Tech, Clemson Renew Rivalry Saturday On ESPN In Death Valley

Oct. 1, 2012

TECH, CLEMSON MEET FOR 78TH TIME SATURDAY ON ESPN IN DEATH VALLEY
On the heels of a four-game home stand, Georgia Tech hits the road for a crucial Atlantic Coast Conference game Saturday at long-time rival No. 15/15 Clemson.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. in a nationally-televised game on ESPN.

The Yellow Jackets have won five of the last six games with the Tigers, and Tech leads the all-time series 50-25-2, which dates back to 1898. Clemson holds a 10-6 edge in home games, but the Jackets have won four of the last seven in Death Valley.

Clemson is Georgia Tech’s fourth-most commonly-played opponent. The 77 games between the former Southern Conference rivals trails the 106 played between Tech and Georgia, the 92 played against Auburn and the 79 games versus Duke.

QUICK OUTS
• The Yellow Jackets have rushed for more yards than any FBS team since 2008 and bring the nation’s third-leading rushing attack to Clemson at 329.4 yards per game.
• Tech is playing its second road game of the season — both have been ACC games versus Top 25 teams: 16/20 Virginia Tech and 15/15 Clemson. The Jackets end the regular season at 5/5 Georgia.
• Tech is looking to snap a two-game skid, which included two straight home losses on consecutive weeks for the first time since 1988.
• Senior QB Tevin Washington has rushed for 10 touchdowns in the last three games, including a school-record-tying four TD effort last Saturday.
• Washington leads the ACC and is fourth nationally in scoring at 13.6 points per game. His 11 rushing TDs are second-most nationally behind the 12 from Nevada RB Stefphon Jefferson.
• With 29 career rushing TDs, Washington stands second all-time at Tech and in the ACC. He continues to close in on Joshua Nesbitt’s (2007-10) school and ACC record of 35.
• Senior AB Orwin Smith has racked up 355 all-purpose yards in four career games versus Clemson. Smith is among a handful of Jackets to be playing Clemson for a fifth time.

TECH-CLEMSON SERIES NOTES
• Georgia Tech leads the all-time series, 50-25-2.
• The Yellow Jackets have won five of the last six meetings, including a 31-17 win over then-6th-ranked Clemson last season in Atlanta.
• Tech has won four of the last seven meetings in Death Valley, although Clemson won the last meeting in Memorial Stadium, 27-13, in 2010.
• This will be the fifth meeting between the two teams over the last four years. The Jackets and Tigers met twice in 2009, including the ACC championship game.
• The Tigers lead the series 10-6 in games played at Clemson.
• Georgia Tech is 16-7 (6-3 on the road) against Atlantic Division opponents since the ACC split into divisions in 2005.
• Tech has played only Georgia (106 meetings), Auburn (92) and Duke (79) more often than Clemson. The Yellow Jackets own more wins over Clemson (50) than any other team.
• Tech and Clemson have met at least once each season since 1983.
• The two teams first met on the gridiron in 1898 — a 23-0 Clemson victory in a game played in Augusta, Ga.
• From 1905-14 the Yellow Jackets and Tigers met every year on Thanksgiving Day.
• Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson is 4-1 all-time against Clemson, but that includes the `09 championship game which was vacated and does not count in Johnson’s career record.
• Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s first game as the Tigers’ head coach was a 21-17 loss to Tech in 2008.