat they will NEVER catch us…
Jim
May 20th, 2011
2:41 pm
I remember standing on the walkway by the hedges dead even the goal post in 1984, and watching Butler’s kick sail through for a winning field goal. Awesome!!
Hart Co.
May 20th, 2011
2:41 pm
I think Clemptson could’nt decide to be like Awburn or LSU. They turned purple and orange and died. They aint done anything since. What’s up with the purple anyway?
Coach Grohbo
May 20th, 2011
2:43 pm
Interesting contrasts in teams…
Clemson is solid but needs to develop its quarterback and its kickers.
Georgia has the quarterback and kickers and little else.
Clemson is in much better shape as a program and will dominate Georgia.
ugaclassof2004
May 20th, 2011
2:46 pm
I was at the Clemson game in 2002, and that was a good game. You got the feeling that both teams really wanted to win that one. But I don’t think it would mean anything to these kids now. I mean hell, they don’t even give a damn enough to put the hammer on a crappy team like Colorado. And with this “Kumbya summer camp” approach to running a football team that Mark Richt has, I don’t see the Dawgs being hungry enough to make ANY rivalry particularly exciting.
Southside Drug Rep
May 20th, 2011
2:52 pm
My Notre Dame friend Tim called me from Death Valley just before the 2003 kickoff. He said “THIS PLACE IS GOING CRAZY! They just rubbed that gay rock and ran down the hill. They will destroy Georgia today.” Still my favorite football-related phone call.
Flying Saucer
May 20th, 2011
2:56 pm
Both are South Carolina’s beeeocthes!
Love to Beat Clemson
May 20th, 2011
2:57 pm
Loved playing / beating “Clempson” in the 80’s when I was a student. We used to really make fun of their IPTAY stickers on their cars (I Pay Twenty A Year) – I used to tease them – told them I spend more than that on chapstick……
Timbodog
May 20th, 2011
3:01 pm
Florida will “never” catch us, huh? From my count, they’re only six games behind right now.
At our current rate, they pass us in seven years.
WDE
May 20th, 2011
3:04 pm
Timbodog never going to happen.
reebok
May 20th, 2011
3:05 pm
as a tech fan, i get to face both the tigers and the dogs each year, and i will tell you that UGA fans should not dismiss clemson. this is a proud program with great facilities and very good athletes. as a fan who respects both programs, i look forward to seeing thease 2 old rivals meet again. and any true football fan would have to call the 1984 matchup an absolute classic game.
Mobile Dawg
May 20th, 2011
3:08 pm
“Auburn with a lake”, I didn’t know it was Lewis who coined that. He was one of a kind and definitely a favorite. Still miss his wit. Looking forward to some nostalgic memories when these two play again. I would like to see a “Lewis Favorites” blog one day when we don’t have anything better to talk about.
Hold it right there
May 20th, 2011
3:09 pm
@Coach Grohbo we will beat you like rented mules…sorry your used to playing ACC schools so your not exposed to big boy football…these two games will help you grow as a program..you won’t win but should be able to use the experience on all the other ACC schools.
Timbodog
May 20th, 2011
3:12 pm
“reebok,”
Clemson is a bunch of choke artists. They have a ton of talent, but they refuse to hire a good coach. Dabo is a punchline.
If they ever hire a coach with a clue, they will be a big-time program. Kind of like us.
Timbodog
May 20th, 2011
3:13 pm
Based on what, WDE? Your hunch? Did you see us losing 18 of 21?
reebok
May 20th, 2011
3:15 pm
Timbodog, I think your coach is a very good guy and clearly a great recruiter, but to me he seems a little burned out…like he doesn’t quite want it as much as he did 3 or so years ago. Just my opinion…
Will
May 20th, 2011
3:26 pm
I agree with you that we should be scheduling Clemson or other BCS teams more often but we are saddled with a new AD who feels the way to win is to schedule non-competitive non-conference games because that’t the way they do it at Florida.
I really enjoyed my trip to Tempe and Boulder and if you were there, you probably will agree that the atmosphere among UGA fans was much the same as it is for a mid-level Bowl game.
Too bad. And also somewhat embarassing to think that our new AD does not have enough confidence in the football program to schedule major college opposition.
Oh well, at least scheduling Buffalo and the like will give non season ticket holders a chance to experience Game Day in Athens, even if the ballyard is less than filled on Game Day.
Timbodog
May 20th, 2011
3:26 pm
He is a nice guy, but I don’t think he was ever all that great of a coach to be honest. It’s just that as his tenure has gone on the coaching talent around him in the SEC has gotten exponentially better.
