Tigers can't hold off Cornhuskers in Gator Bowl
By Andrew Miller
Photo Gallery
Clemson Nebraska Gator Bowl
Clemson falls to Nebraska in the Gator Bowl.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It doesn't make up for the 1982 Orange Bowl loss, but it comes close.
Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns and Quentin Castille rushed for 125 yards as the Cornhuskers rallied to beat Clemson, 26-21, Thursday afternoon in the 64th Gator Bowl before a crowd of 67,282 at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.
It was the third straight bowl loss for the Tigers, who finished the season 7-6. The Corn- huskers improved to 9-4.
While Thursday's victory will never avenge Nebraska's 22-15 loss to Clemson 27 years ago in the Orange Bowl, it does give the Cornhuskers a small measure of satisfaction.
"I don't know that this win will make up for what happened in the Orange Bowl back then, but it should put a big smile on everyone's faces," said Nebraska wide receiver Nate Swift. "Our fans have a pretty long memory and they don't forget stuff like that, but this win should help some. At least they can do a little bit of braggin' for a while."
The Cornhuskers nearly left the field with frowns for the second time against the Tigers.
Trailing 26-21 late in the fourth quarter, the Tigers nearly mounted a game- winning drive.
Starting at the Clemson 26-yard line, quarterback Cullen Harper steadily moved the Tigers downfield. An 11-yard completion to Aaron Kelly plus a 15-yard personal foul penalty on Matt O'Hanlon took the ball to midfield.
A 16-yard strike to Jacoby Ford on a fourth-and-4 play got the Tigers down to the Nebraska 27. On the next play, Harper found Kelly over the middle for a 17-yard gain and the Tigers had it first-and-goal at the Cornhuskers' 10.
"Honestly, I felt like we were going to go in for the wining score," said Harper, who completed 17 of 37 passes for 206 yards and two TDs. "We had the momentum and everyone was very confident in the huddle."
After an incompletion, Harper failed to throw the ball away and took a 16-yard sack by Nebraska cornerback Eric Hagg.
"You can't take a sack in that situation," said Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. "You've got to throw the ball away and give the offense a chance."
After a timeout, the Tigers appeared to come up with the perfect play call in a third-and-26 situation.
Running back C.J. Spiller got open over the middle and had a step on the Nebraska secondary. But at the last instant, O'Hanlon, the Cornhuskers' free safety, knocked the ball out of Spiller's hands.
"I've made that play a hundred times in practice," an emotional Spiller said after the game. "I was very close to catching the ball. (O'Hanlon) did a great job of coming over and putting a hand on the ball. It was a little lack of concentration on my part, but the ball just didn't bounce our way."
Harper was shocked that Spiller didn't make the catch.
"It was a tough catch, but one I've seen C.J. make all the time in practice," Harper said. "We had a great call in that situation, but we just didn't make the play when we needed to. That was kind of the story of the game for us offensively."
On fourth down, Harper's pass was behind Ford, which all but ended the game.
"There were several opportunities for us, especially at the end, but you have to give Nebraska credit," Swinney said. "You come down here and the main goal is to win. I am proud of the kids. They competed down to the last play. We just didn't perform well enough to win."
The game, which took 3 hours and 52 minutes, dragged during the first quarter as neither team was able to generate any offense.
It wasn't until DeAndre McDaniel deflected a Ganz pitch and returned the ball 28 yards for a TD late in the second half that either team scored.
Alex Henery kicked a 48-yard field goal on the Cornhuskers' next possession to close the gap to 7-3 with 1:10 left before halftime.
Instead of running out the clock, the Tigers turned the ball over when Anthony West intercepted a Harper pass and took it to the Clemson 27.
But the Cornhuskers didn't fare much better when Clemson cornerback Crezdon Butler stepped in front of a Ganz pass and raced 63 yards to the Nebraska 13.
Two plays later, Harper found Kelly in the corner of the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown that gave the Tigers a 14-3 advantage at halftime.
"I really felt like we had all the momentum at that point," said Kelly, who finished as Clemson's all-time leading receiver. "As well as our defense was playing, I didn't see them coming back on us."
Kelly was mistaken.
It took Ganz and the Cornhuskers just five plays to get back into the game. After a 36-yard pass to Todd Peterson and a 17-yard TD toss to Nate Swift, the Cornhuskers trailed just 14-10 early in the third quarter.
The Tigers answered as Harper hit Ford on a 41-yard bomb to give the Tigers a 21-10 lead with 10:06 left in the third quarter.
