Notebook: Clemson sets record for consecutive home wins
By: will-vandervort October 18, 2015

Thanks to Saturday’s 34-17 win over Boston College, No. 5 Clemson has now won a school-record 14 consecutive games at home. The previous mark of 13 was set from 1927-30 and 2011-12.

“This was a great win. Winning 14 games in a row at home is a big deal. I told our guys that they’ve been playing football here for 100-plus years and there’s never been a group that’s won 14 in a row at home. I’m so proud of our guys,” Swinney said. “Boston College is a tough, physical, hard-nosed team. I loved our mentality. We dominated on defense in the first half, but we just missed on the offensive plays.

“We knew the style of play that they were throwing at us, but we just missed the opportunities. Thankfully, we settled down and lit it up in the second half.”

Clemson (6-0, 3-0 ACC) has won nine games in a row over two years. This is the first time Clemson has won nine in a row since the Tigers won the last five of 1988 and the first four of 1989. That streak was broken by Duke and head coach Steve Spurrier on Sept. 30, 1989.

Clemson has won 15 of its last 16 games dating back to last year. The last time Clemson won 15 of 16 games was in the 1947-49 era.

“We have a great coaching staff and excellent player leadership,” Swinney said. “We have guys that ‘get it’ and have bought in to the philosophy that we have in place. It’s not just ‘coach speak.’ We enjoy every win, but on Monday, it’s about what’s in front of us.

“It’s like it says in Proverbs … we fix our eyes straight ahead. Those guys in our locker room believe that we’re the best team. It’s about how we prepare. If we stay disciplined, we can line up and beat anybody. But we’re not cocky. We know anyone can beat us.”

  • With today’s victory, head coach Dabo Swinneyhas moved into ninth place on the winningest active FBS coaches list. Swinney is 67-26 for his career, all at Clemson, good for a 72.0 winning percentage. Last week at this time, he was 11th. He moved ahead of Steve Spurrier on Monday when the former South Carolina head coach resigned. Swinney would have moved ahead of Spurrier today, even if Spurrier had remained the head coach at South Carolina and even if he had beaten Vanderbilt. Swinney also moved ahead of Bobby Petrino of Louisville today.
  • Clemson is 7-1 in Homecoming games under Dabo Swinney. The only loss was to Miami (Fla.) in 2010.  The Tigers play at Miami next Saturday.
  • Clemson is 7-1 against Boston College since the O’Rourke-McFadden Trophy was first presented to the winner of the game. The tradition began in 2008 and was Swinney’s first win.
  • Clemson is 7-4 against Boston College since the Eagles joined the ACC.
  • Overall, Clemson is 69-20-3 for its 92 Homecoming games. That includes a 39-4-2 record since 1971.
  • Clemson has won 32 games in a row over teams not ranked in both of the two polls (AP, USA Today), and has won 34 in a row over teams not ranked in the AP poll.
  • Clemson is 58-5 under Swinney when it wins the total offense statistic, including 44-2 in the last five years. Clemson outgained Boston College 532-246.
  • Clemson is 24-1 in the last 25 games when it has at least 300 passing yards. Clemson finished with 420 passing yards.
  • Clemson is 53-4, including 43-0 in the last five years, when it has more first downs than the opposition. The Tigers finished with 24 first downs to Boston College’s 11.
  • Clemson is 59-3 under Swinney, including 43-0 the last five years, when leading heading into the fourth quarter.
  • Boston College came into Saturday’s game allowing 140.3 yards per game. Clemson’s offense put up 139 in the first quarter.
  • Clemson’s 10 first-quarter points were the most points given up by the Boston College defense in a quarter this season.
  • Clemson’s offense amassed 261 yards in the first half, the most yards Boston College has given up in a game this season. The Eagles gave up 228 total yards in its 9-7 loss to Duke.
  • Boston College’s defense came into Saturday giving up 41.7 rushing yards per game and 98.7 passing yards per game. Clemson finished the first half with 70 rushing yards and 191 passing yards.
  • Artavis Scottsurpassed 100 receiving yards on a 33-yard catch in the third quarter, the first time in 2015 that a Tiger notched 100 receiving yards.
  • Deon Cainpulled in a 67-yard catch in the fourth quarter, Clemson’s longest play of the season.
  • Boston College had only allowed two offensive touchdowns in 2015 coming into Saturday (one rushing, one passing). Clemson’s offense totaled four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing)
  • Clemson’s 420 passing yards tied for the seventh-most passing yards in a game by the Tigers in school history.

INDIVIDUAL

  • Deshaun Watsonis now 10-1 as a starting quarterback. He is the first Clemson starting quarterback in history to win 10 of his first 11 games.
  • Watson finished with 420 yards passing, the second-highest total of his career (435 vs. North Carolina in 2014). It is also tied for fifth most in Clemson history by a Tiger.
  • Saturday marked just the sixth game in Clemson history with a 400-yard passer (Tajh Boyd, four times; Watson two times; Charlie Whitehurst once).
  • Deshaun Watsonthrew three touchdown passes on Saturday, moving him into a tie for seventh on Clemson’s list of career leaders in touchdown passes. Watson now has 28 touchdown passes, tied with Mike Eppley (1980-84).
  • Deshaun Watsonscored on a four-yard touchdown run with 5:25 remaining in the first quarter to tie the score 7-7. The score was Watson’s second rushing touchdown of the season and seventh of his career.
  • Jordan Leggettcaught a six-yard touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson, his fourth-straight game with a touchdown reception. Leggett is the first tight end to have four-straight games with a touchdown catch since K.D. Dunn in 1983.
  • Artavis Scott’s 51-yard reception in the first quarter was his longest catch of the season.
  • Scott totaled 10 catches and set a season high with 162 receiving yards, the second highest total of his career. It was his first game of the season with at least 100 yards receiving and fifth of his career.
  • Scott recorded his 10th  catch of the game in the fourth quarter, tying a career high. Scott’s last game with 10 catches was last season against Boston College.
  • Zac Brookshauled in a 21-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, the second touchdown catch of his career.
  • Hunter Renfrowmade the first start of his career. Renfrow finished with three catches for 40 yards.
  • Kevin Doddrecorded a tackle for loss on Boston College’s first play from scrimmage. Dodd now has at least one tackle for loss in five-straight games.