SCSU vs. Clemson: The Matchup
Saturday, September 20, 2008South Carolina State (2-1, 1-0) at Clemson University (2-1, 1-0), 1 p.m.
WHERE: Clemson Memorial Stadium in Clemson
AT STAKE: The Bulldogs are making their first-ever foray into Death Valley when they face the Tigers for the first time. S.C. State is seeking its first-ever victory over a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent, while Clemson looks to remain perfect against Football Championship Subdivision teams.
LAST OUTING: SCSU def. Bethune-Cookman 28-19; Clemson def. North Carolina State 27-9
LAST YEAR’S RECORDS: SCSU (7-4, 6-2 in the MEAC); Clemson (9-4, 5-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference)
ALL-TIME RECORDS: SCSU (379-244-28); Clemson (627-42-45)
FIRST SEASONS OF FOOTBALL: SCSU (1907); Clemson (1896)
HEAD COACHES & RECORDS: SCSU’s Oliver “Buddy” Pough (49-22 overall) 7th season; Tommy Bowden (71-43) 11th season
FAMILY REUNION -- Today’s game will “divide” a couple of Palmetto State families. Clemson safety Michael Hamlin will go against his two brothers and safeties Markee and Marquais. This marks the first time since 1981 in which a matchup involving Clemson pitted a set of brothers on opposing sides. There’s also a matchup between Clemson inside linebackers coach Joe Blackwell and S.C. State offensive line/offensive coordinator David Blackwell.
DID YOU KNOW: Oliver “Buddy” Pough led Fairfield-Central to a Class 3-A title in 1996. He needs one more win to become the third S.C. State coach in school history to win 50 or more games and is six shy of surpassing Bill Davis for second on the school’s all-time list for career coaching wins..Tommy Bowden’s .623 winning percentage ranks in the Top 15 among coaches with 10 years of experience and his eight straight winning seasons is a school record..SCSU has three former players (Deacon Jones, Marion Motley and Harry Carson) inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, more than all the Palmetto State’s Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Division and Division II programs combined ... Last season, Clemson had 17 players on NFL rosters. In April, defensive end Phillip Merling of St. Matthews was the first selection of the second round of the NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins ... Clemson has five players from The T&D Region on the active roster in starting defensive ends Ricky Sapp and Da’Quan Bowers of Bamberg-Ehrhardt, linebacker Britton Whetsell of Orangeburg Prep, safety Kantrell Brown of Calhoun County and offensive lineman Jamal Medlin of Orangeburg-Wilkinson ... South Carolina State linebacker Tony White is a native of Seneca and defensive lineman James Simmons and running back Travil Jamison are from Greenville ... Under Pough, the Bulldogs are 44-6 when leading or tied at halftime and 5-16 when trailing at halftime ... Clemson is 21-0 lifetime against Football Championship Subdivision teams, while S.C. State is 0-3 ... Only two teams have won in its first visit to Death Valley. Marshall in 1999 and Miami, Fla. in 2005.
Sheridan Broadcasting Network Black College Football Poll
(WEEK FOUR)
1. Tuskegee
2. Delaware State
3. Norfolk State
4. South Carolina State
5. Tennessee State
6. Albany State
7. Hampton
8. Grambling
9. Southern
10. Prairie View
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