Appalachian State vs Clemson

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CClleemmssoonn UUnniivveerrssiittyy
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Football Programs Programs
1990
AAppppaallaacchhiiaann SSttaattee vvss CClleemmssoonn ((99//2222//11999900))
Clemson University
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Today's Features
Clemson vs. Appalachian State
September 22, 1990
5 Eric Harmon
"Death Valley"isa long wayfromthestreets ofCamden, NewJersey, butboth places
havetaught Eric Harmon somevaluable lessons asAnnabelle Vaughan explains.
7 Doug Thontas
There have been an incredible numberofgreatathleteswho havecomefromthe
smalltown of Hamlet, NC, butAnnabelle Vaughantells usaboutonewhoexcels in
morethanjustone sport atClemson.
49 Larry Brinson
Growing up in IVIiami, FL, running backcoach Larry Brinson had adream; to play in
the National Football League. Gregg Prigerson recounts howthecoach of
Clemson's running backs has accomplished much morethanjustthat.
53 Roger Hinshaw
WhenRogerHinshawcametoClemson,heknewthatallgameswouldbebigones,but
Sanford Rogers tells us why today's game against Appalachian State has added
significancetotheTigerouside linebackercoach.
55 Pearse Tormey
Intangiblesarethe underlyingfactorin thesuccessofClemson soccerAil-American
PearseTormey. Sam Blackman and IVIickey Plylertell uswhat intangibles have
made Tormeyoneofthetopcollegiateplayers inthecountry.
62 Excellence in the 80's
TheClemsonfootball teamfinished thedecadeofthe 80'swith an 87-25-4 record,
thefifth bestwinning percentage in collegefootball. Tim Bourrettakesalookatsome
ofthe more memorable Clemson gamesthroughoutthedecade.
105 Lisa Dillard
Thisyear's IPTAYAthlete-of-the-Year is Lisa Dillard, a memberoftheTigerwomen's
trackteam. Mickey Plylerexplainswhyshe isthetopsprinterin the historyofthe
Clemsonwomen'strack program.
62
112 The Last Word
Everyone lovesto hearstoriesaboutformerCoach Frank Howardwhocoached hisfirst
Clemsongame 50years agoyesterday. Bob Bradleytakes us back intime and
refreshesour memoryaboutsomeofthe humoroustalesofClemson'sown legend.
The Departments
ACCSchedule 28 Managers 78 PlayersandCoaches
AlmaMater 96 MemorialStadium 27 Alphabetical Roster.Clemson,.,54
AthleticStaff 31 MemorialStadium Records 45 Alphabetical Roster,Opponent .59
Band Feature 109 Official'sSignals 68 AssistantCoaches 14
BoardofTrustees 17 PictureoftheWeek 51 Ken Hatfield 10
BowlSchedules 15 Stadium Information 19 GraduateAssistantCoaches .. .71
Cheerleaders 97 Statistics, Individual 3 Lineups.Starting 57
Coaches, All-Sports 21 StrengthAil-Americans 65 MedicalStaff 29
CourtesyVehicleDonors 42 Today'sGame 2 MeettheTigers 33
EmergencyServices 67 Trainers 72 NumericalRoster,Clemson 57
FallSportsSchedule 84 TigerLife 96 Numerical Roster,Opponent .57
FutureFootballSchedules 25 UniversityFeature 107 OpponentPlayers 75
IPTAY 101 UniversityPresident 9 StrengthCoaches 65
IPTAYOfficers 46 TigerRookies 37
Clemson Football Program Committee
105
Chairman: LenGough InformationOffice. Box632. Clemson. SC 29633
EPdriotgorrasmanStdafDfesiAgnnnearbse:llTeimVaMuagthcahn.anSdamTiBmlBaocukrmraent. OErnictHhaerCmoovnera:ndTfoodramyer'sTciogveerrqfueaarttuerrebsasceknRioordgnueayrd
Clemson Soccer DonnaStrickland. BobBradley. MickeyPlyler. Gregg Williams. CoverPhotosbyJimMonarty.
vs. Coastal Carolina PPrriignetrisnogn:,EHleecattrhiecrCiCtzyePcrziontkingCompanyofAnderson. IMnctKeirninoeryP.hoVteorsn:VJeirmnaM.orSicaorttty.HaBrokbe.WaBlednroHpe.ndLrainckcse.
