1981 Clemson Tigers football team

American college football season April 2023 January 2026 1981 Clemson Tigers football Clemson Tigers logo.svg Atlantic Coast Conference ACC 1 1 12–0 6–0 Danny Ford 3rd full, 4th overall Nelson Stokley 2nd Option 5–2 Jeff Davis Lee Nanney Perry Tuttle Memorial Stadium Consensus national championACC championOrange Bowl champion Orange Bowl W Won 22–15 vs. Nebraska The 1981 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Danny Ford and played their home games in Memorial Stadium. Clemson finished their undefeated 1981 season with a 22–15 victory over the No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 1982 Orange Bowl, and were voted No. 1 in the Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI) polls. This was Clemson’s last national championship until 2016. Achievements The Clemson Tigers finished the 1981 season undefeated and untied (12–0) and were voted No. 1 in the Associated Press and UPI polls. Following the bowl win over Nebraska, a consensus national championship was secured via voting by AP, UPI, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), and National Football Foundation (NFF).Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Records Book https://web.archive.org/web/20080625010623/http://www.ncaa.org/library/records/football/football_records_book/2007/2007_d1_football_records_book.pdf June 25, 2008 , page 80. The Clemson Tigers of the 1980s were the fifth winningest Division I college football team of the decade, with a record of 86–25–4 (86 25 4).Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Records Book https://web.archive.org/web/20080625010623/http://www.ncaa.org/library/records/football/football_records_book/2007/2007_d1_football_records_book.pdf June 25, 2008 , page 73. Clemson head coach Danny Ford was awarded the 1981 Coach of the Year Award by the AFCA and the FWAA.Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Records Book https://web.archive.org/web/20080625010623/http://www.ncaa.org/library/records/football/football_records_book/2007/2007_d1_football_records_book.pdf June 25, 2008 , page 395. At the time, Coach Ford was the youngest ever to receive the award, and the youngest to have won a National Championship.1981 National Championship Season, p. 130. Accessed 2009-09-03. Archived 2009-09-05. In the 1982 Orange Bowl, Clemson QB Homer Jordan received Offensive Most Valuable Player honors.Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Records Book https://web.archive.org/web/20080625010623/http://www.ncaa.org/library/records/football/football_records_book/2007/2007_d1_football_records_book.pdf June 25, 2008 , page 356. He earned first-team All-ACC honors in 1981, his junior season, and finished first in the ACC in passing efficiency and 12th in the nation. Jordan was an honorable mention All-American selection in 1981. He was runner-up for ACC MVP behind teammate Jeff Davis, but the team voted him MVP in 1981. Even though Jordan was injured for much of his senior season, he helped lead the 1982 team to a 9-1-1 record and number-eight national ranking. He also earned honorable mention All-American honors as a senior. He ranked as Clemson's 18th greatest player of the century. Jordan was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1993.http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jordan_homer00.html Player Bio: Homer Jordan :: Football 20 February 2007 14 April 2023 November 16, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071116074358/http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jordan_homer00.html bot: unknown right|thumb|400px|Tigers visit the Oval Office in January 1982 with President Ronald Reagan Clemson LB Jeff Davis, captain of Clemson's 1981 team, was inducted into the Clemson Ring of Honor in 1995. Davis was a Consensus All-American in 1981Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Records Book https://web.archive.org/web/20080625010623/http://www.ncaa.org/library/records/football/football_records_book/2007/2007_d1_football_records_book.pdf