But Castille, who came into the game as the Cornhuskers' third-string running back, ripped off a 58-yard run to set up Ganz's 19-yard TD pass to Todd Peterson and the Cornhuskers were back in business.
Henery added three more field goals as the Cornhuskers pushed their lead to 26-21 early in the fourth quarter.
The Tigers appeared to take the lead when cornerback Byron Maxwell, a former Fort Dorchester High School standout, scooped up backup QB Patrick Witt's fumble and raced 31 yards for an apparent touchdown. However, the play was reviewed and the officials determined that Witt's knee was down before he fumbled.
"That's a huge play," said Clemson co-defensive coordinator David Blackwell. "That's a seven-point swing for us. One second we're winning and the next they've got the ball back and they're punting. I honestly couldn't tell if (Witt) was down or not. We didn't have the best angle on the play.
"We just gave up too many big plays to them in the second half. We were beat a couple of times. They got a lot of their yardage on about three or four big plays, but they count, too."
E-mail this story
Printer-friendly versionComments
pullmyfinger (anonymous) says...
Hey bigriver, look like your kitties got corn-holed, too bad, could not of happened to a more deserving guy. I am only blasting you because thats your stick. I guess you better start learning to cheer on the table tennis team.
meow......go big red!!
January 2, 2009 at 7:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pullmyfinger (anonymous) says...
Hey bigriver......cry me a river...meow.
January 2, 2009 at 7:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Well, we got whipped again in a bowl, but we still have next year to do better. Typically, CU doesn't finish off a team that they have down, but they never quit. That's a good sign.
January 2, 2009 at 7:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlackMagic84 (anonymous) says...
I am not a Clemson fan but at least the team showed up and tried to win. They were in it until the last play of the game.
The Gamecocks were out of it as soon as Garcia took the field. Garcia was responsible for 4 turnovers. The to
have Captain Munnerlyn to kick an Iowa player that was down and get caught on national TV. Glad to hear Captain is going pro. I am sure he will have a great future in the NFL as a solid kicker.
January 2, 2009 at 9:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tiger45 (anonymous) says...
Hey pullmyfinger. No one has a right to brag or rag on the other team from SC. So what if our game was close and USuC got beat by 21, a loss is a loss. The glaring similarity between us is bad quarterback play, and the glaring difference is Clemson loses with class while USuC players take out their frustration by kicking the opposing players. If I have to choose between the two, I stick with Clemson. Thank you Seniors for all you have done for CU; James Davis, Aaron Kelley, Mike Hamlin, etc., will be remembered as a great group of young men that represented CU well, they will be missed.
January 2, 2009 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigriver1 (anonymous) says...
Clemson played with heart and never quit. That defense will be very good next year. Team on the rise!
January 2, 2009 at 9:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sbs920 (anonymous) says...
White men can't jump,
but those white boys from Iowa and Nebraska put a whoppin on the mostly "homeboys" of USC and CU!
" Sea of Mediocracy " coming right ups boys. . .
fjms, this one is for you:
bowl losses:
acc: 6
sec: 1
Posted by fjms on December 17, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The A.C.C. is not the weakest conference in America.
" LOL! "
Posted by softbatch on December 17, 2008 at 4:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ACC is the #1 ranked conference in the Sagrin ratings and has 10 bowl eligible teams. I'm not the smartest guy in the world, but that has best conference in america written all over it.
Note: Conference includes all teams, not just your best 2 or 3.
I agree softbatch. . .
you are not the smartest guy in the world, not even close!
LOL!
January 2, 2009 at 10:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sbs920 (anonymous) says...
wow thats strange, and just to think of all the CU'ers trash talking about SC getting beat by Vandy.
Hmmmm. . . didn't Vandy spank the 2nd best team in the all cupcake conference in a bowl game against BC ?
truth hurts, little punk Icsaint03
If only USC and CU were as good as their fans think they are. Like 2 sissies fighting it out in special ed sandbox!
January 2, 2009 at 10:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fireantd84 (anonymous) says...
Well another football season is in the books my friends.I had a lot of fun verbally sparring with the tiger faithful,most of you were very fun,some of you not so much and i don't have to name drop,you know who you are.We have some on this side of the fence also,every team does.I think we can all agree that both schools did not have the seasons we had hoped for but that is football isn't it?,one team wins and one team loses.The only thing that separates the year for both teams is that the tigers beat us again.but i will be there again next year rooting for my gamecocks.Happy new year folks,I am happy this one is over.
January 2, 2009 at 11:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
robbybobby (anonymous) says...