Wednesday, Sept. 26 at SC SpecialthankstoSanuyKayandSteveMadden DaveLewis. C W Pack. RobBiggerslaff. Tom
Riggs Field, 7:00 p.m. Aavdadiiltaibolneaalt$C4o.p0i0esa:piEexcter.aScoepnideschoefctkhiss(ppraoygarbalmetaore SRhoolciksloenya,nEddMdaierkClHifofue.deE.arleMartin. PatWright. Fred
theClemsonAthleticDepartment)toSports
Clemson Football '90 1
WuwQ [B®m[nr@Qi
Familiar Coaches Meet Saturday tory in 1984.
Two coaches who have been involved in Oneothercoachingcommondenominator
Division football as friend and foe will chal- in today's game concerns Appalachian State
I
lengeoneanotherSaturdayafternooninDeath assistantcoachRuffinMcNeil. The1980East
Valley. Clemson Head Coach Ken Hatfield Carolinagraduateserves asthe outside line-
and Appalachian State Head Coach Jerry backercoachoftheMountaineers,butwason
Moorehavebeenonoppositesidesofthefield the Clemson staff in 1985 and 1986 as a
as head coaches in the Southwest Confer- graduate assistant.
ence, and have been on the same sideline
during Hatfield's head coaching tenure at Ar- Mountaineer Update
kansas. AppalachianStatehasbeenoneofthetop
"We will both give that extra to get our Division lAA programs in the nation over the
teams prepared this week because we re- last few years. While Clemson has gained
spect each other so much," said Hatfield. "I quite a bit of notoriety for winning an ACC
know with the off week they will be very well record 38 games over the last four years,
prepared. AppalachianStatehaswon35gamesoverthe
"Jerry hasbeen aroundandknowsalotof lastfourseasons. TheMountaineerswere9-
systems. He spent many years at Nebraska 3 lastseason inJerry Moore'sfirstyear, butit
and some other programs and has learned a markedthethirdtimeinthelastfouryearsthat
greatdeal." they had reachedthe nine-win plateau. Over
Hatfieldhasa2-0recordagainstMooreas thelastfiveyearstheyhavebeen28-6-1 inthe
farasheadcoachingmatchupsareconcerned. Southern Conference.
Hatfield's 1984 Arkansas team beat Moore's AppalachianStatehastworepresentatives Bodine had a careerhigh 12tacklesagainst
TexasTechteam24-0,andthefollowingsea- on the All-Initialsteam this year. Sophomore Maryland.
son the Razorbackswere victorious, 30-7. runningbackJ.K. Reavesisoneofthebestall-
Moore went into private business for a around players in the Southern Conference.
coupleofyears, thenwentbacktothe South- The all-purpose back who grew up in Duke's Bodine Leads Defensive Line
westConferencefootball wars, thistime as a backyard(Durham,NC),hadjust38carriesfor Clemson junior middle guard Rob Bodine
widereceivercoachandrecruitingcoordinator 170yardsasafreshman. But, hehasalready had the best game of his career at Maryland
underHatfield atArkansas. Duringthat 1988 eclipsed thattotal in justtwo games. He has last Saturday. Clemson's first football player
season, Moore helped the Razorbacks to a gained218yardsandscoredfourtouchdowns from the state of North Dakota had a career
10-2season and SouthwestConferencetitle. in the firsttwo games, a 34-24 win over East high 12tackles, includingtwotacklesforloss
The Tiger-Mountaineer tilt will also be in- Tennessee State, and a 23-12 loss at Wake and aquarterbacksack. His defensive pres-
teresting fortwo Clemson assistantcoaches. Forest. The cousin of former Nebraska star sure was a key reason Maryland scored only
Clemson outside linebacker coach Roger Doug Dubose is also the club's top receiver threepointsinthesecond halfanddidnotget
Hinshaw is a 1972 Appalachian State gradu- with 48 yards on five receptions. into Clemson territory the last 10 minutes of
ate who led the Mountainers in interceptions D.J. Campbellistheothersophomorestar the game.