And as for recruiting, I’m not sure how much I “buy” that whole issue in the first place. I think kids are gonna go where they want to play, and I don’t think coaches play that big of a role in it outside of their track record on winning games.
I mean, let’s put Richt at Louisiana Tech (or even Georgia Tech) and see what a great recruiter he is.
WDE
May 20th, 2011
3:35 pm
Timbodog its called history…they will never catch us….never. And I’m right until they prove me wrong. The tide has turned my man….most of Gator Nation senses it that’s why all the angst on the blogs. Hell they got taken to O.T by a freshman QB and CUM was the coach and lets not forget the smackdown Bama put on them last year…and now CUM is gone….doom !
Timbodog
May 20th, 2011
3:52 pm
WDE,
Florida is leaps and bounds beyond where we are as a program. And if you don’t realize that, then God help you.
WDE
May 20th, 2011
3:59 pm
Timbodog really then what happened last year? You think they just let us take them to O.T?
gvltiger94
May 20th, 2011
4:18 pm
Sure UGA owns the series.And yes, I know that Clemson hasn’t shown jack the past 20 years. I love how they conveniently left out the fact that Herschel “Multiple Personality” Walker never set his skanky feet EVER in the Death Valley endzones for a touchdown during his career along with that Coot idiot George Rogers. Nor did he mention the nail in the coffin games in ‘86 and ‘87, or the a** whipping in 1990 when UGA got thumped in Death Valley 34-3.
Nonetheless, the times they are changing and Clemson is going to rip you self impressed and narcissistic UGA fans a new one in ‘13 and ‘14.
FB Fan
May 20th, 2011
4:50 pm
HA! I really like to hear people talk about the “glory days” of Clemson. The glory days were a result of the second largest set of NCAA sanctions ever levied against a program. Second only to SMU which received the “death penalty”. Sanctions that disgraced Danny Ford and the school to this day. These “glory days” are remembered only by a few old clemson coots living in the past…no one else cares.
Georgia has won about 75% of the games against Clem. Would be 90% but for the “glory days” otherwise know as the major ncaa infraction,cheating days. If their level of cheating took place today all of their wins would have been vacated.
Georgia will wipe the floor with Clem, especially if that Doodoo Swinney character remains at the helm.
Dawg48
May 20th, 2011
5:07 pm
I thought this was about Georgia Clemson? Why so many Jean short wearing dumb gators on hear?
Paul in RDU
May 20th, 2011
5:22 pm
I thought the comments on UF never catching UGA are interesting. When you look at the records over the years there have been wild swings in the rivalry
2001 – 2010 8-2 UF
1991 – 2000 9-1 UF
1981 – 1990 7-3 UGA
1971 – 1980 8-2 UGA
1961 – 1970 6-3-1 UF
1951 – 1960 7-3 UF
1941 – 1950 8-1 UGA
prior to WW II 15-4-1 UGA
In 1950 UGA had a 23-5-1 lead. Since then it is 35-25-1
Einsteindawg
May 20th, 2011
5:24 pm
I think this is great!!! As a looooong time fan and season ticket holder, playing games like this is what it’s all about. Nobody cares if we beat Western Carolina, Arkansas State, Ga Southern, Coastal Carolina, etc. Play 10 games against great competition and have a few breaks in between…then a deserved bowl game. Of course, it’ll never happen because it’s all about the money.
Coach Grohbo
May 20th, 2011
5:28 pm
gvltiger is right.
Clemson has one of the top defenses in the NCAA. Clemson is also solid along the offensive line and in the backfield and is a well-disciplined football team.
They are built like Mississippi State and would physically dominate Georgia in the same way Mississippi State did.
IPTAY IV
May 20th, 2011
5:29 pm
Dear haters,
We are glad you are here.
We’re glad to be here too. Someone has to keep reminding dawgtards what a sleazy team they’re supporting.
Scorekeeper
May 20th, 2011
5:35 pm
Clemson 42, UGA 17.
Einsteindawg
May 20th, 2011
5:35 pm
Wonder who the head coaches will be at those games? Probably not Richt nor Swinney.
SCDAWG
May 20th, 2011
5:47 pm
I am a high schooler from SC and I hate Clemson. Next to UF and Au and GT these guys should get the crap beat out of them every week if it could happen. GO DAWGS. PS they have the worst uniforms and fans.
Coach Grohbo
May 20th, 2011
5:48 pm
Given the teams’ recent performance, the chances of the current head coaches still coaching these teams are:
Swinney 50% (Last won his division in 2009)
Richt 10% (Last won his division in 2005)
Coach Grohbo
May 20th, 2011
5:53 pm
Keeper,
That score is too high unless there are a lot of turnovers.