Yes, another season has gone with the wind, and as we entere the new year, i pause as a half century gamecock fan and thank my stars i was born that way instead of a tigger. The bowl games yesterday drove that point home with one word: CONSIDERATION. My gamecocks are the most considerate team on the planet, witness the early implosion and a 21-0 deficit as their way of saying, "it's ok robbybobby, this is what we do, as you well know. It's over now, and you can devote the next 3 hours to something more meaningful." Not so with those inconsiderate tiggers who take an early lead and melt away like big orange cheddar puffs in the final minutes, keeping tens of thousands of fans in the seats and in front of the tube, only to lose once again to a better team. And dressed in all orange at that. Oh, the humanity!!
January 2, 2009 at 11:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigriver1 (anonymous) says...
When all you got is 'sec is great' just sad! LOL. sc sux but the sec is great. Pitiful and very sad.
January 2, 2009 at 11:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
Another year of mediocrity lapped up and drooled over by CU/USCe fans knowing next year will be better and telling each other their respective programs stink. It's fun to watch and see people embrace mediocrity. USCe back to the SOCON or join the MAC. CU can remain in the Almost Competitive Conference, err All Cup Cake conference.
At least CU showed up to play.
January 2, 2009 at 11:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyriver (anonymous) says...
Its as predictable as it is unbelievable. Both teams lose---Clemson in a game not over until the last play, usc in its third consecutive blowout----and here under an article about the Clemson bowlgame are gamecockfans, fresh from another debacle, crowing about how well their CONFERENCE is doing. The rest of the nation can only assume you gamecockfans finally understand that your football program (not to mention usc's academics) will NEVER be successful in the SEC nor any other conference setting and have finally accepted the losing way of existance you represent so well by having to cheer for other programs to be successful instead.
usc fans are legitimately the most classless, most ineffectual group to plague college sports. And to think I almost felt bad for you maroons after that HUMILIATING scene with the chicken pecking its own image in a handmirror. Stand by for little chat with reporters concerning the next PETA response and MORE national humilation.
Clemson fans must endure the painful congratulations on a hardfought game.
usc fans must endure the derision of the entire nation for yet another failure and total embarrassment.
What a bunch of losers.
January 2, 2009 at 12:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
robbybobby, this has to be the best of your posts this year. While truth hurts, you did make me laugh too. And, you are gator bait must be for Florida, I guess; why is someone like you hanging around here. Have you been evicted from your pond. No one here is satisfied with mediocracy, but misery loves company. No one is on top forever; I'm already sick of ESPN trying to crown USC.
January 2, 2009 at 12:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fireantd84 (anonymous) says...
Yeah Ashleyriver,because Clemson fans never comment on gamecock topics right?,jeez get a life.Hard fought or blownout a loss is a loss,you guys own bragging rights because you beat us and i say congrats to you.Other than that both teams were complete disappointments this year.I guess some folks can't help but continue to throw jabs at other people and the teams they pull for.Good for you,your a class act.
January 2, 2009 at 1:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
uscsax (anonymous) says...
LC, we beat NC State, pretty sure they're in the ACC.
January 2, 2009 at 1:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rebel1 (anonymous) says...
Again, what in the world does the tiggers have to brag about. First score was by the defence. Second score the defence gave you the ball on the 13 yard line(boy that was a long drive and score, 13 whole yards). geez. The way the sports world see it is your off scored 1 td and it sucks like USC offence. Heck USC offence scored 10 points. Thats 3 more than the tiggers and I aint bragging. At least most USC fanns know their offence sucks while you tiggers are living in the kool aid zone. BTW, where is copy and post your mama? nothing to copy today?
January 2, 2009 at 2:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigriver1 (anonymous) says...
Rebel. Clemson fans can always brag about being sc's DADDY! LOL. Year after year after year after year. Couple of reminders.
63-17
31-14
I'll make it three.
98-87
January 2, 2009 at 2:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
Cullen Harper needs to remember, when about to be sacked, throw the ball away....just don't pull a Garcia...doing so might have won the game.
January 2, 2009 at 2:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sbs920 (anonymous) says...
poor little CU'ers, they can dish it out but have a hard time takin it. SC is a below averge team with a coach that is past his prime, and we know it.
Here's a mental note for you little tigger fans:
Next year will consist of a potential pretty good defense with your savior (willy crack korn) LOL! at the helm.
(sounds like the same preview of SC in 2008)
Korn, unproven, played poorly when he did get the chance, and will probably not have Spiller back to boot.