hissenioryear. TigerdefensivelinecoachLes on offense who goes with the initial moniker. Bodine is oneofthe unsung heroesofthe
Herrin was Appalachian State's defensive ThenativeofCleveland,GAwastherunnerup Clemsondefense. Othersreceivemuchofthe
coordinatorin 1980. Hebecameanassistant Freshman-of-the-Year in the Southern Con- attention,buttherelativelysmallmiddleguard
coach with the Tigers in 1981 and coached ference last year. He is 25-45 for 281 yards (245 pounds) led Clemson in total tackles
against Appalachian State in Clemson's vic- and just one interception so far this season. amongdown linemenlastyearwith60,atotal
We might notsee a lotof interceptions when that ranked fifth on Clemson's fifth ranked
Clemson meets Appalachian State, as defense. Heisdoingitagainthisyearwith21
Clemson'sDeChaneCameronhasnotthrown stops in three games.
any interceptions in his last66 passes. Bodine's previous career high was eight
Campbell isafinerunnerasevidenced by tackles set last year against Maryland.
his 10touchdowns rushing lastyear. He had Bodine now has 81 tackles in his 14-game
three apiece against James Madison and careerand 20 have been againsttheTerps.
Marshall last year. A fine leader, Campbell
had a 4.00 GPA in high school. Davis Paces Secondary
Defensively, Appalachian State returnsall AII-ACCdefensiveback Dexter Davis had
fourstartersonthefrontline. Avery Hallisthe the first multiple interception game of his ca-
leader. Another sophomore. Hall had 70 reer when he picked off two passes in Balti-
tackles and six sacks last year and was a more Memorial Stadium. It wasthe firsttime
preseason Division l-AA All-America choice. aTigerhadtwointerceptionsinagamesince
Inside linebacker Dwayne Pelham is another Robert O'Neal turned the trick last year at
returningAll-SouthernConferencechoice. He Duke.
had 128tackleslastyear, includinganincred- Davis now has six career interceptions to
ible eightcaused fumbles. The senior, who gowith25careerpassdeflections. Heisnow
Davis had two interceptions in Baltimore, rushed for over 1500 yards as a high school inthetop20 in both interceptionsandpasses
the last squelched Maryland's lastdrive. running back, is the top tackier this season broken up in Clemson history. In fact, he is
with 21 stops. seventh in Clemson history with 25 pass de-
2 Clemson Football'90
flectionsandneedsjustthreetomoveintothe andoneagainstMaryland. MoveoverRocket
number-fourslot. Ismail.
Thomas now leads the nation in kickoff
Gardocki Boots Career Best Field Goal returns with a 47-yard average and he also
Clemson junior all-purpose kicker Chris pacestheACCinall-purposerunningwith132
Gardocki booted a 53-yard field goal against yards per game. His outstanding receiving
Maryland, the longest field goal of his career has gone unnoticed because of the kickoff
and the longest by a Tiger in six seasons. returns. But, at Maryland, Thomas also had
Donald Igwebuike, now with the Minnesota three catches for 69 yards, including a 37-
Vikings,hada53-yardfieldgoalagainstDuke yarderthatwasClemson'slongestscrimmage
in 1984. Gardocki's boot tied for the fourth play ofthe day.
