Clemson vs. Maryland Series
•Clemson holds a 30-24-2 advantage
in the series with Maryland. The first game of
the series was played in 1952, one year before
both teams became charter members of the
ACC. The two schools have played every year
since 1952, the longest active continuous rivalry
for the Tigers against an ACC school. It is the
longest continuous rivalry for Maryland Maryland
won each of the first four games in the series
before the Tigers got a tie in 1956 and a win in
1957.
•The visiting team has won each of the
last three games of the series. Clemson’s 10-7
win at Clemson in 2004 is the last time the home
team was victorious.
•Clemson has won three of the last
four, and 11 of 15 against Maryland, including
last year’s 30-17 win at Maryland, which was
Clemson’s largest margin of victory in the series
since a 35-14 win in 2000. It was Clemson’s
largest margin of victory at Maryland since a
17-0 win at College Park in 1995. . Tommy
Bowden is 5-4 against Maryland in his career,
but Ralph Friedgen is 4-3 against the Tigers
and Bowden. So both coaches have a winning
record against the opposing school.
•Clemson had won eight in a row and
13 of 14 prior to Ralph Friedgen’s return to his
alma mater for the 2001 season.
•The three meetings between 2004-06
were decided within the last three minutes of
the game and the average victory margin in
those three games was just 2.7 points.
•Clemson held Maryland to just 12 total
points in winning every game between 1993-
98. Clemson recorded four shutouts, including
three in a row during that time period. During
Clemson’s eight-game winning streak in the series
from 1993-2000, Clemson held Maryland to
an average of 7.0 points per game, while scoring
26.8 points per game themselves.
•In 2002, Maryland defeated Clemson
in Death Valley, its first win at Memorial Stadium
since 1985. It was Ralph Friedgen’s first game
as Maryland head coach against Clemson in
Death Valley. Clemson has won nine of the last
11 between the two teams in Death Valley, but
Maryland won the most recent meeting, 13-12
in 2006. That was a game that kept Clemson
out of the ACC Championship game. Clemson
has a 16-12 lead in the series in games played
at Clemson and a 13-11-1 lead in games played
in Byrd Stadium. The teams were 1-1-1 in three
games played in Baltimore.
•Saturday’s game will be a meeting of
two of the traditional powerhouses of the ACC.
Both Clemson and Maryland have been in the
ACC since its inception in the fall of 1953. Both
teams played their first ACC game against each
other on October 3, 1953 at Clemson, a 20-0
Maryland victory. Clemson has the most ACC
wins in the history of the league with 224 and
Maryland is second with 195.
•Clemson and Maryland have both
won the National Championship, the Terps during
that first ACC season in 1953, and Clemson
in 1981. Clemson has the most ACC championships
with 13, while Maryland is third with nine.
•The two teams played at the end of
the season in most years between 1978-88 and
the game usually decided the ACC championship.
That was certainly the case in 1978 when
the Tigers won 28-24 at College Park, clinching
an undefeated season in the league over Maryland.
It was 11th ranked Maryland’s only league
loss that season.
•Clemson also clinched the ACC
championship with a November victory or tie
over Maryland in 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987 and
1988. Maryland clinched the ACC Championship
in 2001 with a 37-20 victory over Clemson
in College Park. The Terps also clinched the
title in 1985 with a victory in Death Valley.
•Clemson has a history of great return
performances against Maryland over the years.
In 2001, Derrick Hamilton had a 100-yard kickoff
return for a score in a game in College Park.
Darnell Stephens had an 89-yard punt return
for a score against the Terps in Death Valley in
1991, one year after Doug Thomas had a 98-
yard kickoff return against Maryland in Baltimore.
The greatest return game in ACC history by any
individual was recorded by Clemson’s Don Kelley
against Maryland in 1970. He had 224 total
return yards on punt and interception returns in
that game.
