2008 Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
took place on August 30, 2008, in the Georgia Dome
in Atlanta, Georgia
. This was the first game of the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff series. The game featured the No. 9 Clemson Tigers
and the No. 24 Alabama Crimson Tide
.
The Crimson Tide quickly took control of the game, scoring on their first three possessions en route to a 34–10 rout of the Tigers. Led by defensive MVP Terrence Cody
, the Crimson Tide defense held Clemson's highly touted running game to zero total yards.
. In his first season
, the Crimson Tide went 7–6, losing their final four regular season games, as the team won the 2007 Independence Bowl
over Colorado. During the offseason, rivals.com
gave the Crimson Tide the #1 recruiting class, headlined by wide receiver Julio Jones
.
who was in tenth season as head coach of the team. In their 2007 season
, the Tigers finished with a 9–4 record, which ended with a 23–20 overtime loss in the 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl
to, Alabama's rivals, Auburn
. Clemson entered the game with running backs James Davis
and C. J. Spiller
, who were referred to as "Thunder" and "Lightning" respectively.
The Clemson Tigers, the preseason favorite to win the ACC
, 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 Tide went on to win by a score of 34–10.
Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
The Chick-fil-A College Kickoff is an annual college football game played on the opening weekend of the college football season in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia Dome.- History :...
took place on August 30, 2008, in the Georgia Dome
Georgia Dome
The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. This was the first game of the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff series. The game featured the No. 9 Clemson Tigers
2008 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2008 Clemson football team represented Clemson University in the 2008 college football season. The Tigers were led by oft-maligned head coach Tommy Bowden, who resigned six games into his tenth season. The interim head coach was assistant coach Dabo Swinney...
and the No. 24 Alabama Crimson Tide
2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 76th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference and its 17th within the SEC Western Division...
.
The Crimson Tide quickly took control of the game, scoring on their first three possessions en route to a 34–10 rout of the Tigers. Led by defensive MVP Terrence Cody
Terrence Cody
Terrence Bernard Cody, Jr. is an American football nose tackle for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was selected by the Ravens in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of the University of Alabama, where he was given the nickname "Mount Cody" for his gargantuan,...
, the Crimson Tide defense held Clemson's highly touted running game to zero total yards.
Alabama
The Alabama Crimson Tide football team was led by second-year head coach Nick SabanNick Saban
Nicholas Lou "Nick" Saban is the head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team. Saban has previously served as head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and three other NCAA universities: LSU, Michigan State and Toledo...
. In his first season
2007 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2007 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season trying to improve from a disappointing 6–7 record in the 2006 season. The Tide was led by its new head coach Nick Saban, a former head coach of rival LSU. Despite a...
, the Crimson Tide went 7–6, losing their final four regular season games, as the team won the 2007 Independence Bowl
2007 Independence Bowl
The 2007 PetroSun Independence Bowl, part of the 2007–08 NCAA football bowl season, took place on December 30, 2007 at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference, and the Colorado Buffaloes, from...
over Colorado. During the offseason, rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
gave the Crimson Tide the #1 recruiting class, headlined by wide receiver Julio Jones
Julio Jones
Quintorris Lopez "Julio" Jones is an American football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Falcons with the sixth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide...
.
Clemson
The Clemson Tigers football team entered at 4.5 point favorites over the Crimson Tide. Clemson was led by head coach Tommy BowdenTommy Bowden
Tommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008...
who was in tenth season as head coach of the team. In their 2007 season
2007 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2007 Clemson football team represented Clemson University in the 2007 college football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Tommy Bowden and played their home games in Memorial Stadium.- Notable :...
, the Tigers finished with a 9–4 record, which ended with a 23–20 overtime loss in the 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl
2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl
The 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl was an edition of the Chick-fil-A Bowl, formerly known as the Peach Bowl and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. It pitted the Auburn Tigers against the Clemson Tigers in a postseason American college football game in Atlanta, Georgia...
to, Alabama's rivals, Auburn
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
. Clemson entered the game with running backs James Davis
James Davis (running back)
-Cleveland Browns:On September 12, Davis was involved in a minor one-car accident and suffered a head injury.He was briefly hospitalized and released a few hours later....
and C. J. Spiller
C. J. Spiller
Clifford "C.J." Spiller Jr. is an American Football running back for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was an All-American at Clemson University and was drafted 9th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft...
, who were referred to as "Thunder" and "Lightning" respectively.
Game
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
, 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
James Davis (running back)
-Cleveland Browns:On September 12, Davis was involved in a minor one-car accident and suffered a head injury.He was briefly hospitalized and released a few hours later....
and C.J. Spiller combined for only 20 yards on the ground, while the team's rushing total was 0. Clemson's redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
senior quarterback, Cullen Harper
Cullen Harper
Cullen Harper, Jr. is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft and has yet to sign a contract with a team. He played college football at Clemson....
, 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
Julio Jones
Quintorris Lopez "Julio" Jones is an American football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Falcons with the sixth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide...
, and rushed for one himself. The Crimson Tide Tide went on to win by a score of 34–10.
Scoring summary
| Quarter | |Time | |Drive | |Team | |Scoring Information | |Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length | Time | Alabama | Clemson | ||||
| 1 | 09:43 | 10 plays, 27 yards | 5:17 | Alabama | Leigh Tiffin Leigh Tiffin Van Leigh Tiffin is an American football kicker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2010... 54–yard field goal |
3 | 0 |
| 07:01 | 6 plays, 27 yards | 2:20 | Alabama | Leigh Tiffin 21–yard field goal | 6 | 0 | |
| 02:51 | 7 plays, 46 yards | 2:24 | Alabama | John Parker Wilson John Parker Wilson John Parker Wilson is an American football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. college football at the University of Alabama, he went undrafted during the 2009 NFL Draft, before signing with the Falcons as a free agent.-Freshman:After leading Hoover High School to... 1–yard rushing touchdown, Leigh Tiffin kick good |
13 | 0 | |
| 2 | 14:17 | 8 plays, 56 yards | 3:34 | Clemson | Mark Buchholz 33–yard field goal | 13 | 3 |
| 06:01 | 14 plays, 83 yards | 8:16 | Alabama | Nick Walker 4–yard touchdown reception from John Parker Wilson, Leigh Tiffin kick good | 20 | 3 | |
| 00:00 | 8 plays, 48 yards | 1:38 | Alabama | Leigh Tiffin 34–yard field goal | 23 | 3 | |
| 3 | 14:48 | — | Clemson | C. J. Spiller C. J. Spiller Clifford "C.J." Spiller Jr. is an American Football running back for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was an All-American at Clemson University and was drafted 9th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft... 96–yard kickoff return, Mark Buchholz kick good |
23 | 10 | |
| 04:08 | 14 plays, 67 yards | 6:52 | Alabama | Julio Jones Julio Jones Quintorris Lopez "Julio" Jones is an American football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Falcons with the sixth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide... 4–yard touchdown reception from John Parker Wilson, two-point conversion good |
31 | 10 | |
| 4 | 03:39 | 14 plays, 78 yards | 8:54 | Alabama | Leigh Tiffin 26–yard field goal | 34 | 10 |
| 34 | 10 | ||||||