I'm just sayin...: Sounds like football…

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Private First Class Frederick C. Murphy (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on March 18, 1945, on the Siegfried Line at Saarlautern, Germany. His citation reads:

An aid man, he was wounded in the right shoulder soon after his comrades had jumped off in a dawn attack 18 March 1945, against the Siegfried Line at Saarlautern, Germany. He refused to withdraw for treatment and continued forward, administering first aid under heavy machinegun, mortar, and artillery fire. When the company ran into a thickly sown antipersonnel minefield and began to suffer more and more casualties, he continued to disregard his own wound and unhesitatingly braved the danger of exploding mines, moving about through heavy fire and helping the injured until he stepped on a mine which severed one of his feet. In spite of his grievous wounds, he struggled on with his work, refusing to be evacuated and crawling from man to man administering to them while in great pain and bleeding profusely. He was killed by the blast of another mine which he had dragged himself across in an effort to reach still another casualty. With indomitable courage, and unquenchable spirit of self-sacrifice and supreme devotion to duty which made it possible for him to continue performing his tasks while barely able to move, Pfc. Murphy saved many of his fellow soldiers at the cost of his own life.

Private James T. Murphy (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on March 25, 1865, at Petersburg, Virginia. His citation reads:

A piece of artillery having been silenced by the enemy, this soldier voluntarily ass1sted in working the piece, conducting himself throughout the engagement in a gallant and fearless manner.

Private Jeremiah Murphy (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on March 17, 1876, at Powder River, Montana. His citation reads:

Being the only member of his picket not disabled, he attempted to save a wounded comrade.

With the big game coming up tomorrow, I thought it would be neat to look back at some of the more memorable games of this series in my lifetime. Having said that, we will naturally start the list with a game that took place a little over a year before my lifetime started…

1977 – With 49 seconds left in the game, Clemson WR Jerry Butler made a backwards diving 20 yard TD catch of a pass thrown by QB Steve Fuller to give Clemson a 31-27 road win over the Revolutionary War Heroes.

1980 – #14 USC with soon-t0-be Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers (no relation to my friend Cory…. that we know of) entered Clemson as heavy favorites. [Interesting side note – George Rogers had already had his #38 retired by the time this game took place]. Clemson Head Coach Danny Ford, however, had a secret weapon waiting for the Revolutionary War Heroes that day. Was it a great running back? Or perhaps a new QB? Nope… it was orange pants. In a stunt that could only work in a college football game, the Tigers wore orange pants for the first time and went on the upset USC 27-6.

1981 – Clemson won 29-13 on its way to winning the National Championship.

1984 – USC went in to Death Valley with their Black Magic and found themselves down 21-3. Revolutionary War Hero QB Mike Hold would lead the comeback which included an 8 play, 86 yard TD drive to give USC a 22-21 victory and its first 10 win season in program history.

1987 – Until this season, this was the highest ranked match-up between the two schools. I watched this game down the street at the Freeman’s house. It was a night game and the first Clemson/USC game I remember. I doubt it’s the first one I saw, but it’s the first I remember. The ACC Champion Clemson Tigers entered the game ranked #8 while the Revolutionary War Heroes were #12. Live on ESPN, USC beat Clemson 20-7 in a game that I don’t remember even being that close. USC’s defense held Clemson to 166 total yards (the lowest total in Danny Ford’s time at Clemson).

1988 – This 29-10 Clemson win is memorable for 3 reasons… It was Rodney Williams’ last home game for the Tigers (he would leave the Tigers with the most wins for a QB in program history); It was the first of 4 straight wins in the series for the Tigers; And most importantly, in my opinion, it was the last Clemson/Carolina game in which USC was coached by Joe Morrison (he would die the following February). I have always said that USC and Clemson would have been Top 10 programs throughout the ‘90s had Morrison not died and Ford not been forced out at Clemson. With all due respect to Spurrier, I’d list Morrison as the best coach in USC history (though I wouldn’t call someone crazy for saying it’s Spurrier).

1992 – A cocky young Carolina QB by the name of Steve Taneyhill led USC to a 24-13 victory. Taneyhill became the most hated player in the state (or most loved player, depending on how you look at it) by “signing” his name on the Tiger Paw after a TD. This game ended a 4 game series winning streak for the Tigers.

1994 – Both teams came into this one needing a win to get a bowl invite. The Revolutionary War Heroes started the second half with a trick play on the kickoff for an 85 yard return. Carolina won 33-7 on their way to their first ever bowl win in the Carquest Bowl. This was my first live Clemson/Carolina game.

1997 – Clemson won 47-21. It was my first live Clemson/Carolina game in Columbia. I was in the press box… I remember being very impressed with the food and soft drinks in that press box.

1998 – Probably the worst match-up between the two schools. Clemson came in with 2 wins and USC had 1. Both schools had fired (or were about to fire) their head coaches. Clemson won 28-19 and the players carried head coach Tommy West off the field as the fans cheered. It’s a rare time when I felt like a fans really liked a guy… they just didn’t want him to be the head coach anymore.

2001 – Carolina won this one 20-15 on their way to back-to-back Outback Bowl victories.

2003 – 63-17

2004 – This one started with USC players taunting the Clemson players as they came down The Hill… then a USC player fumbled the opening kickoff. Clemson won the game 29-7, but the big story was the brawl that took place in the 4th quarter. Clemson won the game and the fight, but since this ended up being the last game Lou Holtz coached, Carolina may have been the ultimate winner. Both schools overreacted to the fight and forfeited their chances to play in the postseason.

2005 – Clemson QB got his 4th win (13-9) over the Revolutionary War Heroes, becoming the first QB in rivalry history to win 4.

2006 – Carolina won this one 31-28 as I sat in the upper deck with Sonny. This was the last Carolina/Clemson game I attended.

2008 – Clemson won 31-14 with Dabo trying to earn the head coaching job for the Tigers. This was the last time the Tigers beat the Revolutionary War Heroes.

2009 – Carolina won 34-17 to begin a series winning streak.

2012 – Clemson entered the game ranked #11, while USC came in at #12. The Tigers had a 14-10 lead, but USC was too good, leaving Death Valley with a 27-17 win. The win made Steve Spurrier the winningest head coach in USC history.

I can’t wait to see the game this year. I hope it’s a great one!

Flashback Friday