But hey! CU'ers are already crowning Ellington and Shoneys FB Big Boi as All-Americans. . . LOL!
Here's to more orange kool-aid in 09! Cheers Chumps!
January 2, 2009 at 2:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TTBoy (anonymous) says...
sbs(SuckBiteSwallow)you must know a lot about QB's - how many different starters did usux go through? and how many wins? HA
We Clemson fans also know usux is "a below av team", been trying to tell ya all yer life! HA HA HA We don't need you to remind us, but post it again - loser.
While we're crowing Clemson players for next yr, your players are cleaning out their lockers to go work at a local am radio station...they won't make it in the NFL, they cann't even make it to CLASS!!!!!
January 2, 2009 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
notafan (anonymous) says...
TTboy - hello pot this is kettle. Check me if I am wrong but didn't Clemson have two players sit out of the bowl game last year due to academics?
Hell Clemson players beat up women and get in no trouble whatsoever.
Reading these posts one would think Clemson is some national powerhouse. What was Clemson's big win this year? SC State, The Citadel?? Oh I forgot Maryland, Duke, and Virginia. How many of Clemson's opponents made it bowl games and won?? Please enlighten me.
January 2, 2009 at 3:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyriver (anonymous) says...
What a bunch of losers.
Clemson may have lost yesterday but it sure as heck had NOTHING to do with anything related to usc..
Clemson has beaten usc 10 out of the last 12 times in football and 5 times in a row in basketball.
I'd make a comment about kicking your rears next year, but you all know its coming and beating the gamecocks every year is getting pretty boring.
What a bunch of losers.
January 2, 2009 at 3:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyriver (anonymous) says...
notafan---its almost too good to be true..... a gamecock fan runs his mouth when lo and behold!!!....another usc thug is arrested by police----This time its Ko Simpson and the scene of the crime was a strip club in Rock Hill.....oh well, maybe all that extra "YES" money can be used for bail money for all the usc student(chuckle)/athletes that'll be arrested in the future.
What a bunch of losers.........and thugs
January 2, 2009 at 3:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sbs920 (anonymous) says...
Man is "saint stupid" in rare form or what!
go give away more of your iptay dues fool and keep drinking the orange kool-aid moron! Hey maybe another #9 preseason ranking is in the works! LOL!
congrats to the acc!
They won their 1st BCS game! LOL
1-8 or 1-9 ? ? VT beat football powerhouse Cincy! LOL!
Will that put 1 or 2 acc teams in 11 thru 25 rankings!
January 2, 2009 at 3:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyriver (anonymous) says...
What a bunch of losers.
All these comments about the ACC mean absolutely nothing to most Clemson fans....its pretty much only gamecocknation that has to live through the successes of other programs. Most of the rest of the world lives with their own wins and losses understanding, of course, that usc has so few wins of note you really have nothing but failure to deal with. Again most Clemson fans could not care less about the rest of the ACC.
You're doing NOTHING but make yourself and the rest of gamecock nation look like the fools they are.
Your football team sucks and and the school is 2nd rate academically.
What a bunch of losers.
January 2, 2009 at 4:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fireantd84 (anonymous) says...
Tough guy behind a keyboard.keep it up ashleyriver,your showing how classy you are.bring it
January 2, 2009 at 4:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigriver1 (anonymous) says...
sc is the only SEC school to lose a bowl so far. They might kick you out! LOL.
January 2, 2009 at 4:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fireantd84 (anonymous) says...
I remember just fine tough guy behind a keyboard.you also have no class.You feel good about yourself don't you.It's real easy when you hide behind your computer.
January 2, 2009 at 4:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyriver (anonymous) says...
What a bunch of losers.
Exactly what are you suggesting, pisantD84?? That we settle our differences like men?? I don't know what makes you think you'd have any more success than your football team did on Nov.29th. But the implied threat is just a sign that 115 years of futility, 115 years of losing over and over again is taking its toll on the psyche of another generation of gamecockfans.............none of whom have ever been accused of being particularly intelligent (I mean, how could they be?)
Perhaps you should visit a therapist, pisantD84, who might prescribe a viable dose of prozac to help next football season.....or perhaps you might just face the source of your frustration and get off the gamecock bandwagon before it goes over the same cliff it always does and crashes on the rocks below.
What a bunch of losers.
January 2, 2009 at 5:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
youmanyo (anonymous) says...
Wow looking at all the loser coots posting about their daddy getting beat by someone else. Why are you so consumed with your daddy ?Its a shame you have to depend on other teams to beat us for a little joy. If my boys got bitch slapped the way Iowa beat you I dont think I would ever post anything ever again. You guys have to be the biggest losres in the history of sports.
