The Greatest of the 00's, #3 FSU at Clemson, 2003
by FIGUREFOUR on Jan 11, 2010 9:00 AM EST
in FUTBAW
26 comments
(via Official Clemson Athletic Website)
When putting together this list, there was really no doubt in my mind what the most memorable game of the decade was. The 2003 season as a whole was out of control. This one started off with an embarrassment to Georgia at home to the tune of 30-0. CU looked to have it back together at several times during the season, only to get beat up by the likes of Maryland and blown out at Wake Forest. Following the Wake debacle, Clemson hosted the #3 Florida State Seminoles. T. Bowden, after the aforementioned epic failures, was widely viewed as a lame duck who would surely be replaced at season's end. Florida State, on the other hand, still had legitimate national championship hopes coming into this November contest with an 8-1 record. Somehow, someway, Clemson came out and absolutely dominated this game from the opening kickoff. I was there, and will admit that this is the most shocked (in a positive fashion) that I have ever been with a Clemson football team. This game was the catalyst that caused the late 2003 season run that included four straight dominating victories to close out the 2003 campaign.
That cool Saturday night was electric in the Valley, as a stadium full of fans showed up for what we all thought would be CTB's last game. Instead, this was one that the Tigers were somehow able to dominate throughout. FSU could not get anything going and Clemson made them pay for it. Clemson moved the ball pretty well all night and hit a few long strikes. The defense played extremely well and was after Chris Rix's tail the entire game.
(thanks Bruce A. Kennedy)
Obviously, this one was huge for many reasons (some still reverberating to this day). The Tigers knocked off the #3 team in the nation at home at night to begin a run that saved Bowden's job for a few years. Was this ridiculous and exciting when it happened? YES! Would Clemson have been better off in the long run without the killer run ending the season? That one we will never know.
The night started with T.L. Hanna HS celebrity Radio running down the hill:
The Tigers followed. Here is some footage of them running down the hill and some stills from the evening:
Clemson's D started off with a bang, forcing a three and out from the Seminoles, then marching down to the 6 where Aaron Hunt was able to deliver an opening-game field goal to get Clemson on the board and roaring early. Clemson again was able to make it happen defensively, as Tye Hill picked off a Chris Rix pass stalling the 'Noles and giving Clemson the ball on their own 28 yard line. Hunt again capped a Clemson 53 yard drive with a 35 yard field goal to give the Tigers an early 2nd quarter 6-0 lead.
After trading punts a few times again, with penalties keeping Clemson out of FG range on one drive, Clemson was again driving but was thwarted by a Charlie Whitehurst interception near the FSU 1yd line. The highlight of the drive being a late cheap shot by Darnell Dockett on Kevin Youngblood, and him being ejected. Clemson was able to force a quick three and out and took advantage of the excellent field position by punching this drive into the endzone on a Whitehurst scramble and dive as the half drew to a close. The highlight of the TD drive was the bomb hauled in down the Clemson side line by Kevin Youngblood. This 51 yard grab put Clemson in prime position and was really a key blow to FSU's game. Much to everyone's surprise, Clemson went into the locker room up 13-0 and dominating the first half of the game on both sides of the ball. Clemson's LB corps of John Leake, Leroy Hill, and Anthony Waters completely shut down the FSU running game. When ESPN reporters asked Bowden about Dockett's loss, he seemed to have no clue that he had been ejected from the game.
FSU was able to stop the Tigers to open the half but could not capitalize as a Xavier Beitia 40 yard field goal missed the mark. Some swift running by my main man Duane Coleman coupled with a Florida State penalty helped the Tigers extend their lead over the visiting 'Noles after a 32 yard Aaron Hunt boot. A wide open Kevin Youngblood had a roughly 30yd TD pass skirt just off his fingertips immediately prior to the kick. Up until this point of the game (5min in the 3rd) Clemson had run over 50 plays for 300+ yards, while FSU had only 30 for less than 150 yards, and Clemson fans were doing the Chop. Chris Rix was able to lead FSU down the field and cut the Clemson lead back to 13 on a Beitia 46yd field goal. After each FSU conversion or big gain, a Tiger defender would make a critical TFL or sack, and Chris Rix was hit on nearly every play of this game. Clemson though would not be denied as Charlie Whitehurst was able to hook up with Derrick Hamilton for a 58 yard touchdown and the signature play of the game. I still am not sure why the officials threw the unsportsmanlike flag on Hamilton in that situation. The young man just finished off a back breaker against a top-5 team at home and really didn't show out too bad, there were no white jerseys around there at the foot of The Hill. A Leroy Hill interception on a zone blitz left the Seminoles down (and out) 23-3 at the end of the 3rd quarter.