longest field goal in Clemson history. The The native of Hamlet, NC is one of
recordisheldbyObedAriri,whobooteda57- Clemson'sfinestall-aroundathletes. Heisthe
yarder against Wake Forest in 1977. reigning 55-meter indoor ACC champion in
Gardocki'sfieldgoalisalsothelongesteverby trackandparticipatedinboththeNCAAindoor
a U.S. citizen. Obed Ariri and Donald andoutdoortrackchampionships. Healready
Igwebuikearetheonlyplayerstorecordafield has been a part of six ACC championship
goal longer than Gardocki and both came to teams, fourintrackandtwo in football. Tho-
Clemson from Nigeria to play soccer at maswasalsoafinebaseballplayerasayouth,
tChlaetGmatsrhoednyo.cekIvtiewnnaosswaonhwlayasatffohtoertrebetahlfelieygldgaogmtoeta.olsCloevemrso5n0 GCalredmoscokin'pslafiyeelrdbgooranl winatsheloUnngietsetdeSvteartesb.y a Whiellpilaamysepdoritn,thPeALiwthtleenLehaegwuaesWo1r1l-dyeSaerrsi-oelsd.in
yards in his career, two have taken place
against Maryland.
Statistically Speaking
Smith Has Record-Setting Day
Clemson wide receiver Terry Smith had
ninecatchesfor84yardsagainstMaryland, a Rushing 1990ClelmesonSYtdasts(2A-1v)g IB kS Rushing1990AppalachIiCanStYadtseStaAtvsg(1-1I)B ke
singlegamerecordforaTigerfreshman. The HowardHall 35 168 4.8 1 24 J.K. Reaves 46 218 4.7 4 41
previousrecordwasfivecatchesbyTerrance RodneyBlunt 35 83 2.3 2 11 JeffDudan 13 57 4.4 18
RoulhacagainstGeorgiaTechin1983. Smith's RonaldWilliams 14 75 5.4 1 16 D.J.Campbell 29 50 1.7 29
yhaowredvaegre.fiRgauyreWiwlalsiamnsothaadf1r0e5shyamradnsroencofrodu,r CLDaeLrrrrEyiMcRkSyOWaiNntsherspoon 15988 6425268 365...957 7 221946 AOAlPPPEPl.lOiSsNTEANTTES 97384 32821072 333...056 531 416
receptions against N.C. Statethatsame sea- OPPONENTS 98 243 2.5 2 36
son. M
Smith'sninecatchestiedforthesixthhigh- Passing Cmp iQl Yds TP kS P£! Passing Cmp Att Int Yds IB L& Pel
egsatrdsliensgsleofgacmlaesst.otalIt iwnaCslealmssoonthheismtoorsyt, rree-- COD.PLCPEaOMmNSeEOrNoNnTS 433023 669486 5 343587645 211 334773 44.815..0570 AOD.PPJP.P.OCSaNmTEpANbTeTElSl 444555 222554 311 222886110 3 3344 .555535636
ceptionsbyaTigersince1981 Youhavetogo
.
back to the 1981 Maryland game to find a Receiving Bee Yds Avg TD Ua Receiving Rec Yds Avg IB LG
highersinglegametotal. PerryTuttle had 10 TDeorurgySTmhiotmhas 147 114514 2101..10 3174 JA.nKt.hRoneyavSemsith 54 4389 99..86 1114
catches against the Terps that year. Smith JasonDavis 2 23 11.5 12 KemalAtkins 4 38 9.5 15
now has 14 receptions for the season and is RodneyBlunt 3 13 4.3 11 AlEllis 3 30 10.0 17
fourth intheACCinthatcategorywith4.7per StacyFields 2 11 5.5 6 JeffDudan 3 33 7.3 13
game. Phil RogersholdstheClemsonsingle CLEMSON 33 375 11.4 1 37 APP. STATE 25 281 11.2 34
gamerecordwith 11 receptionsagainstNorth OPPONENTS 40 484 12.1 2 43 OPPONENTS 24 260 10.8 3
Carolina in 1965. Tackles Ne Tackles Ni2 Tackles Ne Tackles No
Smith is already third on the Clemson EdMcDaniel 25 RobertO'Neal 13 DwaynePelham 21 AveryHall 13