June 25, 2008 , page 221. when he led the Tigers in tackles. Davis was also named MVP of the ACC and was the defensive MVP of the Orange Bowl victory over Nebraska. Davis has the third best mark in career tackles in Clemson history and has also caused the most fumbles and recovered the most fumbles in team history. He was a fifth-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played for them from 1982 to 1987. He led the Buccaneers in tackles and was the captain of the team for four seasons. Along with being in the Clemson Ring of Honor, Davis was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1989 and the South Carolina Hall of Fame in 2001. He was named to Clemson's Centennial football team in 1996 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December 2007.Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Records Book https://web.archive.org/web/20080625010623/http://www.ncaa.org/library/records/football/football_records_book/2007/2007_d1_football_records_book.pdf June 25, 2008 , page 235. Clemson DB Terry Kinard is the only Clemson player to be a unanimous All-America pick. He was the first two-time Clemson All-American defensive back and a first-team AP All-American two years in a row, the only Clemson player to accomplish that. Kinard was named the CBS National Defensive Player-of-the-Year for the 1982 season and was chosen to the USA Today All-College Football Team in the 1980s. Kinard was a two-year member of the All-ACC team. He is the all-time Clemson leader in interceptions with 17, a mark that tied the 20-year-old ACC record. He also holds the Clemson record for tackles by a defensive back with 294 in his career. After leaving Clemson Kinard was a first-round pick of the New York Giants in 1983, and was the 10th pick overall in the draft. Sports Illustrated named him to College Football's Centennial Team in 1999. He played with Super Bowl Champion New York Giants in 1986 and was with the club from 1983 until 1989. Kinard played in the 1988 Pro Bowl Game. Kinard played with Houston Oilers in 1990. He was named to Clemson's Centennial team in April 1996. He ranks as Clemson's #3 football player of all-time was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December 2001.https://footballfoundation.org/ National Football Foundation - Official Athletics Website National Football Foundation He was inducted into Clemson Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Ring of Honor in 2001. He was also inducted into the state of South Carolina Hall of Fame in 2002. Clemson WR Perry Tuttle was voted a first-team All-American in 1981, and set then-Clemson records for receptions and yards. Tuttle also had at least one reception during the last 32 games of his Tiger career. He still ranks fourth all-time in receptions (150), second all-time in receiving yards (2,534), second in touchdown receptions (17), and ninth in yards per reception (16.89). In the 1982 Orange Bowl, he had five receptions for 56 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown pass. That touchdown catch was the final reception of his Clemson career and earned him a place on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Following his Clemson career, Tuttle was chosen with the 19th overall pick of the 1982 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. After a three-year NFL career, Tuttle went on to the Canadian Football League where he had a six-year career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He helped lead the team to a Grey Cup Championship in 1990 and was inducted into the Winnipeg Hall of Fame in 1997. Tuttle was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1991 and named to Clemson's Centennial team in 1996.Clemson Tigers Player Profile - Perry Tuttle https://web.archive.org/web/20071209195546/http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/tuttle_perry00.html December 9, 2007 Schedule Clemson hosted 1981 Wofford Terriers Wofford on Saturday, September 5, in the season opener for both teams. Wofford was one of the three teams Clemson played in its first year of football competition in 1896, but had not played the Terriers since 1940. Clemson was originally scheduled to play the Villanova Wildcats for the third game of the 1981 season, on Saturday, September 26, but the Wildcats had canceled their football program in the spring of that year. Wofford had an open spot in their schedule and agreed to play Clemson. 