The 2008 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by Tommy Bowden in his tenth and final year as head coach for the first six games of the season and then by Dabo Swinney as interim head coach for the remainder of the season, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 7–6 with a mark of 4–4 in conference play, placing in a four-way tie for third at the bottom of the standings in the ACC's Atlantic Division. Clemson was invited to the Gator Bowl, where the Tigers lost to Nebraska. The team played home games at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.
Bowden resigned after Clemson lost to Wake Forest on October 9. The team's offensive coordinator, Rob Spence, was also fired as that time. Swinney, who had served as assistant head coach and wide receivers coach, was appointed interim head coach.
Schedule
Rankings
Before the season Preseason outlook Clemson came into the 2008 season with great promise. In 2007 the team had finished second in the ACC Atlantic Division with a 9–3 record, earning them a trip to the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. Clemson's 2008 team had experience at the skill positions, headlined by senior quarterback Cullen Harper. As a junior Harper broke 28 school records, passing for 3,000 yards and throwing 27 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions. At the running back position, Clemson platooned senior James Davis and junior C. J. Spiller. Davis was a fast back who ran hard and with power. Spiller was a shifty, elusive back with speed and good hands. Clemson fans nicknamed the pair "thunder and lightning." In addition to these offensive threats, Clemson fifth-year senior Aaron Kelly was a big target at receiver and had sure hands. The Tigers' main area of concern was on the offensive line, which had to be rebuilt with young players. There were also concerns defensively at the linebacker position, which had been thinned by graduation and off-field issues.
With Clemson returning the ACC's number 1 passer (Harper), number 1 runner (Davis) and number 1 wide receiver (Kelly), the team was tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the ACC, and was ranked 9th in both the AP and ESPN/USA Today preseason polls. In addition, Harper was the preseason favorite to be the ACC's Player of the Year.
Departures Philip Merling (DE, junior) – selected in the 2008 NFL draft Antonio Clay (LB, junior) – withdrew from classes Ray Ray McElrathbey (RB-WR-DB, RS sophomore) – scholarship not renewed, transferred to Howard University Cortney Vincent (LB, RS junior) – dismissed from team Jeff Orgen (WR, RS freshman) – transfer Brian Linthicum (TE, sophomore) – transferred to Michigan State University
Game summaries Vs. Alabama
The Tigers were the preseason favorite to win the ACC and were favored going into the season opener at the Georgia Dome. Some believed that the Crimson Tide's youth and inexperience would prove a serious disadvantage against an experienced team like Clemson. However, Alabama quickly took control in what would eventually be a lopsided victory. By the end of the first quarter, Bama led 13–0, and they extended their lead to 23–3 by halftime. The only scare came when C. J. Spiller returned the second half kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. However, the Tigers failed to score again. James Davis and C. J. Spiller combined for only 20 yards on the ground, while the team's rushing total was 0. Clemson's redshirt senior quarterback, Cullen Harper, completed 20 of 34 passes but had no touchdowns and one interception. Alabama's John Parker Wilson completed 22 of 30 passes with no interceptions. He threw two touchdowns to Nick Walker and Julio Jones, and rushed for one himself. The Crimson Tide went on to win by a score of 34–10.
The Citadel
Running back C. J. Spiller fumbled on Clemson's first drive and the Tigers turned the ball over on downs on their second drive. The Citadel was able to proficiently move the ball through the air, although they were unable to capitalize on their opportunities.
It was the secondary and Michael Hamlin in particular that kept The Citadel from getting back into the game after the Tigers went up 21–0 on two touchdown runs by C. J. Spiller and a TD run by James Davis.
With Clemson leading 21–7 late in the first half, The Citadel scored on a 41-yard pass from Bart Blanchard to Andre Roberts. Then the Bulldogs were in position to score again after they forced Clemson to punt. A touchdown that would have brought the Bulldogs within a score going into halftime was prevented when Hamlin intercepted a Blanchard pass.
On the fourth play of the second half Hamlin intercepted Blanchard again and returned the ball to the Citadel 19-yard line. A Tyler Grisham fumble kept Clemson from scoring, but on Clemson's next drive Spiller scored on a 17-yard TD run to put Clemson safely up 28–7.
Hamlin's third interception came on The Citadel's next drive. He stole the ball at the Bulldog 37 and returned it to the 25. On the next play, Cullen Harper hit tight end Michael Palmer down the right sideline for a touchdown.
Harper completed 14 of 18 passes for 192 yards. While The Citadel held the ball seven more minutes than the Tigers, Harper's efficiency allowed Clemson to easily put away the Bulldogs.
Davis finished with 107 yards and Spiller had 75 yards rushing to aid the offense.
