Clemson's Death Valley History (1973 - 1989)

==> Revisit the 1942 - 1972 Chapter <==

After the1969 departure of Frank Howard, an influential longtime coach, Clemson failed to find their previous success.  So, it was time to modernize, starting with Memorial Stadium. In 1972, the original cedar wood seating was replaced by aluminum seats.

Clemson’s Rebound and Further Death Valley Expansion!

But the wood wasn’t burnt away or sold off to the highest bidder. In one of the best examples of recycling in the south, the wood was used to renovate the former gas station/club Esso, helping the legend as one of the best sports bars in the country grow. The new owner, Mr. Francis Lewis, a Clemson instructor, bought it and added a storied collection of memorabilia, for which the spot has become known.

Esso Sports Club 2001, Photo Courtesy of Flickr

In the coming years, Clemson had a successful rebuild and found themselves on top of the ACC and college football only five years after trading in the wood for aluminum seating, justifying the renovation.

In 1977, Clemson ended its 17-year bowl drought with a return to the Gator Bowl, facing future ACC foe, Pittsburgh. It was far from a one-off bowl appearance, as they returned to the Gator Bowl the next season, and this time would beat opponents, Ohio State 17-15.  This announced their official return to the top of the college football world.

Clemson didn’t wait any time, taking advantage of the rising demand from students who wanted to see the Tigers on top again. In 1978, upper decks were added to one side of the stadium, with the other side of the field soon to get its own upper deck treatment a few years later.

Memorial Stadium Upper Deck Construction Circa 1978, Photo Courtesy of Clemson University Libraries

In the meantime, Clemson was rolling with a return to the Peach Bowl, then two seasons later, Clemson beat, at the time, an all-conquering Nebraska team in the Orange Bowl in 1982.  This put Clemson back in the college football spotlight.

And Clemson wanted to look as great as they possibly could while in the spotlight. So, after their Orange Bowl triumph, they completed the upper decks on the other side of the field. Now looking like a college football powerhouse, putting the seat total at 80,000. Though Clemson hit another small lull, but not due to disappointing results.

It was due to a scandal. Clemson was found to have violated NCAA recruiting rules. They suffered a bowl ban for three years; they couldn’t claim a conference title. Meaning their 1983 season, which saw them go 9-1-1 and have by far the best record of any team in the ACC, went without a postseason and conference title. This put a stain on the Clemson program that lasted years, and all progress on the stadium was halted during this time. Clemson made the Independence Bowl in 1985 with a 6-5 record and then lost 20-13 to the Minnesota Gophers.

Clemson rebounded almost immediately, going on another ACC conference title three-peat from 1986 to 1988. The team never lost more than three games during this time, and always finished in the top 10 in the polls. But after he failed to make it four in a year in 1989, Coach Denny Ford walked away from his Clemson tenure with a Gator Bowl triumph, marking a brief pause in his legendary coaching career.

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