1981 AP Eastern September 5 1:00 p.m. w y 1981 Wofford Terriers Wofford Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC 45–10 59,313 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-tigers-wear-out-woff/139763156/ The Greenville News Tigers wear out Wofford, 45–10 September 6, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com September 12 8:30 p.m. w y y Tulane Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA 13–5 45,736 https://www.newspapers.com/article/hattiesburg-american-clemson-downs-wave/139763245/ Hattiesburg American Clemson downs Wave, 13–5 September 13, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com September 19 1:00 p.m. w y Georgia 4 Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC rivalry ESPN 13–3 62,466 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-hey-dawgs-how-b/134421899/ The Charlotte Observer Hey Dawgs, how 'bout them Tigers! September 20, 1981 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com October 3 1:30 p.m. w y y 14 Kentucky Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY ABC 21–3 57,453 Clemson roars back to whip Wildcats 21–3 Sunday Herald-Leader Jerry Tipton October 4, 1981 C1, C5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86582419/clemson-roars-back-to-whip-wildcats-21-3/ Newspapers.com October 10 1:00 p.m. w y 9 Virginia Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC 27–0 63,064 https://www.newspapers.com/article/danville-register-and-bee-clemson-blanks/139763337/ The Danville Register Clemson blanks UVA, 27–0 October 11, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com October 17 1:30 p.m. w y 6 Duke Wallace Wade Stadium Durham, NC 38–10 26,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/anderson-independent-mail-clemson-bedevi/139763431/ Anderson Independent-Mail Clemson bedevils Duke, 38–10 October 18, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com October 24 1:00 p.m. w 4 NC State Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC rivalry 17–7 62,727 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-clemson-rallies-to-trip/139763538/ Greensboro News & Record Clemson rallies to trip Pack 17–7 October 25, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 1:00 p.m. w 3 Wake Forest Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC USA 82–24 60,383 https://www.newspapers.com/article/asheville-citizen-times-clemson-pushes/139763676/ Asheville Citizen-Times Clemson 'pushes' past Deacs November 1, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com November 7 1:00 p.m. w y 2 North Carolina 8 Kenan Stadium Chapel Hill, NC ABC 10–8 53,611 https://www.newspapers.com/article/florence-morning-news-tigers-top-tar-hee/139763780/ Florence Morning News Tigers top Tar Heels November 8, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 1:00 p.m. w 2 Maryland Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC USA 21–7 63,199 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-jordan-helps-no-2-clemson-h/139763884/ Daily Press Jordan helps No. 2 Clemson humble Terps November 15, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 1:30 p.m. w y y 2 South Carolina Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC rivalry ESPN 29–13 56,971 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-tigers-enjoy-perf/139762486/ The Charlotte Observer Tigers enjoy perfect finish November 22, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com January 1, 1982 8:00 p.m. w y y 1 Nebraska 4 Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL Orange Bowl NBC 22–15 72,748 