The final period was pretty bland, with Clemson content to pound it out on the ground while the Death Valley crowd taunted FSU fans with the Chop, particularly with their Band only knowing 2 songs and incessantly playing it. FSU started the quarter and was able to move the ball better against a softer zone coverage, but another blitz and hit by David Dunham forced Rix to cough up the ball and it was recovered by DeJuan Polk. Aaron Hunt was then able to connect on a 38 yard field goal midway through the 4th. FSU brought in Fabian Walker for mop up duty and was able to finally score a TD with the game well out of reach. Final score: Clemson 26 FSU 10. Obviously T. Bowden, just days removed from the famous lip-quiver, was thrilled to see the goal posts being torn down in this historic win.
Clemson dominated this one (thanks ESPN for the stats below). The real key was the rushing stats by FSU, the time of possession and relative lack of penalties by the Tigers and turnovers by the 'Noles. Much of FSU's passing stats were put up at the end of the game.
1st Downs
18
25
4-14
6-15
1-3
0-0
Total Yards
369
425
Passing
358
272
27-52
17-27
6.5
9.1
Rushing
11
153
17
49
0.6
3.1
Penalties
10-105
7-62
Turnovers
3
1
1
0
2
1
Possession
23:32
36:28
Overall game highlights :
Post Game interview with T Bowden
Here are the games from this series in ranked order below. I know that I may have missed a game or two. What does everyone think about the order? Which games did you like best? You could certainly make a case that the 2000 UNC game (aka, the Willie Simmons game) should be on this list.
1. ‘03 Florida State
2. ‘09 Miami
4. ‘00 South Carolina
5. ‘03 Tennessee
6. '04 Miami
7. ‘03 South Carolina
8. ‘06 Florida State
9. ‘06 Georgia Tech
10. ‘04 South Carolina
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Inspired me to pull out my DVD of this game
Maybe FSUncensored wants to come over and watch it this afternoon
Jeff Bowden = Epic Fail…he took the Richt juggernaut and dismantled it into the 2006 FSU offense. Now dude is coaching receivers for fis brother in North Alabama (while still getting paid off by the FSU booster club! it would be nice to get over $100K a year for 5 years to quit your job)
Clemson Sports Analysis and Insight
www.shakinthesouthland.com
yep! I wrote about that...
Is Jeff Bowden the worst coach in college football history?
Judging by the way he drove one of the most prolific offensive attacks in college football history into the ground, by the way he squandered numerous future NFL Pro-Bowlers in his time in Tallahassee, by the way his offense regressed in each successive season, and by the way his complicity in his father’s attempt to turn Florida State into a family piggy bank through nepotism allowed UF the opportunity to rise to a level of unprecedented success… the answer is yes. And appropriately, he still does not have a division-1 head coaching position after his dishonorable discharge in late 2006.
We recently wrote about how Jimbo Fisher has finally righted Florida State’s offense and has it again among the nation’s elite (top 5 or top 10, depending on how you measure). After that article ran, we were contacted and offered more data (pre-2004 conference only data was unavailable).
In 2001, Jeff Bowden took over for Mark Richt as Florida State’s offensive coordinator after Richt left to take the Georgia head coaching position. Jeff was handed the keys to one of the best offenses in college football history. The ‘Noles had appeared in three consecutive national championship games. They brought in insanely-talented recruiting class after recruiting class. Florida State players dominated NFL offenses. And Jeff Bowden couldn’t have done a worse job if he had intentionally sabotaged the program. Have a look (click Image to enlarge):
In 2001, Jeff benefited from the residual teaching of Richt and the offense was the ACC’s best, though there was still a massive dropoff from the 2000 mark of 7.9 yards per play. He had a freshman quarterback in 2001, and some regression was understandable.
Most expected the offense to turn around the next year (2002). Instead, with a 2nd year starting quarterback, the offense plummeted. For the first time in years, FSU was more than a half yard per play off the conference’s pacesetter. In 2003, people expected FSU’s offense to really be back where it should be. People were predicting national championships. Instead, the offense continued to regress for the 3rd year in a row. Then in 2004, with no remaining starters who had played for Mark Richt, the offense became a nationwide joke. Florida State failed to gain even 5 yards per play, an egregious sin. And remember that in 2004, the ACC had yet to expand, so Florida State did not play excellent defensive teams like Virginia Tech and Boston College. Another year, and more regression. 2005 and 2006 followed, and the best offense in college football had been transformed into one of the worst major conference attacks in the country. Six consecutive years of regression. Yet Bobby Bowden would still have Jeff here if he had his way. Florida State fans look back and wish Bobby would have quit after the 2006 season, as he threatened to do after the booster$ persuaded Jeff to not take his contract renewal/ extension.
It didn’t have to be this way. The whole time Bobby Bowden said that Florida State was one player away. He said he knew what the problem was and that he would fix it. He was wrong. They were one person away, be that a competent offensive coordinator, or a disinterested party at head coach with the good sense not to hire someone he couldn’t fire.
