It’s Game Day in Memorial Stadium as No. 2 Clemson battles Syracuse in an Atlantic Division showdown as the Tigers look to stay undefeated and improve to 9-0.
Location: Clemson Memorial Stadium (Death Valley)
Kickoff: 3:36 p.m.
Television: ABC
Announcers: Greg McElroy, Tom Luginbill, Dave Pasch
2016 Record: Clemson 8-0, Syracuse 4-4
ACC Record: Clemson 5-0, Syracuse 2-2
Series History: Clemson leads 3-1
Last Meeting: Clemson won 37-27 in 2015 at Syracuse
Winning on the Road
Clemson already has a 4-0 record on the road this year, victories at #11 Auburn, #19 Florida State, Georgia Tech and Boston College. Clemson, North Carolina and Western Michigan are the only schools in the nation with a 4-0 road record so far. Only nine of the 128 FBS schools are still undefeated on the road at this point in the season. Clemson has won a school record nine consecutive games on the road over two years. The Tigers were a perfect 5-0 on the road last year. That was the first time in 20 years Clemson had a perfect road record (5-0 in 1995). If Clemson can win its final road game at Wake Forest on November 19 it will mark the first time Clemson has had back to back perfect seasons on the opponent’s home field.
Clemson vs. Syracuse Series
This is just the fifth meeting between Clemson and Syracuse. The Orange won the first meeting at the 1996 (end of 1995 season) Gator Bowl in Jacksonville by a 41-0 score. Clemson was ranked 23rd entering the game and coming off a five-game winning streak to close the regular season. Syracuse was unranked going into the game, but jumped to 17th in the final USA Today poll with the impressive win. Donavan McNabb quarterbacked Syracuse to that victory.
Since Syracuse joined the ACC in 2013, Clemson has won all three games by at least double digits.
Military Appreciation Day
Saturday is Military Appreciation Day at Clemson. Here are a few facts about the school’s military heritage
•The proud military history of what we know as Clemson University really began in 1917, when the entire senior class of Clemson Agricultural College volunteered for service in World War I. A total of 1,549 Clemson cadets saw service in World War I, 25 of which died in battle. Two soldiers from Clemson received the Congressional Medal of Honor: Ensign Daniel Sullivan and Sergeant Erans Foster.
•The famous Senior Platoon was created in 1929 adding to the prestige of Clemson’s military heritage. The Senior Platoon gave drill performances throughout the nation, including Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park and became better known as the “Pride of Clemson.” *World War II saw Clemson cadets answer the call to arms just as they had for World War I. Only Texas A&M and Army provided more Army officers for World War II than Clemson. A total of 6,475 Clemson alums faced battle in one theater or another, and 370 died in the name of freedom. The Congressional Medal of Honor was awarded to LTC Jimmy Dyess.
•The list of Tiger military heroes can be traced back to the corps of cadets, but is not limited to pure military men. Some of the most famous athletes in school history fought for our freedoms as well. Banks McFadden, arguably the greatest athlete in Clemson history, served in the Air Force for over three years.
•One of Clemson’s most respected coaches was Bob Jones. Jones, a Clemson football coach from 1931 through 1969, coached football, boxing, and golf while serving in the armed forces. He served in World War II from 1941 until 1946 and was honored with several medals. He won the Silver Star, Bronze Star cluster, Purple Heart cluster, and the Legion of Merit. Coach Jones retired from the military in 1965 as a Major General after 35 years of military service.
•Air Force Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr., a Clemson graduate of 1948, was an American instrument vital to avoiding a third World War. Anderson found himself in the middle of a crisis flying U-2 spy planes over Cuba.
Clemson Only School with Three Wins over Current Top 20
Entering the month of November, Clemson is the only school in the nation with three wins over teams currently ranked in the top 20 of the AP poll. Michigan joins the Tigers as the only schools with three top 25 wins. Clemson’s list of victims so far includes #5 Louisville (the highest ranked team anyone in the nation has beaten so far this year), #11 Auburn and #19 Florida State. Michigan has wins over #8 Wisconsin, #21 Colorado and #20 Penn State. Wisconsin, Ohio State and Tennessee are the only other schools with at least two top 25 wins.
The Streaks Continue…
• Clemson has won nine straight road games, a school record
•The win at Florida State was Clemson’s 25th straight win in a non- National Championship game •Clemson enters the Syracuse game having won 14 consecutive games against ACC opponents. (The record is 20 in a row from 1981-84.)
•Clemson has won 22 consecutive regular season games dating to a loss at Georgia Tech in 2014. *Clemson is now 8-0 for just the sixth time in school history, the second year in a row
Leggett Records Fourth 100-yard Game by a TE
Jordan Leggett had five receptions for 122 yards in the win at Florida State. His final catch was a 34-yard touchdown reception from Deshaun Watson with 2:06 left in the game and proved to be the game winner.
Leggett’s 122 receiving yards set a Clemson record for that category by a tight end in a single game. The previous mark was 107 yards on five catches by John McMaikin against The Citadel in 1970.
Leggett’s 122-yard effort against Florida State was just the fifth 100-yard receiving game in school history by a tight end. But, it was the second 100-yard game for Leggett, and the second time he had done it against Florida State. Last year in Clemson’s 10-point win at Clemson he had 6-101.
TCI Predictions
Robert – Clemson 54 Syracuse 27
Gavin – Clemson 45 Syracuse 17
Will – Clemson 49 Syracuse 24
Qualk – Clemson 45 Syracuse 21
Alex – Clemson 42 Syracuse 10