January 2, 2009 at 5:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sbs920 (anonymous) says...
Cu'ers how pathetic!
saint stupid and ashleyditch, Classic orange clowns
63-17! 63-17!
'81! 81!
we beat SC! we beat SC!
your season's best moment? Just goes to show just how sad your little season and SC's season has been.
oops. . . gotta go, doorbell is ringing! 2 guys wearing orange paw ball cap's delivering my pizza, must not be grad students, only takes 1 of them to deliver my pizza! LOL!
MeeeeeeeeeeeeeeOooooooooooooooW !
January 2, 2009 at 5:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
youmanyo (anonymous) says...
Our season may be sad but you are still our bitch , always have been and always will. If you can not win with Steve Spurrier you never will.
January 2, 2009 at 5:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyriver (anonymous) says...
What a bunch of losers.
sbs (simplebuttstupid)--you forgot this year's blowout score: 31-14 But we forgive you...with so many losing scores to Clemson to remember, its difficult to keep them all straight......you also neglected the 11 point loss in basketball last week.
BTW---whats up with the meow remark?? Don't you know cats eat birds??.
What a bunch of losers.
January 2, 2009 at 5:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TTBoy (anonymous) says...
notafan - "Hell Clemson players beat up women and get in no trouble whatsoever."
Prove it. Don't give me blogs, rants or rumors.
You may not be a fan, but you sure are a loser. Clemson players did beat up sc football players and sat out a bowl game for it, is that what your still crying about? (Clemson won that game too)
Your basketball players were fighting each other last wk at Clemson. Are you blaming Clemson for beating those women too?
January 2, 2009 at 6:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JimbeauxIsland (anonymous) says...
Wow. These Clemson-SC comments used to be entertaining but not anymore. It's the same pathetic stories out of both sides. There is no intelligence out of either party. Same song and dance. "Our conference yada yada yada" and "Our record yada yada yada"
January 2, 2009 at 7:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigredfan (anonymous) says...
- It doesn't make up for the 1982 Orange Bowl loss, but it comes close.
,,,,,,,,
What an iditic statement. A win in 82 would have led to a national title. This win will only lead to a top 25 rating.
Not only that, none of the current players was even born in 82.
January 2, 2009 at 11:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
I_Bleed_ScarletNCream (anonymous) says...
"It doesn't make up for the 1982 Orange Bowl loss, but it comes close." Nice attention step Andrew Miller, if ya'll wanna borrow one of our 5 National Championship trophies to keep your lonely '82 trophy company you can.. we also probably have some spare Orange Bowl trophies too. Don't worry i think Big Red Nation is over that loss.
January 3, 2009 at 2:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
youmanyo (anonymous) says...
I heard the braska fans were great at the game , I think you might just be a coot in disguise or one of the few no class braska fans there are.
January 3, 2009 at 6:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
youmanyo (anonymous) says...
Poor coot having to act like you are a fan of another school so you can talk a little trash, how sad.
January 3, 2009 at 9:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
I_Bleed_ScarletNCream (anonymous) says...
youmanyo- I promise you i am not a cocks fan.. give it up. And the Nebraska not braska fans are the best in the nation. Finally how do I have no class, i was doggin the writer Andrew Miller not your beloved tigers
January 4, 2009 at 3:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
schuskerfan (anonymous) says...
Nebraska fans are the best. When a team comes to Lincoln they are cheered whether they lose or beat Nebraska. I have lived in South Carolina since 1981. I have heard about 22-15 forever and am sick of it. Hopefully 26-21 will stop the constant we beat you crap. I can honestly say all of my friends here are gamecocks. Maybe this will bring some class to clemson fans. The ride back to 'Rock Thrill' was great all the clemson fans that were giving me and my family the thumbs down or worse had to follow my Husker car back. As always GBR and Go Cocks beat Clemson.
January 4, 2009 at 3:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
schuskerfan (anonymous) says...
Blackwell look at the tape both his knees were down. Crackle and Pop offense 4 yards rushing impressive.
26-21 I can say that the next 27 years.
26-21
26-21
26-21
that has a better ring to it than 22-15
26-21 thats the ticket
GBR
Go Cocks Beat Clemson!!!!
January 4, 2009 at 4:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by signing up!
Full terms and conditions can be read here.
Thank you for your interest in this story. The comment thread for this article has been closed.
- Most Commented
- Most Emailed
