Thirty Years Later: Clemson Football from Danny to Dabo

They say history repeats itself, and for Clemson fans, it appears that the last three decades of Clemson football have come full circle.

Thirty years ago, before the 1978 Gator Bowl, Danny Ford was named head coach of the Clemson football team. Ford, a native of Alabama, made his mark quickly by beating Ohio State and the legendary Woody Hayes in the Gator Bowl.

Ford had played football at the University of Alabama under the great Bear Bryant and had been an assistant at Clemson for nine years before getting the head coaching job when former head coach Charley Pell left for Florida.  

Clemson football reached new heights under Ford, a now beloved figure in Tiger football lore. Just three short years after taking over the head coaching job, Ford led Clemson to its first and only national championship.

Ford became the youngest head coach to win a Division I national championship, a record he still holds. Clemson defeated Nebraska in the 1982 Orange Bowl, with Danny Ford getting the better of famous Nebraska coach Tom Osborne.

Fast-forward 30 years to the present. Clemson hasn’t won the ACC title in 17 years and just hired a brand new coach that no one had heard of six months ago. In less than a month, Clemson will play Nebraska for the first time since the 1982 Orange Bowl.

Tom Osborne is now the Athletic Director at Nebraska, and Clemson’s new head coach, Dabo Swinney, just got the permanent coaching job a few short weeks ago.

Swinney, a native of Alabama, will have a chance to make his mark quickly in the Gator Bowl against a good Nebraska team. Swinney played football at the University of Alabama under the great Gene Stallings and was an assistant at Clemson for six years before getting the head coaching job when former head coach Tommy Bowden was forced out.

Clemson has a chance to reach new heights under Swinney, and many Tiger fans believe he is capable of great success at Clemson. We see in Swinney the same passion, youth, and ability that we saw in Danny Ford.

Only time will tell how much more Danny and Dabo may end up having in common. Whatever the case may be, it took four coaches and 30 years, but Clemson football has come full circle.