2009 Clemson Tigers football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 2009 Clemson Tigers football Clemson Tigers logo.svg 150 Atlantic Coast Conference Atlantic Division ACC 24 9–5 6–2 Dabo Swinney 1st full, 2nd overall Billy Napier 1st Multiple Kevin Steele 1st 4–3 Thomas Austin Chris Chancellor Kavell Conner Michael Palmer Ricky Sapp C. J. Spiller Memorial Stadium ACC Atlantic Division championMusic City Bowl champion ACC Championship Game L Lost 34–39 vs. Georgia Tech Music City Bowl W Won 21–13 vs. Kentucky The 2009 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by Dabo Swinney in his first full season as head coach, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 9–5 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, winning the ACC's Atlantic Division title. Clemson advanced to the ACC Championship Game, where the Tigers lost Georgia Tech. Clemson closed the season with a win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl. The team played home games at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. In the Tigers' 40–24 victory over the Florida State on November 7, running back C. J. Spiller and wide receiver Jacoby Ford became the leading all-purpose yardage duo in NCAA history, a record previously held by Marshall Faulk and Darnay Scott of San Diego State. Spiller was named as one of the three finalists for the Doak Walker Award along with Mark Ingram II of Alabama and Toby Gerhart of Stanford. On December 2, Spiller was voted the ACC's Offensive Player of the Year. He was the nation's only player i 2009 to account for touchdowns five different ways—rushing, passing, receiving, and on kick and punt returns—and had passing, rushing and receiving touchdowns in one game, a victory against NC State. He returned four kickoffs and a punt for scores in 2009, and had eight total returns for touchdowns during his career. He scored at least once in every game during the season. Spiller led the ACC with an average of nearly 184 all-purpose yards per game and was the league's fourth-leading rusher, averaging 76 yards per game.http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120209aab.html C. J. Spiller Named 2009 ACC Player of the Year Atlantic Coast Conference December 2, 2009 December 2, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20120404184854/http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120209aab.html April 4, 2012 dead mdy-all Schedule 2009 AP Eastern September 5 6:00 p.m. w y Middle Tennessee Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC Hall of Fame Day, Youth Day ESPN360 37–14 78,371 September 10 7:30 p.m. l y Georgia Tech 15 Bobby Dodd Stadium Atlanta, GA rivalry ESPN 27–30 52,029 September 19 12:00 p.m. w Boston College Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC O'Rourke–McFadden Trophy, Family Weekend Raycom 25–7 77,362 September 26 3:30 p.m. l y TCU 15 Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC Football Reunion Weekend ESPN360 10–14 71,869 October 3 12:00 p.m. l y Maryland Byrd Stadium College Park, MD ESPNU 21–24 46,243 October 17 12:00 p.m. w Wake Forest Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC IPTAY Day Raycom 38–3 74,298 October 24 3:30 p.m. w y Miami (FL) 8 Land Shark Stadium Miami Gardens, FL ABC, ESPN 40–37 OT 43,778 October 31 1:30 p.m. w y y Coastal Carolina Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC ESPN360 49–3 74,429 November 7 7:45 p.m. w Florida State Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC rivalry, Solid Orange Day ESPN 40–24 76,656 November 14 12:00 p.m. w y 24 NC State Carter–Finley Stadium Raleigh, NC Textile Bowl Raycom 43–23 57,583 November 21 3:30 p.m. w 18 Virginia Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC Military Appreciation Day ABC, ESPN 34–21 77,568 November 28 12:00 p.m. l y y 15 South Carolina Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC rivalry ESPN 17–34 80,574 December 5 8:00 p.m. l y y 25 Georgia Tech 12 Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL ACC Championship Game, rivalry ESPN 34–39 57,227 December 27 7:30 p.m. w y y Kentucky LP Field Nashville, TN Music City Bowl ESPN 21–13 57,280 Clemson Tigers Schedule 2009 https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/228/season/2009 ESPN September 2, 2025 2009 Clemson Tigers Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/clemson/2009-schedule.html College Football at Sports-Reference.com Sports Reference September 2, 2025 2009-10 Football Schedule https://clemsontigers.com/sports/football/schedule/season/2009/ Clemson University