Spence Coached at Maryland
Clemson offensive coordinator Rob
Spence served as an assistant coach at Maryland
from 1992-96 under Mark Duffner. During
that time Maryland established 70 school records
for offensive production. Spence’s first year, he
helped the Maryland offense score 53 points in a
53-23 Terps win over Clemson. In 1994, Spence
served as Maryland’s quarterbacks coach and
the Terps ranked 10th in the nation in passing
offense behind Scott Milanovich.
Clemson has a 2-1 record against
Maryland in the three years Spence has been at
Clemson, but the visiting team has won all three
games.
Clemson Veterans vs. Maryland
Thomas Austin (C)—Played only three snaps
as a freshman in 2006. Had 12.5 knockdown
blocks and graded out at 92% in 91 snaps in
2007.
Mark Buchholz (PK)—Went 3-4 on field goal
attempts, converting from 35, 34, and 20 yards,
and 3-3 on extra point attempts, scoring 12
points in 2007.
Crezdon Butler (CB)—Recorded two tackles
and broke up a pass in only 12 snaps in 2006.
Had four tackles, broke up a pass, and had an
interception in 52 snaps as a starter in 2007.
Chris Chancellor (CB)—Had one tackle on
special teams in 2006. Registered five tackles,
broke up a pass, and forced a fumble in 53 plays
as a starter in 2007.
Chris Clemons (FS)—Recorded four tackles in
just four snaps as a freshman in 2005. Had 12
tackles, including a tackle for loss, and broke up
a pass in 63 snaps as a starter in 2006. Recorded
10 tackles in 63 snaps as a starter in 2007.
James Davis (RB)—Ran for 82 yards on 20
carries and caught three passes for 24 yards as
a freshman starter in 2005. Ran 20 times for 90
yards as a starter in 2006. Rushed for 129 yards
on 29 carries and a touchdown as a starter in
2007.
Jacoby Ford (WR)—Had two catches for six
yards, returned a kickoff for 16 yards, and
returned a punt for 16 yards as a freshman in
2006. Had three receptions for 37 yards, two
kick returns for 43 yards, and two punt returns
for 12 yards as a starter in 2007.
Tyler Grisham (WR)—Did not record a catch in
13 plays as a freshman reserve in 2005. Had
three receptions for 28 yards as a starter in
2006. Caught four passes for 32 yards as a
starter in 2007.
Michael Hamlin (SS)—Registered four tackles
and broke up a pass in 24 snas as a freshman
in 2005. Had nine tackles, including a tackle for
loss, and an interception in 63 snaps as a starter
in 2006. Recorded eight tackles and recovered
a fumble in 63 snaps as a starter in 2007.
Cullen Harper (QB)—Completed 20 of 26
passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns as a
starter in 2007. Also added five carries for 12
yards.
Aaron Kelly (WR)—Caught four passes for 26
yards as a freshman starter in 2005. Had one
reception for seven yards as a starter in 2006.
Had five catches for 54 yards and a touchdown
as a starter in 2007.
Jimmy Maners (P)—Had two punts for 74
yards, averaging 37.0 yards per punt, as a
starter in 2007.
Michael Palmer (TE)—Did not catch a pass
in 26 plays as a freshman in 2006. Caught
two passes for 13 yards and a touchdown as a
starter in 2007.
Ricky Sapp (DE)—Did not record a tackle in six
snaps as a freshman in 2006. Had three tackles
and two quarterback pressures in 52 snaps as a
starter in 2007.
Dorell Scott (DT)—Had two tackles, including
a sack, and a quarterback pressure in 31 snaps
as a starter in 2006. Recorded two tackles and
a quarterback pressure in 48 snaps as a starter
in 2007.
C.J. Spiller (RB)—Rushed for 41 yards on nine
carries, had two catches for two yards, and
returned two kicks for 34 yards as a freshman
in 2006. Had 17 carries for 106 yards and five
catches for 37 yards as a starter in 2007.