f1r4ecsahtmcahnessifnogrltehesesaesaosnonreacnedpttihoenrleiscto.rHdeish1a9s, VDRaoonubcgBeoBdHrieanwmesmteornd 221124 ALBrrelevinontngstooKnnirNBkluuacnnknder 111122 JRDoiochnonninMeyacJDekunrnhianmgs 111776 SMMtiaekrvekeFMrPaiaeytrtoerson 11090
set by Ray Williams in 1983. Terrance ChesterMcGlockton 14 JohnJohnson 10 BrianHendren 13 SteveWilks 8
Roulhac had 15 that year and that is the
1990ClemsonSchedule
second highestfreshman total. Date Site Opponent ScoreATime Date 1990SAiptpealaOcphpioanneSnttateSchedSucloere/Time
Thomas Sets Kickoff Return Record SSeepptt. 81 AH VLiorngginiBaeachSt. 579--200 SSeepptt" 81 AH WEaaskteTeFonrneesstseeSt 3142--2234
Terry Smith was not the only Tiger wide Sept. 15 N1 Maryland 18-17 Sept. 22 A Clemson 1:00
wreeceekiveenrdtaoteMsatraybllainsdh.aSCenlieomrsDonougreTcohrodmalsas,t OSSceetpp.tt.. 22926 HHH AGDpeupokarelgaicahianSt. 1211:::100000 OOSccettp..t. 21963 AHH TNF.huCer.mCaSitntaatdeel 111:::303000
Smith's running mate in the starting lineup, Oct. 13 A GeorgiaTech 12:10 Oct. 20 H WesternCarolina 1:30
barenetdcuraanmcteawrotehekeri.cfikrHosftefCshlafeosrmastoopanuicrpholdfaoy9we8rn-yiiannrhadissrteeotarusyrontnso OONNccoottvv.... 2210737 AAHH WNNSooaruCkt.tehhSCtFCaaoartrreoeolslitinnaa 112211::::11000000 ONNNcoootvvv.... 2117073 AAAA JTVMeaaMrnImsneh.salClMhaadtiasnoonoga 7111::::03330000
fortouchdown,oneagainstLongBeachState N1 atBaltimoreMemorialStadium
Clemson Football '90 3
Whetheryoupedalordashyourwaytothegoalline,TeeJayshasashirt
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"
Among the Clemson football players, of- sophomoreyearafterIplayedorganizedfoot- Harmon. "Someofthemhaveheardofmeand
fensive guard Eric Harmon is known as E- ball. I had never played anything but street have read about my accomplishments in the
Rock. Theoriginofthenicknameisuncertain, footballuntilmyfreshmanyear. WhenIstarted newspapersandsomeofthemjustrecognize
but there are a myriad of possible explana- getting into football, it changed my attitudes me from my picture. I've gone back several
tions. aboutthings. Itgavemesomethingtofocuson timessince I graduatedandtalkedtosomeof
It could simply come from the fact that andsomethingtoworkfor. Alotofthepeople thepeoplewhoweregetting readytogooffto
Harmonisseldomseenwithoutasetofhead- thatIgrewupwithdidn'thaveanythinglikethat collegeandjusttoldthem whatto expectand
phoneson, rockingtoasteadybassbeat. Or and they still don't. tried to help them out. I wish someone had
perhaps someonesawthe6-1 282-pounder Growing up, Eric and his older brother donethatformewhen wasgetting readyfor
, I
onedayandwasawed bythesightofachest Milton,werepretty muchontheirownastheir college."
thatwouldchallengeGibralter. Maybesome- mother worked all day, but neither Harmon Harmon's sometimes stoic personality is
onetryingtoengage him inconversationwas brotherfell intothetrapofdrugsandviolence well-suited to his position as an offensive
met by his unchanging, stony countenance thatsnared manyoftheirpeers. "When Iwas lineman. On the field, he is strictly business.