September 2, 2025 http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/clem/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/football_media_guide_2010.pdf 2010 Clemson Football Media Guide Clemson University November 12, 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20121112182337/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/clem/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/football_media_guide_2010.pdf November 12, 2012 Rankings 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings 15 4 7 NR RV NR RV NR NR RV NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR RV NR RV RV RV NR RV RV RV NR 24 RV 25 NR 18 19 19 23 15 16 17 18 25 RV RV NR RV RV RV NR 24 RV Game summaries at South Carolina 2009 South Carolina Gamecocks football team #fff #eee Clemson Tigers; text-align:center; autocollapse Game Twelve– No. 18 Clemson Tigers (8-3) at South Carolina Gamecocks (6-5) – Game summary Saturday, November 28, 2009 12:00p.m. EST No. 18 Clemson 7 0 0 10 South Carolina 14 3 7 10 Williams–Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina Temperature: • Wind: • Weather: Clear ESPN Bob Wischusen, Brian Griese First quarter (14:41) CLEM – CJ Spiller 88-yard kickoff return (Richard Jackson kick) (Clemson 7-0) (5:21) SC – Brian Maddox 1-yard run (Spencer Lanning kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 60 yards, 3:23; Tied 7-7) (2:01) SC – Weslye Saunders 9-yard pass from Stephen Garcia (Spencer Lanning kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 11 yards, 0:45; South Carolina 14-7) Second quarter (10:44) SC – Spencer Lanning 47-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 47 yards, 4:03; South Carolina 17-7) Third quarter (7:47) SC – Tori Gurley 14-yard pass from Stephen Garcia (Spencer Lanning kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 55 yards, 1:26; South Carolina 24-7) Fourth quarter (11:23) CLEM – Richard Jackson 45-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 41 yards, 1:52; South Carolina 24-10) (5:22) SC – Spencer Lanning 38-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 49 yards, 6:01; South Carolina 27-10) (3:46) CLEM – Michael Palmer 22-yard pass from Kyle Parker (Richard Jackson kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 64 yards, 1:36; South Carolina 27-17) (2:40) SC – Weslye Saunders 1-yard pass from Stephen Garcia (Spencer Lanning kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards, 1:06; South Carolina 34-17) Statistics CLEMSC First downs 14 21 Total yards 61–260 80–388 Rushing yards 19–48 58–223 Passing yards 226 175 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–42–1 11–22–1 Time of possession 14:09 27:54 Team Category Player StatisticsClemson Passing Kyle Parker 22/42, 212 yards, TD, INT Rushing CJ Spiller 9 carries, 18 yards Receiving Michael Palmer 8 receptions, 106 yards, TDSouth Carolina Passing Stephen Garcia 10/21, 126 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Kenny Miles 17 carries, 114 yards Receiving Alshon Jeffery 4 receptions, 65 yards Jersey numbers thumb|right|The Clemson Tigers take the field during the 2009 Music City Bowl. No. 6 Cornerback Chris Chancellor, whose normal number was No. 38, wore No. 6, the normal number of wide receiver Jacoby Ford, for the Miami game. Under college football rules, two or more players on a team can wear the same number as long as only one is on the field at a time. Chancellor, a native of Miami, made the change with the blessing of both Ford and Swinney in memory of his former high school teammate Jasper Howard, a cornerback who wore No. 6 for Connecticut and was murdered in the early morning of October 18 following UConn's game against Louisville.https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=4580361 Chancellor to wear No. 6 as tribute Associated Press ESPN October 20, 2009 October 20, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091023204940/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4580361 October 23, 2009 live No. 17 On July 25, it was announced that sophomore linebacker Stanley Hunter was forced to quit playing football for medical reasons. Hunter, who led the 2008 team in fewest plays per tackle, was suffering from an increase in seizures due to epilepsy.Clemson's Stanley Hunter forced to quit football http://www.goupstate.com/article/20090725/NEWS/907259991/1088?Title=Clemson-s-Stanley-Hunter-forced-to-quit-football July 25, 2009 Spartanburg Herald-Journal https://web.archive.org/web/20090731021510/http://www.goupstate.com/article/20090725/NEWS/907259991/1088?Title=Clemson-s-Stanley-Hunter-forced-to-quit-football