1985 Clemson Tigers football
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
Record6–6 (4–3 ACC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorNelson Stokley (6th season)
CaptainSteve Berlin, Steve Reese
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1984
1986 →
1985 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 18 Maryland $ 6 – 0 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
No. 19 Georgia Tech 5 – 1 – 0 9 – 2 – 1
Virginia 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Clemson 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 6 – 0
North Carolina 3 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Duke 2 – 5 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
NC State 2 – 5 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Wake Forest 1 – 6 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1985 Clemson Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Clemson University in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its eighth season under head coach Danny Ford, the team compiled a 6–6 record (4–3 against conference opponents), tied for third place in the ACC, lost to Minnesota in the 1985 Independence Bowl, and outscored opponents by a total of 244 to 222.[1][2] The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.

Steve Berlin and Steve Reese were the team captains. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Rodney Williams with 772 passing yards, Kenny Flowers with 1,200 rushing yards and 78 points scored (13 touchdowns), and Terrance Roulhac with 533 receiving yards.[3]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 141:00 p.m.at Virginia Tech*
W 20–1731,000[4]
September 213:30 p.m.Georgia*
CBSL 13–2080,473[5]
September 281:00 p.m.Georgia Tech
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC (rivalry)
L 3–1479,309[6]
October 57:30 p.m.at Kentucky*
L 7–2658,230[7]
October 1212:20 p.m.Virginiadagger
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC
RaycomW 27–2479,110[8]
October 191:30 p.m.at Duke
W 21–931,800[9]
October 261:00 p.m.NC State
W 39–1072,316[10]
November 21:00 p.m.Wake Forest
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC
W 26–1071,179[11]
November 912:20 p.m.at North Carolina
RaycomL 20–2150,000[12]
November 162:30 p.m.Maryland
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC
CBSL 31–3478,037[13]
November 23 1:30 p.m.at South Carolina*
W 24–1775,026[14]
December 21vs. Minnesota*
MizlouL 13–2042,800[15]

[16]

Personnel

1985 Clemson Tigers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB Randy Anderson
WR Shelton Boyer
WR Pat Charleston
WR Gary Cooper
OL Frank Deiulis
RB Stacey Driver
RB Terrence Flagler
RB Kenny Flowers
WR Keith Jennings
RB Tracy Johnson
RB Chris Lancaster
OL Jeff Lytton
OL Wes Mann
OL Eric Nix
OL John Phillips
RB Rod Quick
OL Steve Reese (C)
TE Jim Riggs
WR Terrence Roulhac
RB George Smith
RB Richard Smith
OL John Watson
WR Ray Williams
QB 13 Rodney Williams Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DL Steve Berlin (C)
DL Lawrence Brunson
DB Kenny Danforth
DL Mark Drag
LB James Earle
DB Delton Hall
DB A.J. Johnson
DL Terence Mack
DL Dwayne Meadows
DL Michael Dean Perry
DL Brian Raber
DB Matt Riggs
LB Henry Walls
LB Keith Williams
DB Perry Williams
DB Donnell Woodford
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P Andy Newell
K Adubarie Otorubio
K David Treadwell
LS Brian Hammond


Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

References

  1. ^ "2016 Media Guide" (PDF). clemsontigers.com. Clemson Athletics. 2016. pp. 200–208. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  2. ^ "1985 Clemson Tigers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 4, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "1985 Clemson Tigers Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 4, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Second-chance kick lifts Clemson". Anderson Independent-Mail. September 15, 1985. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Georgia scores 17 in the 4th to nip Tigers". Florence Morning News. September 22, 1985. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Georgia Tech whips error-prone Clemson". Lexington Herald-Leader. September 29, 1985. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Jerry Tipton (October 6, 1985). "Cats kick clumsy Clemson 26-7". Lexington Herald-Leader. pp. C1, C6 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Clemson edges Virginia 27–24". The Macon Telegraph & News. October 13, 1985. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Clemson gets 21–12 win, rest at Duke". The Atlanta Journal & Constitution. October 20, 1985. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Tigers finally learn Foed lesson of ball control, post 39–10 win". The Times and Democrat. October 27, 1985. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Flowers leads Clemson to victory over Wake Forest". The Daily Advertiser. November 3, 1985. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Clemson's mastery of UNC ends". The Greenville News. November 10, 1985. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Terps top Tigers on Plocki's FG". Durham Morning Herald. November 17, 1985. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Mike Hunt (November 24, 1985). "Tigers gain bowl berth over USC". The Greenville News. pp. 1C, 4C – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Gophers drop Clemson for a 10 count". The Shreveport Times. December 22, 1985. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Clemson Football Media Guide - 1985". Clemson University. 1985. p. 150. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
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