NC State
The annual renewal of the "Textile Bowl" between the Clemson Tigers and N.C. State Wolfpack got off to a rocky start for the Tigers. On the first play of the game, Nate Irving intercepted a Cullen Harper pass and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown, putting the Wolfpack up 6–0. The Tigers responded by blocking the PAT. The next offensive series, the Tigers started on their own 24 and drove the length of the field, capping the drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Harper to Jacoby Ford. A 30-yard run by Ford on a reverse also highlighted the drive. The Mark Buchholz PAT put Clemson up 7–6.
The next three drives saw the Tigers and Wolfpack trade punts. With 13:51 left in the 2nd quarter, Clemson began its next scoring drive from its own 33. A 28-yard reception by Jacoby Ford highlighted the drive, with rushes by James Davis, C. J. Spiller, and Cullen Harper helping to aid the drive. With 4th and 2 on the N.C. State 5-yard line, Buchholz came on for a 22-yard field goal to put the Tigers up 10–6. After the next N.C. State drive stalled, Clemson got the ball back on their own 41-yard line. Clemson scored after two passes from Cullen Harper – the first a 31-yard strike to Aaron Kelly, and the second a 28-yard touchdown pass to C. J. Spiller. The PAT put Clemson ahead 17–6.
N.C. State got back on the board late in the third quarter with a 25-yard field goal by Josh Czajkowski to close the gap to 17–9. Clemson started the next drive on the N.C. State 47 and drove it down to the 13, but the drive stalled after an apparent touchdown run by Spiller was negated by a holding penalty. Buchholz kicked a 31-yard field goal to increase the lead to 20–9. N.C. State's next drive resulted in their first turnover of the game, when Crezdon Butler intercepted a pass at the Clemson 4-yard line. The Tigers then sealed the game with a 13-play drive that consumed 7:01 of the clock, capping the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run by Spiller. That would be the final score of the game, as the Tigers prevailed 27–9 and extended their current win streak in the series to five. The last efforts by the Wolfpack to close the gap were snuffed out by an interception by Chris Chancellor.
The Tigers gained 426 yards of total offense. Cullen Harper was 20–28 for 262 yards and 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. C. J. Spiller had a great day as a dual threat, finishing with 61 rushing yards, 35 receiving yards, and 2 touchdowns. Jacoby Ford lead all receivers with 106 receiving yards and a touchdown, in addition to 48 rushing yards. The Tigers defense held the Wolfpack to 288 yards on offense, no offensive touchdowns, and recorded two interceptions.
South Carolina State
The first ever meeting between the Clemson Tigers and S.C. State Bulldogs turned into a lopsided contest, as the Tigers defeated their second FCS team on the season to improve to 3–1. The Tigers received the opening kickoff and struck first on a 68-yard drive capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by James Davis. S.C. State was unable to respond on any of its two possessions in the first quarter, as they ended in a punt and missed field goal. Clemson, meanwhile, had its next two drives end in interceptions from Cullen Harper.
The Tigers broke the game open in the second quarter. Chris Chancellor intercepted an S.C. State pass early in the quarter. On the next possession, Davis and C. J. Spiller spearheaded the offensive attack, which ended in Davis' second touchdown of the day. The Tigers defense would cut the Bulldogs' next drive short with an interception by Crezdon Butler. Davis would score his third touchdown of the day on the next drive. A safety and a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Cullen Harper would give the Tigers a 30–0 halftime lead.
S.C. State received the ball to start the third quarter, but it was the Tigers who opened up scoring as Chris Clemons picked off a Bulldog pass and returned it for a touchdown. The next three drives saw two Bulldog drives and a Tigers drive stall. Clemson got back on the scoreboard with a Mark Buchholz field goal. Clemson began placing reserves in on offense late in the third quarter. Early in the fourth quarter, the Tigers scored their fifth rushing touchdown of the day on a one-yard run by backup quarterback Willy Korn. Korn would later throw the Tigers' first passing touchdown of the day on a five-yard passes to tight end Michael Palmer. The defense recorded its fourth turnover of the day when Brandon Thompson recovered an S.C. State fumble. The Tigers then ran out the clock, giving them a 52–0 victory.
Cullen Harper completed 14 of 23 passes for 152 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Willy Korn went 7–7 for 73 yards and a touchdown. James Davis led the Tigers' rushing attack with 93 yards and 3 touchdowns. Tyler Grisham led the receiving corps with 41 reception yards on 3 receptions. C. J. Spiller had 105 all-purpose yards on the day (66 rushing, 39 punt return). Overall, the Tigers' offense compiled 432 yards of total offense (225 passing, 207 rushing) and 31 first downs. The defense held the Bulldogs to 149 yards of total offense and eight first downs, while compiling four turnovers on the day.
Maryland
Clemson firmly held the momentum of the game for the first half, with their running backs able to exploit holes in the Terps' defensive line. Clemson racked up two touchdowns and a field goal. Despite gaining excellent field position through recovering a fumbled punt on the Clemson 19-yard line and a recovered fumble on the Clemson 30-yard line, Maryland was able to produce just two field goals from those turnovers. The Terrapins drives were also blunted through penalties for two false starts and a holding call.