1989: Danny Ford vs. Bobby Bowden, round two
Anybody remember this one? It’s one of the great ones in Clemson history.
I wasn’t quite born yet when it took place, but I’ve seen the reruns multiple times
The year prior to this one, 1988, Florida State escaped with a 24-21 win in Death Valley. This was the famous puntrooskie game where Leroy Butler turned the tide to give the Seminoles the win. Clemson was ranked No. 3 at the time and primed to make a run at a national championship.
Florida State ruined those dreams.
Fast-forward a year later, to 1989 and we get a completely different story.
Clemson football coach Danny Ford went in to Tallahassee and delivered a 34-23 beating to Bobby Bowden’s 16th-ranked Florida State team.
Bowden described the game as “a good whipping,” and went on to say, “I think they were tired of hearing about the puntrooskie.”
This was a major feather in the Tigers’ cap before Ford would move on to Arkansas due to some unfortunate circumstances with the NCAA.