Clemson 28, Georgia 12 is a more likely outcome.
Touchdowns vs. Field Goals.
Einsteindawg
May 20th, 2011
5:58 pm
Coach, I like your assessment. I’m thinking our next coach will probably come from the West…what about Clemson’s?
Richt`s Hammer
May 20th, 2011
6:18 pm
Not another loss. Oh my
Munson Fan
May 20th, 2011
6:29 pm
UGA-Clemson, who????????? Sorry, I remember Georgia-Clemson, went to many of those games in both Athens & Clemson, but I know nothing of this UGA-Clemson thing to which many of you refer.
Ceasar
May 20th, 2011
6:49 pm
About 88rd!!!!!!!!!!
jay
May 20th, 2011
8:49 pm
I would trade Clempson for Ga Tech any day on the schedule. At least Clemp-son has been somewhat competetive.
Tiger Paws
May 20th, 2011
9:21 pm
Clemson 45, Georgia 17.
A very satisfying game to watch.
old fan
May 20th, 2011
9:24 pm
IPTAY…I plow thirty a year.
In the 50’s, Clempson (when did they change the spelling?) had to cross the Tugalo (before the lake) if they wanted to play UGa or Tech.
BTP
May 20th, 2011
9:56 pm
BK is the consumate @hole. The reason UGA does not play Clemson every year is because the UGA AD prefers to buy a victory against a D-II opponent rather than play a game that could result in a potential loss. Your implication is that Clemson is dodging UGA. Please stop writing such pretentious blogs and try to be a little more objective. For the record, I am not a Clemson fan; just a sports fan who hates a homer.
Return to Glory
May 20th, 2011
10:18 pm
1982 Labor Day brawl..Hershel was hurt but the defense stood like a stone wall and as a Dooley coached team often did it found a way to WIN.
I do miss ol Danny Ford with his big chew in walking the sideline.
Hey Clemson fans: IPTAY: It’s probation time again ya’ll…lol
Herschel - 0 for in ClemPson
May 20th, 2011
10:21 pm
Yeah nice favorites. Dawgs have the series lead. Dawgs are superior. Clemson and UGA are too similar for any school to proclaim how great they are.
I love it that the great Herschel never saw the endzone in Death Valley. No TDs.
FYI, I even graduated from UGA as an undergrad, sought Clemson for my grad degree.
Did turkey Grizzard start the heavy AJC bias against Clemson? It is almost as bad as the ESPN bias against ATL.
Gawja fans are a class act
May 20th, 2011
10:26 pm
I have heard from too many people that when Clemson went to Athens and won, on the way home… Clemson fans could see Gawja fans throwing bricks off overpasses at cars.
Now that is a class act. The SEC has some talent. Real nice.
The Clemson vs USuCk game is awful to go to because all the reds and never-grads come out of the woodwork and trailers to live large for one day.
Gawja vs GaTech does not have that because at least the GT fans are “professionals”. The game is only 50% red.
L-I-V-I-N'
May 20th, 2011
10:27 pm
We are all livin’ the dream… Gawja 1980, Clemson 1981.
Over 30 years ago…. GT has won more national championships since 1982 than both schools.
What does that say about Clemson and Gawja?
Not too much. Hurts doesn’t it.
sports
May 21st, 2011
12:06 am
clempson needs to be playing the YELLER JACKETS over at the landfield they call Grant Field.
UGA FRIEND
May 21st, 2011
5:18 am
For political reasons, it will never happen, but as someone suggested, maybe a UGA-Clemson rivalry would be more competitive and interesting than UGA-GT. After all, a 1-9 advantage for UGA over the last decade is somewhat boring for Dawg fans.
DawgNation
May 21st, 2011
7:09 am
UGA FRIEND….After all, a 1-9 advantage for UGA over the last decade is somewhat boring for Dawg fans.
Not this fan.
chazzo
May 21st, 2011
8:16 am
I was there in ‘84, my freshman year. Yes, the Butler did it, but you failed to mention the half time score which I remembered being Clemson up 21-0. (That seems unlikely considering the final score, but it was in that ball park.) Point being, a lot happened in the second half that led to Butler’s amazing kick. It was an incredible game that deserves more than blurb about the final 11 seconds.
Munson did not exaggerate about the stadium. I thought it was coming down. We staid there screaming and stomping for an hour after the game ended. When I was making my way out, I saw a metal stadium bench (the whole row) stomped flat to the concrete riser.