It was one thing to betray Mickey Andrews after promising him the head coaching job, but to then slap Mickey in the face by hiring an incompetent family member be Andrews’ counterpart was disgraceful. Bowden will not end up with the major all-time records because he spent 20% of his career in Tallahassee pulling stunts that benefited his family at the expense of his FSU family.
After a lost decade, Florida State should have no second thoughts about jettisoning this “family member.”
by Bud Elliott on Jan 11, 2010 12:58 PM EST up reply actions
Wow, this deceleration/acceleration of offensive numbers is “V” shaped, and the numbers/charts don’t lie!
Clemson Sports Analysis and Insight
www.shakinthesouthland.com
If FSU's defense improves any, 2010 could be nothing short of a very
huge year for the ’Noles, especially with the entire offense coming back.
I guess, though, the defense will be the wildcard in Tallahassee next year, I just do not understand how FSU got so bad. Too many chefs in the kitchen (i.e., everyone on the staff being an executive to the head coach or having some other rediculous title)?
Clemson Sports Analysis and Insight
www.shakinthesouthland.com
Oh man I could write a book on this.
- Replacing quality coaches with washed up coaches (or coaches interested in being a head coach and bossing around the senile Bowden)
- Mickey’s son blew his head off
- Recruiting speed at the expense of any size.
- Running a ridiculous amount of cover-0 with poor safeties.
- The “freedom system” Amato installed, instructing the kids to abandon the keys and “go make plays”
And lots more.
I have read some of your posts on this topic, but there is one concept I do not understand…what is this “freedom system”. From your description, Amato just threw some kids on the field and told them to have fun. Is there no structure to the linebacker play at all?
Clemson Sports Analysis and Insight
www.shakinthesouthland.com
He wanted them to "sense" the play in addition to their keys
Thought they were too confined to their reads under Steele and allowed them to go make plays if they felt they knew what was up.
He also abandoned “angles”, “leverage”, and “taking on blocks”.
But when your head coach doesn’t know what day it is, it’s very tough to monitor changes like this.
by Bud Elliott on Jan 12, 2010 11:44 AM EST up reply actions
Ummmm, yeah…that explains his tenure at NC State, then.
Chuck was a pretty good coach before leaving for State, WTF happened?!?
It sounds like there were WAY too many ego’s on that staff and no one to keep them all in check.
Clemson Sports Analysis and Insight
www.shakinthesouthland.com
This is spot on
It sounds like there were WAY too many ego’s on that staff and no one to keep them all in check.
I think Chuck failed to realize what made him successful (recruiting though hard work when Miami got put on probation, being energetic, etc).
We all saw what Fisher can do recruiting wise earlier this year
moving FSU from off the map to having a fantastic class IMMEDIATELY. Hats off to Fisher for his efforts.
How long before the defense turns around do you think?
Clemson Sports Analysis and Insight
www.shakinthesouthland.com
Have to do a few things
- Unteach bad habits
- Teach new system
If we were deep, I think we’d see big results by the last 3rd of the year. Unfortunately, I fear that by the time the light bulb really comes on, they might be losing a battle with attrition.
I expect a top 45 quality defense. We were 108th this year. People expecting a top 25 unit next season, are IMO, not being realistic.
Id agree with that, top 25 is unrealistic
by year 2 of Stoops, certainly
teaching technique and discipline where there was none before, that takes time
Did you notice...
(1) Charlie Whitehurst was mad that fans rushed the field with :05 left on the clock (guess he wanted to down it)
(2) The sideline reporter called it the greatest win in school history… huh?
one of, yeah, not the greatest
I’d have to argue about Georgia or Nebraska 1981. Odd that it came from a Bostic.
I never noticed that part about Charlie.
The Charlie thing was real quick… like he was talking to Tommy, about to take the field, and his head moved like he was just saying “dammit!” as fans started running out on the field.
And yeah, Nebraska game was clearly bigger for sure. I’m sure there were big wins that won ACC titles for us, too. And Orange Bowl in 1950 to cap the undefeated season.
The UGa game in ’81 was easily the biggest in school history. Shutting down Herschel and beating the dogs was the springboard to the National Championship.
http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082503aab.html
Clemson Sports Analysis and Insight
www.shakinthesouthland.com
Bigger than the Orange Bowl itself
against #4 Nebraska?
Without the Georgia win, there would be no Orange Bowl. I really think that win was the one that got the ball rolling for Danny and the ’80’s dominance.
Clemson Sports Analysis and Insight
www.shakinthesouthland.com
Got pneumonia at this game.
still believe bobby threw it, but also acknowledge that was an electric atmosphere and a jacked up clemson team.
Bobby
Bobby also threw four of the next six, just to make sure Tommy was OK (and you know, he just likes Dabo so much).
That 2000 UNC game was one of two IPTAY bus trips that I took that year to road games (UVA was the other one, longest 24 hours of my life, even though we won). The only part I really remember other than Woody getting hurt was Robert Carswell intercepting a pass right down in front of us near the endzone.
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