Terps Enter with 3-1 Record
After a 14-7 win over Delaware in the
season opener, Maryland lost its second game
of the year at Middle Tennessee State, a team
coached by former Clemson assistant coach
Rick Stockstill. But since that loss, the Terps
have defeated 23rd ranked California, 35-27 and
Eastern Michigan 51-24.
With 86 points in their last two games,
the Terps come to Clemson looking for a second consecutive win at Clemson Memorial Stadium. They kept Clemson out of
the ACC Championship game in 2006 with a 13-12 victory on a field goal
on the last play of the game.
Maryland has always been a balanced team since Ralph Friedgen
returned to his alma mater as head coach in 2001. This year is no exception
as the Terms are averaging 197 yards a game on the ground and
187 yards per game through the air. They have nine touchdowns rushing
and six passing.
Da’Rel Scott has been the key to the ground attack with 407
yards in three games, 135.7 yards per game. He leads the ACC in rushing
and ranks fifh in the nation in yards per game and is among the best in
yards per carry with a 7.3 average. Davin Meggett, son of the former NFL
standout, is second on the team in rushing with 159 and he has a 5.3 average.
As a team, Maryland averages 5.3 yards per rush.
Chris Turner is the starting quarterback and he has completed
60 percent of this throws for 586 yards. His favorite target is Darrius
Heyward-Bey who has 12 catches for 250 yards and three scores. That
includes an 80-yard scoring reception. He was one of the top receivers in
the ACC last year, but he failed to catch a pass in Clemson’s 30-17 victory
in College Park.
Maryland is solid on defense and has 22 tackles for loss and
eight sacks as a team so far this year. David Philistin is the top tackler with
37, while Alex Wujciak is second with 27 tackles. He also has 3.5 tackles
for loss. Rick Costa actually leads the team in tackles for loss and sacks.
The early season highlight for Maryland has been that victory
over 23rd ranked California. Scott had 19 carries for 87 yards and two
scores, both in the first quarter, as the Terps scored the first three times
they had the ball. Turner was outstanding throwing the ball, hitting 15-19
passes for 156 yards and two scores.
Terp Assistant Played at Clemson
Long time Clemson fans will notice a familiar face on the
Maryland sidelines this Saturday. Danny Pearman is the special teams
coordinator and tight ends coach for Maryland. Pearman is a 1987 Clemson
graduate who was a member of the 1986 and 1987 Clemson ACC
Championship teams as a tight end.
Pearman is coaching his fourth different ACC school. He was
an assistant at Virginia Tech from 1998-2005, moved on to North Carolina
for the 2006 season where he worked with current Clemson coach Andre
Powell, and coached at Duke last year. He was a graduate assistant at
Clemson under Danny Ford in 1988 and 1989.
He then served as a graduate assistant and full time assistant at
Alabama from 1990-97. He was a coach on the 1992 Alabama team that
won the national championship. Current Clemson coach Dabo Swinney
was a player on that team.
Active Tigers Among National Leaders
Clemson has seven different players who are ranked among the
top 20 active players in the nation in various career statistical categories.
James Davis leads the way with eight different top 20 rankings in various
areas of rushing, scoring and all-purpose running.
Davis is seventh in the nation among active Division I players
in terms of rushing yards with 3379. He actually has a higher ranking in
career rushing touchdowns with 40 (fourth) and career total touchdowns
(fifth) with 42. He is fifth in career carries with 626, ranks 12th in total
points scored with 252 and is 13th in all-purpose running yards with 3722.
C.J. Spiller has the highest ranking with a first place standing in
yards per all-purpose running per play at 8.39 (min 400 touches). He is
tied for first in career kickoff returns for touchdown with three and is second
in career rushing yards per carry with 6.25. Spiller has 1912 career
rushing yards in 306 attempts.
Other Tigers who rank among the national leaders in career
categories are Aaron Kelly, Cullen Harper, Michael Hamlin, Jimmy Maners
and Mark Buchholz. Kelly is sixth among active players in career receptions,
Hamlin is fifth in career interceptions, Buchholz is fifth in points per
game and Maners is seventh in punting average.
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