As second-ranked Clemson gets set to play No. 3 Ohio State in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff on New Year’s Eve, The Clemson Insider ranks all 20 of the Tigers’ bowl victories from the past.
Clemson has a rich bowl history. In fact, the Tigers’ 20 bowl-wins rank 17th in the history of college football, and their 40 bowl game appearances, including this year’s Fiesta Bowl matchup, also ranks 17th all-time.
Clemson’s first bowl game was in the 1940 Cotton Bowl when the Tigers defeated Frank Leahy’s Boston College team, 6-3.
No. 20: 2001 Humanitarian Bowl
Clemson 49, Louisiana Tech 24
Clemson concluded its 2001 season with a 49-24 win over Louisiana Tech in the Humanitarian Bowl at Boise, Idaho. The Tigers managed to win despite snowy conditions and freezing temperatures that set records for a Tiger football game.
The win also ended a five-game losing streak in bowl games for the Clemson program and was the first under then head coach Tommy Bowden.
Clemson won by putting together one of its best all-around performances of the season. The offense racked up 548 yards of total offense and set a then school-record for most touchdown passes in a game with five.
The Tigers scored four touchdowns in the third quarter, setting a new team record for most points scored in one quarter in a bowl game. Four touchdowns were scored by freshmen, marking the first time in school history that happened. The defense held the Bulldogs to just 49 total yards rushing while intercepting three passes and totaling six sacks.
After falling behind 10-7, Clemson took the lead 14- 10 with 6:54 remaining before halftime when quarterback Woodrow Dantzler connected with Roscoe Crosby on a 53-yard touchdown reception. Dantzler helped extend the lead on the first drive of the second half by finding Ben Hall in the end zone and igniting the record-setting third quarter scoring effort.
Dantzler recorded his third touchdown pass of the game two minutes later when he hooked up with Bernard Rambert for a 62-yard score. Following an interception by Brian Mance, the offense capitalized seven plays later when Rambert scampered down the left sideline for 21 yards and a score.
Charles Hafley intercepted Luke McCown’s pass on the Bulldogs’ first play of the ensuing drive, and Airese Currie’s 19-yard fumble-rooskie play less than two minutes later marked the fourth touchdown of the quarter and gave Clemson a 42-10 lead.
Backup quarterback Willie Simmons entered the game in the final quarter and helped contribute to Clemson’s final score of the game, completing his only pass of the contest to Derrick Hamilton for a 57-yard touchdown with just over nine minutes remaining.
Dantzler ended his career with a fitting performance. He completed 15-of-23 passes for 218 yards, and his four touchdown passes tied his own team record. Rambert posted 101 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
Center Kyle Young, who now works as an Associate Athletic Director at Clemson, was later named to Sports Illustrated’s All-Bowl team after he had 18 knockdown blocks in the contest.
–Clemson Athletic Communications