andgavehimthename. Butmorethan likely, younger,myuncleSkeeterusedtotellmeand "When I'm playing I can't just let loose and
someone saw Harmon play football and was mybrotheraboutfootball. Therewasalsothis crankitup. I liketalkingalotand letting loose
reminded of a huge boulder rolling down a man named Mr. Bosticwho used to come by of my emotions. I can't do that after a play.
steep hill. my house and talk about how big me and my When I'mcomingoutofthehuddle, I'vegotto
EricOHramramyobneisnkonnoewonfatshoEs-eRoacrke,rbeuatscoenrstawinhlyy barbootuhter1w9e5rein.tIhmeeeaing,htIhwagsrna'dte,thbatutbihge-tmoaldybues srievmeeamlbiegrnmetnhte.snWaepccaalnl',ttghieveplatyh,etdheefednesfienv-e
no one would argue against any of them. thatweshouldthinkaboutplayingfootball. So lineanyedge. You havetothinkallthetime."
Harmon,afirst-teamAII-ACCchoicebyUPlin whenwestartedhighschool,westartedplaying Off the field, Eric Harmon becomes E-
1989, has more career knockdown blocks football. IplayedtackleononesideandMilton Rock, and may sometimes get a little
than any other player on the 1990 squad. played on the otherside." uncoventional. He can frequently be seen
Heading intothisseason, he had 197, just48 Harmon won plenty of recognition as a riding a bright red motorscooter, usually with
shortoftheall-timerecordsetbyformerTiger prepster, as he was named an honorable some type of wooden or leather necklace
All-American John Phillips. He led all offen- mentionAll-AmericanbyTheSportingNews around his neck and alwayswith his headset
sive linemen in knockdowns in 1989 with 86 whileplaying bothoffenseanddefense. Asa and dark sunglasses on. 'When I'm off the
and won honorable mention All-American senior, he was credited with 103 tackles and field, I don't hold back. I don't like to be like
honors from the Football News. He has al- nine and a half sacks. In fact, his picture still anyoneelse. I'm myselfandbybeing myself,
ready started moregames atoffensiveguard hangs in the lobby of Woodrow Wilson High I'm different."
than any otherplayer in Clemson history and School in Camden, "A lot of younger people AndalthoughEricHarmonisperfectlycon-
is a major reason the Tigerswere 16th in the know mewhen I go by my high school,"says tent to be Enc Harmon, there is one thing he
nation in rushingoffense lastseason wouldchangeabouthimselfifhecould.
and have ranked in the top-20 na- "Education is really important to me
tionally in rushing all three of his now. If I could change anything about
seasonsatClemson. Onthefootball myself, I would go back and study
field,Harmonhasdefinitelybeensolid hard. When I was growing up, my
as a rock. momneverpushedmetostudy. Itwas
Harmonlovesfootballjustasmost alluptome. WhatI'mgoingtodoisgo
of the young men who dedicate so back to the schools back in Camden
muchtimetothesportdo,butHarmon and try to single out the athletes and
also has an appreciation for football just in my own words and in own my
becauseofwhere ithastaken him in way, stresseducation. It'shardwhen
his life, or more accurately, what it yougothrough high school andcome
has taken him away from. Harmon tocollegeandtheteachersays, 'thisis
hailsfrom Camden, NJ, acity known justreview,youshouldhavelearnedit
forviolenceanddrugs. "Camdenwas in high school,' and I didn't learn it in
bad when I was in high school," re- high school. I have had a hard time
members Harmon, "but it wasn't as catching uptowhere I should beand I
bad as it is now. I don'twalkaround don't want others to have that prob-
too much in Camden because there lem."
