The second installment of the series of most impactful games of Clemson’s run to prominence during my fandom (1995-Present) came in 2007. Between 1991 and 2007, there were exactly zero opportunities for the Tigers to play for an ACC Championship. That changed on that November night.
The Tigers started out the year at 4-0. This is significant because they opened the season on Labor Day night with a thrilling 6-point victory over Florida State in the ninth edition of the Bowden Bowl. By the time 2007 rolled around, son Tommy had beaten his dad Bobby three consecutive times. While beating Florida State was, and continues to be a great feeling for this Clemson fan, it was getting to be commonplace in 2007.
2007 Clemson vs. Boston College
However, as great as beating the Seminoles is and was season-making back in the early to mid-august, the game that was most impactful to me was the Week 12 match-up with the Boston College Eagles led by All-American quarterback and future All-Pro NFL’er Matt Ryan.
After the 4-0 start to the season, Clemson ran into a “Tommy Bowden Special” in Atlanta, dropping an annual stinker during the head coach’s tenure 13-3, before being blown out by a very good Virginia Tech squad. The Tigers then rattled off four more wins in a row to put them in a prime position to win the first ACC Atlantic title in its existence, and the opportunity to play for the first conference championship in my fandom.
The stage was set, Death Valley was the host of the winner-take-all game for the Atlantic Division crown and a chance to play in the ACC Championship game, the first ACC Championship opportunity in 16 years in Tiger Town.
Cullen Harper led the Tigers at quarterback with Thunder and Lightning, and James Davis and CJ Spiller were the dynamic running back tandem. Harper came out in the opening drive and led the Tigers out to a quick 7-0 lead on a James Davis wild-cat touchdown directly over the center. BC’s defense was stifling the dynamic duo of Davis and Spiller after that first drive.
The defense was stout for the boys in orange all half, giving Matt Ryan fits while sending pressure from every direction. Even with all of the pressure and hits he was taking, he showed his resilience by leading a drive that ended with a Steve Aponvicius 47-yard field goal to cut the Clemson lead to a touchdown as the first half drew to a close, having to feel very fortunate to only be down by four.
After halftime, Harper led the Tigers on a 12-play drive all the way down to the BC 5-yard line only to stall and had to settle for a Mark Buchholz 22-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead. As much as it felt the Tigers were in control of the game, it did not feel comfortable at all.
BC followed that long Clemson drive with one of their own, going 11 plays and 80 yards ending up with a short touchdown run by fullback James McCluskey tying the game at 10.
The fourth quarter was extremely exciting as long drives and lead changes would be the story. BC would add a field goal after a Cullen Harper interception to take a 13-10 lead with 9:01 remaining in the game.
Cullen Harper would call his own number on a short 8-yard touchdown for the Tigers to swing momentum back in the good guy’s favor with 5:28 left to play.
Not to be outdone, Matt Ryan, known affectionately as Matty Ice was behind the chains at a 3rd and 7. He rolled slightly left and lofted a beautifully thrown ball to WR Rich Gunnell to take the complete air out of the Valley for a 43-yard touchdown strike and the 20-17 lead for the Eagles and only 1:46 left.
Cullen Harper led a beautiful drive and on second down threw a ball down the left sideline that sure-handed receiver Aaron Kelly was unable to hang onto at the 2-yard line. The coverage on the play was really good, but this is a catch that Kelly makes 9 times out of 10. Harper was then sacked on third down which led to an opportunity for Buchholz to try a 54-yard kick for the tie. The kick ended up short and Boston College would wind up celebrating the Atlantic Division Championship on Clemson’s home field.
It’s hard to look back over the years and choose a loss and equate that to one of the most impactful games of recent history, but I believe this was one of the most impactful in the build toward the championship program Clemson has become. It took gut-wrenching losses like this one that helped mold the fabric of the program.
We have to remember that the following season; 2008, was a program-changing year as Tommy Bowden resigned and Dabo Swinney was named interim coach. Looking back, games like the one versus Boston College were all too common with Tommy Bowden, and it was one of the last big games that Clemson was on the losing end for quite a while.