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-clemson-spoils-nu-dre/139764042/ Omaha World-Herald Clemson spoils NU dream of 1970 repeat January 2, 1982 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com Clemson Football Media Guide - 1981 Football Media Guides https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/fball_media/52/ Clemson University 1981 2 November 10, 2023 Clemson Football Media Guide - 1982 Football Media Guides https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/fball_media/51/ Clemson University 1982 0 November 10, 2023 Game summaries Wofford SCORING SUMMARY   1 2 3 4   T Clemson 3 14 14 14 45 Wofford 3 0 0 7 10 WOF - Hairston 24 FG CLE - Igwebuike 52 FG CLE - Tuttle 80 pass from Jordan (Paulling kick) CLE - Jordan 14 run (Paulling kick) CLE - Magwood 11 pass from Jordan (Paulling kick) CLE - Jordan 3 run (Paulling kick) CLE - C. McSwain 5 run (Igwebuike kick) WOF - Derrick 15 pass from Thompson (Hairston kick) CLE - McCall 10 run (Paulling run) at Tulane SCORING SUMMARY   1 2 3 4   T Clemson 0 7 0 6 13 Tulane 5 0 0 0 5 TU - Manalla 46 FG TU - Safety, Hatcher falls on bad snap in end zone CLE - Austin 4 run (Paulling kick) CLE - Paulling 31 FG CLE - Paulling 37 FG Georgia SCORING SUMMARY   1 2 3 4   T Clemson 0 10 0 3 13 #4 Georgia 0 0 3 0 3 CLE - Tuttle 8 pass from Jordan (Paulling kick) CLE - Igwebuike 38 FG UGA - Butler 40 FG CLE - Igwebuike 29 FG at Kentucky SCORING SUMMARY   1 2 3 4   T #14 Clemson 0 0 14 7 21 Kentucky 3 0 0 0 3 UK - Griggs 40 FG CLE - Mack 11 run (Paulling kick) CLE - Jordan 3 run (Paulling kick) CLE - McSwain 3 run (Paulling kick) Virginia SCORING SUMMARY   1 2 3 4   T #9 Clemson 3 7 14 3 27 Virginia 0 0 0 0 0 CLE - Igwebuike 22 FG CLE - Austin 42 run (Paulling kick) CLE - McCall 5 run (Paulling kick) CLE - Austin 1 run (Paulling kick) CLE - Igwebuike 32 FG at Duke SCORING SUMMARY   1 2 3 4   T #6 Clemson 7 17 14 0 38 Duke 0 3 7 0 10 CLE - Crite 4 run (Paulling kick) CLE - Paulling 20 FG CLE - Austin 15 run (Paulling kick) CLE - Jordan 1 run (Paulling kick) DUK - McKinney 29 FG CLE - Austin 2 run (Paulling kick) DUK - Jones 21 pass from Bennett (McKinney kick) CLE - Tuttle 29 pass from Jordan (Paulling kick) NC State SCORING SUMMARY   1 2 3 4   T #4 Clemson 3 7 0 7 17 N.C. State 7 0 0 0 7 NCS - Lawson 13 run (? kick) CLE - Igwebuike 39 FG CLE - Austin 1 run (Paulling kick) CLE - McCall 15 run (Paulling kick) Wake Forest SCORING SUMMARY   1 2 3 4   T #3 Clemson 14 35 20 13 82 Wake Forest 7 7 3 7 24 CLE - Austin 4 run (Paulling kick) CLE - Austin 3 run (Paulling kick) WF - Duckett 17 pass from Schofield (Denfield kick) CLE - C. McSwain 1 run (Paulling kick) CLE - Mack 10 run (Paulling kick) CLE - Jordan 7 run (Paulling kick) CLE - McCall 24 run (Paulling kick) CLE - C. McSwain 16 run (Paulling kick) WF - Cunningham 1 run (Denfield kick) CLE - Tuttle 75 pass from Jordan (L. Brown kick failed) WF - Denfield 22 FG CLE - Tuttle 25 pass from Gasque (L. Brown kick) CLE - C. McSwain 12 run (L. Brown kick) CLE - Holloman 3 run (L. Brown kick) CLE - Crawford 72 run (L. Brown kick failed) WF - Duckett 5 pass from Schofield (Denfield) at North Carolina SCORING SUMMARY   1 2 3 4   T #2 Clemson 0 7 3 0 10 #8 North Carolina 0 5 3 0 8 UNC - Barwick 22 FG CLE - McCall 7 run (Paulling kick) UNC - Safety, Barlow blocks punt out of end zone CLE - Igwebuike 39 FG UNC - Barwick 26 FG Maryland SCORING SUMMARY   1 2 3 4   T #2 Clemson 7 14 0 0 21 Maryland 0 0 0 7 7 CLE - Tuttle 14 pass from Jordan (Paulling kick) CLE - Tuttle 5 pass from Jordan (Paulling kick) CLE - Gaillard 12 pass from Jordan (Paulling kick) MD - Wysocki 7 run (Atkinson kick) at South Carolina SCORING SUMMARY   1 2 3 4   T #2 Clemson 6 9 7 7 29 South Carolina 7 0 6 0 13 USC - Wright 1 run (Fleetwood kick) CLE - Rembert recovered blocked punt (Paulling kick failed) CLE - Paulling 24 FG CLE - Jordan 11 run (pass failed) USC - Smith 10 pass from Beckham (run failed) CLE - C. McSwain 1 run (Paulling kick) CLE - C. McSwain 23 run (Paulling kick) vs. Nebraska (Orange Bowl) 1982 Orange Bowl SCORING