isa lotofviolencegoing on upthere. Harmon is definitely one of the se-
You might get hit by a stray bullet. niorleadersonthe 1990 squadthatis
That happens alot. I gooutand see touted asoneofthebest inthe nation
someofmyoldfnendsandshootthe andiswellonhiswaytocontinuingthe
breezeandletthemknowthatIhaven't strong tradition of excellent Tiger of-
forgottenaboutthemorwhereIcame fensivelineman. Hisgoalsforhisfinal
from, butthen I move on. seasonatClemsonare toperhapswin
"It's out of the ordinary for some- All-American honors and even get a
one from Camden to go to college shottoplayprofessionalfootball. And
andplayfootball. Alotofpeoplethink mostimportantly,heplanstoworkuntil
tyrheoaaultnlgyCedrai.dmnId'gteuhneasvsiesIawitn.aysglWoihakelestnhaunttIitlowoma.ysI fHoaurrmsoenashoanss.beenarockontheClemsonoffensivelinefor hirnoectekh-aesronlfsiudthuiarsesd,eitghiirsseteso,dujacuycs.testosewnisllurbeethaast
Clemson Football '90 5

"
T[h(o)mm
[D)(o)m0i
Agreatathleteoncesaidthatagreatathlete atthatage. "When I wasaroundfive-years-old, Thomas ended up attending the University of
wassomeonewhocouldtryhishandinanysport Iusedtoalwaysgodowntotherecreationcenter South Carolina where he played football and
anddowellinit. Thatgreatathleteshouldknow. andplayping-pong. Onedaytheyputasign up baseball. The next season, younger brother
In his brief 21 years, he has done well on the for a Pop Warner league and I went home and Doug broke his ankle in the third game and
baseballdiamond,onthebasketballcourtandon told my daddy. He said no at first because he missedthe restofthe year.
the track. Andjust three weeks ago, in his first didn'tknowanything about it. but hewentdown "It set me back a good bit when I broke my
collegiatestartonthegridiron,heshowed72,500 and read the sign and earned us to the tryouts. ankle,"saysThomas,"butIjustconcentratedon
orange-cladfanswhatgreatathletesaremadeof Theyhadone bigtryouton aSaturdayandthen trackinsteadthatyear. Iguessitpaidoffbecause
as he took the Tigers' first kickoff return of the theyhadadraftthatMondaywhenallthecoaches whenmysenioryearwasover,Clemsonwanted
1990 season 98 yardsforatouchdown. tookthe players they wanted. I gotdrafted and metocometoschoolonatrackscholarshipand
ThatgreatathleteisDougThomas,thestarting havebeenplayingfootballeversince. Weplayed the football coaches still wanted me too. I de-
flanker for Ken Hatfield's first Clemson squad. football on Saturday and Wednesday nights. cidedtoplayfootballandthenruntrackintheoff-
Before this season. Thomas played mostly in a Basketball was on Saturday mornings and season and havethe bestofboth worlds."
reserve role for the Tigers, but he believes his Tuesday nights. Baseball was on Mondays. As a reserve wide receiver in his first two
kickoff return and key 29-yard reception on a Tuesdays and Saturdays." yearsofcompetition,Thomasbecameknownfor
third-and-21 play versus Long Beach State are Thomasplayedquarterback,tailbackandfree hisspeed and fast became athreat on the end-
just glimpses of things to come. "The kickoff safety inthosedays, butitdid nottake him long aroundplay. Hehada35-yardgainonareverse
returnhappenedsofastthatbeforeIknewitIwas to discoverthe speed thatwould one day make versusMarylandin 1987andgained47yardson
in the endzone. Up until now, I've been just himacollegewidereceiver. "Weusedtoraceon thesameplaythe nextyearagainst Duke. Last
another receiver at Clemson," says Thomas. thisbiglotanditseemedlikeIwouldalwayswin. season, hebecameknownasakickoffreturner,
"Butnow itsmyturntostartandhopefully bethe I knew I was fasterthan most of the guys, but I leadingtheteaminthatcategorywitha20.8yard
one to make some things happen. I have the never took my speed into consideration until I average. Meanwhile, his brother John, better
physical skillsthat ittakesto beagood reciever wasin high school and realizedwhat itcoulddo known as "Skeets" Thomas by South Carolina
- speed andquickness -and Ithinkthatwith my for me." Gamecockfans,wasmakinganameforhimself
expenence, also havethe know-how now." Although Thomas was a great high school withUSC'sbaseballteam. Skeetswasdraftedby
I
Speed and quickness have not only given player in his own right, he drewthe attention of theSt.LouisCardinalsandisnowplayingbaseball
Thomas the potential to be a great athlete in a college recruiters when they came to watch his on theAA level.
