Tim Bourret: 'You remember big plays against you because they're heartbreaking plays'

We recently caught up with Tim Bourret to discuss the upcoming season, as well as some of his favorite (and least favorite) Clemson Tiger memories. Here are a few quick notes along with the entire interview.

On the football season approaching:

“It seems like we're on the doorstep, doesn’t it? If we can get there. And you know things are going well at Clemson as far as the COVID situation. Of course, students haven't been on campus yet. But the classes don't start till the 21st. So we'll have to pass another barrier there, see how that goes. So there might be a little extra spike there. But so far so good.”

On Terry Allen’s 73-yard touchdown run vs. Florida State in 1989:

“We were really just trying to run out the clock to go into half-time, and Morocco throws a pitch out to Terry Allen and there was a great block on the corner. I'm sure it was by Stacey Long. And then he just took off. It was actually the second 73-yard touchdown of the first half. Wayne Simmons had an interception return of 73 yards in that game, and I believe Allen's touchdown actually put us up 28-7 at the half. And of course, both teams were terrific in that era, Clemson and Florida State. So we were quite shocked it was that kind of margin. It was one of those Saturday night games in Tallahassee, where they did very well historically. But yeah, that was a big score right before the half and that was a very big Clemson victory.”

On the end of the 1983 Clemson-Georgia game that finished with back-to-back field goal attempts:

“That was a first. I guess we could figure out the math based on the line of scrimmage but I think Butler's [field goal attempt] was 58 or 59 something like that. It should have been a seven-yard difference when you factor it all in.

Yeah, that was a very unusual ending. I think Kevin Butler's [field goal attempt] was first, and then [Donald] Igwebuike. Because everybody knew what Igwebuike's capabilities were. He was capable of kicking it that long. And the fans really got fired up, I remember, when he ran on the field to attempt it, but he obviously didn't make it. It would have been one of the longest field goals in the history of college football if he'd made it, but he was certainly capable. But yeah, that might have been the most unusual ending to a game that I've seen.

I've never heard of it happening anywhere else. Never heard of it happening at any level. It might have happened in a pro game because you have some really good kickers now in the pros; there have been a lot of 60-yard field goals in the NFL.”

On his most memorable moments in Clemson sports history:

“Oh yeah, I got a lot of them. I could fill the rest of your show.

And some of them might not be as significant to the outcome of the game as much as they were brilliant plays. I remember two plays that pop into my mind now that you say that. Two plays in which Clemson running backs ran out of their shoes.

One was in 2009 on C.J. Spiller's kickoff return against Maryland, which was probably the most unbelievable return of his career. He really was stopped and tackled and somehow shook loose. The guy did grab him by the shoe and he just ran out of the shoe and went all the way for a touchdown.

And the other time was Kevin Mack in 1983 on his senior day, I believe his last carry in Death Valley against Maryland. He had a long touchdown run about 60 yards and he lost his shoe and was in his stocking. He had to cross the end zone with just one shoe. Now that was a rout. It wasn't like it was a significant play to the game. And of course, we lost the game at Maryland. But to me, those are the two memorable plays that popped into my mind.”

On his most heartbreaking moments in Clemson sports history:

“You remember big plays against you because they're heartbreaking plays, like Kevin Butler's 60-yard field goal to beat us down in Athens. That was certainly memorable for the wrong reasons. I think just because it hurt is why you remember them more so. Obviously you'll remember that vividly.

God bless him, Aaron Kelly when he had the ball in his hands in 2007 against Boston College. Would have put us ahead and probably won the ACC Atlantic Division for the first time. But you remember stuff like that, just because they're agonizing.

Of course, the basketball version for that all-time for me is Tate George's shot against UConn. Even after all the football games and basketball games that was the most painful play by somebody against us.”

On the uniqueness of the Spector Brothers (Baylon and Brannon) playing on the opposite side of the ball:

“We've had a lot of brother combinations, but I can't think of two guys that have gotten significant time on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Peter and Andy Ford. They were both starters off and on in their career, but they played the same position. The Bostik's, as you said, were both offensive linemen. The Perry's played side by side. So yeah, this could be a first. I think they both see significant playing time. I mean even Dabo's kids are both wide receivers. They both play the same position. So it's pretty unusual.”

On the potential for COVID-19 to alter schedules this season:

“You might notice in the release, when they said what the format was going to be, they said the two teams with the best winning percentage would play for the ACC championship. They expect that there is a good chance that you could have a variety of that. If you go on SportsReference.com and you pull up college football records from the 1918 season, I know times have changed a lot and that was a long time ago, but it still was played during a pandemic. And if you look at the SEC standings, or the Big Ten; the University of Chicago was in the Big Ten those days. They played 11 games that year. But I want to say Purdue and Indiana only played four. LSU and Alabama didn't even play. I know the war had some things to do with it, too. But you still had that kind of situation.”