SUMMARYhttps://huskers.com/news/2002/07/09/1982-orange-bowl 1982 Orange Bowl University of Nebraska   1 2 3 4   T #1 Clemson 6 6 10 0 22 #4 Nebraska 7 0 0 8 15 CLE - Igwebuike 41 FG NEB - Steels 25 pass from Rozier (Seibel kick) CLE - Igwebuike 41 FG CLE - Austin 2 run (pass failed) CLE - Tuttle 13 pass from Jordan (Paulling kick) CLE - Igwebuike 36 FG NEB - Craig 26 run (Craig run) Personnel Coaching staff Danny Ford - Head Coach Tom Harper - Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Nelson Stokley - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Willie Anderson - Defensive Line Steve Hale - Defensive Ends Les Herrin - Linebackers Curley Hallman/Rick Whitt - Defensive Backs Larry Van Der Heyden/Buddy King - Offensive Line Rex Kipps - Tight Ends Chuck Reedy - Running Backs Lawson Holland - Wide Receivers George Dostal-Strength and Conditioning Fred Hoover - Head Athletic Trainer Bert Henderson - Assistant Trainer Bob Easley - Student Trainer Joe Franks - Student Trainer Greg Craig - Student Trainer Vann Yates - Student Trainer Jay Bennett - Student Trainer Chip Winchester - Student Trainer Len Gough - Equipment Manager George Caine - Graduate Assistant Mark Garrison - Student Manager 1981 National Championship Season, p. 128-129. Accessed 2009-09-03. Archived 2009-09-05. Roster 1981 Clemson Tigers f 7 Jr Cliff Austin RB y 63 Sr Tony Berryhill C 70 Sr Brian Clark G 48 Fr Craig Crawford RB 85 Jr Bubba Diggs TE 81 Fr K. D. Dunn TE y 60 So James Farr G 61 Sr Brad Fisher T 41 Sr Jerry Gaillard WR 11 Sr Mike Gasque QB 3 Jr Homer Jordan QB y 27 So Kevin Mack RB y 52 So Cary Massaro C 35 Jr Chuck McSwain RB y 77 Sr Lee Nanney T 15 Jr Jeff Stockstill WR 22 Sr Perry Tuttle WR y 69 Jr Vernie Anthony DT 1 So Vandaell Arrington CB 71 Jr Dan Benish DT y 57 Sr Nick Bowman DE 9 So Ken Brown DB 99 Sr Jeff Bryant DT y 26 So Tim Childers SS 24 So Billy Davis LB y Billy Davis (linebacker) 45 Jr Jeff Davis Jeff Davis (American football) LB y 36 Jr Dean Day LB 94 So William Devane DT 29 Sr Hollis Hall CB 12 Jr Andy Headen DE 43 Jr Terry Kinard FS y 28 So Rod McSwain CB y 66 Fr William Perry William Perry (American football) DT y 90 Jr Johnny Rembert LB y 21 Sr Anthony Rose CB 84 Sr Bill Smith DE 82 Jr Danny Triplett LB 5 Fr Dale Hatcher P y 18 Fr Donald Igwebuike K y https://clemsontigers.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/1981roster.pdf *Danny Ford *Curley Hallman (DB) Depth chart Option 5-2 Yes Yes No Homer Jordan Mike Gasque Cliff Austin Chuck McSwain Jeff McCall Kevin Mack Perry Tuttle Jeff Stockstill Jerry Gaillard Frank Magwood Kendall Alley Pete Demery Bubba Diggs Jim Wurst Brad Fisher Alex Hudson James Farr Brian Butcher Tony Berryhill Cary Massaro Brian Clark Bob Mayberry Lee Nanney Gary Brown Jeff Davis Randy Cheek Danny Triplett Johnny Rembert Terry Kinard Billy Davis Tim Childers Jeff Suttle Cat Anthony Rose Randy Learn Hollis Hall Rod McSwain Andy Headen Mark Richardson Bandit Jeff Bryant Jim Scott William Perry William Devane Dan Benish Ray Brown Bill Smith Joe Glenn Donald Igwebuike Bob Paulling Dale Hatcher Richard Hendley Perry Tuttle Billy Davis Scott Williams Anthony Parete RB Brendon Crite QB Anthony Parete WR RB Duke Holloman FB Craig Crawford http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/clem/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/1981roster Clemson University :: Clemson Tigers - Official Athletic Site 31 December 2007 14 April 2023 December 31, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071231064908/http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/clem/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/1981roster bot: unknown 1981 National Championship Season, p. 128. Accessed 2009-09-03. Archived 2009-09-05. 85 85 No References Clemson Category:Clemson Tigers football seasons Category:College football national champions Category:Atlantic Coast Conference football champion seasons Category:Orange Bowl champion seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Clemson Tigers football