helmet and shoulder pads, but have given him older brother John play. During John's senior ItseemsthatinatownthesizeofHamlet,NC,
successwhenheputsonhisrunningshoes. He year at quarterback, Doug had 13 touchdown ("it's probably the size of Clemson and Central
has run a4.32on thetrack inthe40-yard dash, receptions to set a new Richmond High School combined," says Thomas) that the Thomas
a time which ties for the fastest on the Tiger record. ThenighttheClemsoncoachescameto brothers would be the main attraction as both
footballsquadsincecoachesbegankeepingtest watchJohnplay,DoughadtwoTDcatches. John have taken their ability from Pop Warner and
data. Thomaswasalsoatwo-timeACCCham- Little League, to the major college level and
pionintrackin 1990forClemson'sconference even into the professional ranks. But oddly
champion indoor and outdoor track squads. enough,theThomasbrothersarejustacouple
NotonlydidThomasbeatoutallofthecompe- of great athletes on a long list to come out of
tition in the55 metersatthe indoorchampion- Hamlet. "Beingacollegefootball playeris not
ships,buthesetanewACCmeetrecordinthe thatbigadealinHamlet."laughsThomas."My
trialsofthateventasheclockedinat6.21 and cousin, MikeQuick, isan all-proplayerforthe
qualifiedfortheNCAAmeet. Outdoors,heran Philadelphia Eagles and that's a much bigger
thelead-offlegoftheTigers'4x100meterrelay deal. FranklinStubbs.whoplayedbaseballfor
squadmadeupoffourfootballplayersthatwon the Dodgers and now plays for the Astros is
the conference title. In high school, Thomas from Hamlet. Perry Williams, the starting
wasamemberofa4x100meterrelayteamthat cornerback for the New York Giants is from
set a world-record for 17 and 18-year-olds in Hamlet. Louis Breedin, who played for the
addition to playing basketball, baseball and Cincinnati Bengals is from Hamlet and Ed
football. Marshall, anotherguyfrom Hamlet, is playing
Hisathletic abilityalso manifested itselfon AAA ball for the New York Yankees. I could
the baseball diamond fairly early in his life. havereturnedthatkickoffonnationalTV. but I
Doug'sfather had been a baseball playerand wouldstillhavealongwaytogotobethehead
had even been drafted by the Pittsburgh Pi- honcho at home!"
rates. When Thomas was only 11-years-old. Doug Thomas hopes that the 1990 season
hislittleleagueteamfromHamlet,NC,travelled willgivehimmanymoreopportunitiestodisplay
to Williamsport, PA. to play Puerto Rico in the hisathleticismashedidintheseasonopener.
Little League World Series. "I played catcher "Thespeedandquicknessarethereandhave
and mybrotherJohn, whowas 12 atthetime, been there for a while," he says. "This year I
waspitching."Thomasremembers. 'Wewere havetheknow-howbecause havelearnedso
I
ahead going into the last inning, butwe made much since I began to play football. But more
someerrorsandended uplosingthegame. If importantly. I havethedesiretoplayhard and
we had won that game, we would have ad- to makethings happen. There isatraditionof
vancedtothefinals. Doug Thomas became just the sixth Clemson athletesinmyfamilyandin myhometownand
Although 11 yearsoldseemsmightyyoung wplhaeynerhteosrcaocreeda9t8ouycarhddsowangaoinnsatkiLcoknogffBreetaucrhn thatdesire iswhat has madethem great."
fcoormpaetchiitlidont,obTehoinmvaoslvwedasinassucehasaonhiegdhvleetveelraonf Srteattuer.ns.He currently leads the nation in kickoff
Clemson Football '90 7