CLEMSON — Though Kentucky has not played Clemson since the 2009 Music City Bowl, its head coach is very familiar with the Tigers.
For three years, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops went head-to-head against the Tigers as Florida State’s defensive coordinator from 2010-’12. Though the Seminoles won two of those three matchups, Clemson’s offense had some success against Stoops.
The Tigers averaged 28.3 points and 420 yards per game in those three matchups. FSU won the 2010 game in Tallahassee, 16-13, while Clemson bounced back for a 35-30 win in Death Valley the following year.
The Seminoles won a 49-37 shootout over the Tigers in 2012.
“We’ve always had good games against Clemson,” Stoops said.
This year’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl is sure to be another good matchup between Stoops and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney.
“With Coach Swinney and Clemson, what you think about is very good football teams,” Stoops said. “Here is a man trying to defend himself for going 8-4. That is a pretty good football coach and a pretty good program.”
A lot has happened since the last time Stoops faced the Tigers.
Stoops left FSU for Kentucky after the 2012 season and guided the Wildcats to some of the best years in the program’s history. This will be their eighth bowl appearance under Stoops in 11 seasons, while posting a 73-64 overall record.
His 2018 and 2021 teams went 10-3, while his 2019 squad was 8-5.
During that same time, Clemson has gone on to win two national championships, played for the national title two other times, played in the College Football Playoff six straight years, and won the ACC seven of the last nine years.
Prior to this season, the Tigers had won at least 10 games every year from 2011-’22.
Also, Clemson defeated Stoops’ brother, Bob Stoops, twice when he was the head coach at Oklahoma. The Tigers beat Oklahoma in the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl, 40-6, and then a year later in the 2015 Orange Bowl, 37-17.
“They have been unbelievably consistent,” Stoops said. “What you think about with Clemson is big, strong guys on the lines of scrimmage and very explosive skill players.
“They are very well coached and very good teams. It has always been that way and that is what I think of when I think about Clemson.”
The Tigers and Wildcats will meet in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 29 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The game will be televised on ESPN at noon.
To honor Clemson’s special senior class Dear Old Clemson is selling footballs signed by 7 of Clemson’s Avengers for only $100. These limited edition footballs are signed by Thomas, Orhorhoro, Davis, Mascoll, Henry, Murphy and Williams. Get one while supplies last.