July 31, 2009 live September 30, 2010 Kevin Melton On August 18, head coach Dabo Swinney announced that several players would alternate wearing No. 17 during the season to honor Hunter.Clemson Football Practice Report: Day 13 http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081809aaa.html Clemson Athletics https://web.archive.org/web/20090822095730/http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081809aaa.html August 22, 2009 live September 30, 2009 The following players wore No. 17 during the season: LB Brandon Maye QB Willy Korn FB Chad Diehl WR Xavier Dye WR Marquan Jones S DeAndre McDaniel RB Jamie Harper S Sadat Chambers S Rashard Hall CB Crezdon Butler LB Kavell Conner WR Jacoby Ford Three of the players who wore No. 17 (Korn, Diehl, and Dye) were also teammates with Hunter at James F. Byrnes High School in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Hunter remained a member of the Clemson team, serving as a student-coach the Tigers. No. 28 At the end of the season, Swinney announced that Clemson would retire the No. 28 jersey worn by C. J. Spiller at a ceremony when the Tigers play Maryland at home on October 16, 2010. Personnel Coaching staff Dabo Swinney – Head coach Billy Napier – Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Kevin Steele – Defensive coordinator/inside linebackers Charlie Harbison – Co-defensive Coordinator/defensive backs Danny Pearman – Assistant head coach/Tackles & Tight Ends Brad Scott – Associate head coach/Offensive Guards and Centers Dan Brooks – Defensive tackles Andre Powell – Running backs/special teams Chris Rumph – Defensive ends Jeff Scott – Recruiting coordinator/wide receivers Depth chart These are the starters, primary backups, and key reserves as of September 2009. Pro-Set 4-3 Yes Yes No Kyle Parker Willy Korn C. J. Spiller Jamie Harper Rendrick Taylor Chad Diehl Jacoby Ford Marquan Jones Xavier Dye Brandon Clear Terrance Ashe Jaron Brown Michael Palmer Dwayne Allen Chris Hairston Cory Lambert Thomas Austin Matt Saunders Dalton Freeman Mason Cloy Antoine McClain Wilson Norris Landon Walker David Smith Kavell Conner Jonathan Willard Brandon Maye Jeremy Campbell Kevin Alexander Scotty Cooper Marcus Gilchrist Rashard Hall DeAndre McDaniel Jonathan Meeks Cat Crezdon Butler Byron Maxwell Chris Chancellor Coty Sensabaugh Da'Quan Bowers Malliciah Goodman Jarvis Jenkins Miguel Chavis Brandon Thompson Jamie Cumbie Ricky Sapp Kevin Alexander Bandit End Richard Jackson Spencer Benton Dawson Zimmerman Richard Jackson C. J. Spiller Jacoby Ford Matt Skinner Michael Wade RB Andre Ellington WR Terrance Ashe WR Jaron Brown DE Andre Branch FS Sadat Chambers DB Xavier Brewer DT Rennie Moore TE Durrell Barry 2011 Tiger Football - Clemson Post-Spring Depth Chart http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/clem/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/depth-chart.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20121112083237/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/clem/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/depth-chart.pdf November 12, 2012 dead 85 85 No Recruiting class Malliciah Goodman (DE; Florence, South Carolina; West Florence HS) J. K. Jay (OL; Greenville, South Carolina; Christ Church Episcopal School) Jonathan Meeks (S; Rock Hill, South Carolina; Rock Hill HS) Tyler Shatley (FB; Valdese, North Carolina; East Burke HS) Brandon Thomas (OL; Spartanburg, South Carolina; Dorman HS) Bryce McNeal (WR; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Breck HS) Roderick McDowell (RB; Sumter, South Carolina; Sumter HS) Tajh Boyd (QB; Hampton, Virginia; Phoebus HS) Spencer Shuey (LB/DE; Charlotte, North Carolina; South Mecklenburg HS) Quandon Christian (LB; Lake View, South Carolina; Lake View HS) Corico Hawkins (LB; Milledgeville, Georgia; Baldwin HS) Darell Smith (TE/BAN; Gadsden, Alabama; Gadsden City HS) Taylor Ogle (QB; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Gatlinburg-Pittman HS) Octavius Lewis(SS;Orlando, FL Maynard Evans HS) 2010 NFL draft Clemson had five players selected in the 2010 NFL draft. C. J. Spiller went in the first round as the ninth overall pick. Player Team Round Pick # Position C. J. Spiller Buffalo Bills 1st 9th RB Jacoby Ford Oakland Raiders 4th 108th WR Ricky Sapp Philadelphia Eagles 5th 143rd DECrezdon Butler Pittsburgh Steelers 5th 164th DB Kavell Conner Indianapolis Colts 7th 240th LB References Clemson Category:Clemson Tigers football seasons Category:Music City Bowl champion seasons Clemson Tigers football