Though some of the younger fans might not remember, or even know it, but Clemson is known more for its great defenses over the years than anything it has done on offense.
On nearly every one of Clemson’s greatest teams, it was its defense that carried the squad.
The Clemson Insider went through its archives to find the best defensive football teams in Clemson history.
What are the criteria for the 10 best defenses in Clemson history? Obviously, yards and points allowed per game will stand out as will playmakers and rushing yards allowed per game and per rush. How many All-ACC or All-Americans were on the team, where were they ranked in the ACC, nationally, and much more goes into our decision.
Today, we continue our list with what TCI believes is the No. 6 best defense in Clemson history.
1989
Clemson had to replace six starters in 1989 from a unit that ranked in the top five nationally in total defense and led the ACC is just about every category. It was the second straight year Clemson suffered such a blow to its defense, and again critics figured it would hurt the team’s overall performance.
They figured the Tigers could not handle losing that many players to the NFL in back-to-back years on defense and not have some kind of drop off. Once again, they were wrong.
The Tigers returned four-year starter James Lott at free safety, Levon Kirkland at outside linebacker, Vance Hammond at defensive tackle, Doug Brewster at weak side linebacker and Dexter Davis at cornerback.
Again, Clemson had recruited well and had guys ready to play. A key reserve for three years, senior Otis Moore was a first-year starter at defensive tackle. A transfer from North Dakota, Rob Bodine, a sophomore, started at middle guard. John Johnson, a junior, was the starter at the bandit end position, while Jerome Henderson, a senior, and Arlington Nunn, a junior, took up the slots at left corner and strong safety.
The Tigers also had a true freshman named Robert O’Neal, who played safety and led the county with eight interceptions in 1989.
It did not appear the Tigers were going to miss a beat when the season began. Clemson shut out Furman, 30-0, while holding the Paladins to 58 total yards. The next week the Tigers went to Tallahassee, Florida and terrorized No. 16 Florida State in a 34-23 victory.
Reserve outside linebacker Wayne Simmons had a 73-yard interception return for a touchdown. Clemson led 28-7 at halftime and led by as many as 27 points in the second half.
The Tigers stayed on the road the next Saturday and shut down Virginia Tech in a 27-7 victory. Clemson held the Hokies to 243 total yards, while intercepting them three times.
The following week against Maryland the Tigers cruised to a 31-7 victory as Clemson held the Terrapins to 205 total yards, including just 79 yards passing on 9-of-26 passes. The Tigers led the ACC in completion percentage defense in 1989 as opponents completed just 48.8 percent of their passes.
The Tigers also led the league in total defense (265.3), rushing defense (96.6) and scoring defense (11.5). Clemson finished the season ranked in the top five nationally in all four categories.
After a couple of losses where Clemson’s youth showed, the Tigers bounced back to win five straight games to close the season, including a 27-7 victory over No. 17 West Virginia in the Gator Bowl.
Clemson allowed just 30 points in wins over NC State (30-10), Wake Forest (44-10), North Carolina (35-3), South Carolina (45-0) and West Virginia. The most impressive of the five was the shutout over the Gamecocks.
South Carolina amassed just 155 total yards, including just 33 yards passing. The Gamecocks finished the night 7-of-15 and were picked off three times. The Tigers also held North Carolina to 114 yards of total offense.
In the Gator Bowl, Clemson held Heisman Trophy runner-up Major Harris to 17 rushing yards and to just 119 passing yards. Kirkland, who was named the Most Valuable Player, shadowed Harris everywhere he went and was his own personal nightmare.
Harris completed just 11 of 25 passes was intercepted once and fumbled three times. West Virginia finished the game with just 237 total yards.
All year long, Clemson’s defense terrorized its opposition, resulting in 38 turnovers. Clemson returned five of those turnovers for touchdowns and even scored in the Gator Bowl when Chester McGlockton, a reserve defensive tackle, recovered a Harris’ fumble in the end zone. McGlockton led the ACC in sacks in 1989.
At the end of the year, Brewster, Hammond, Kirkland, Lott, Moore and O’Neal were named First-Team All-ACC, while Davis and Johnson were named to the second team.