February 25, 2025

Series history between Clemson, Ohio State started with Woody Hayes punch in 1978

Show Thumbnails Show Captions Last SlideNext Slide Clemson’s football team hopes to celebrate a bowl game victory on Saturday against Ohio State for the fourth time in the past seven years.  But it all started more than four decades ago with holiday punch.  That was the first meeting, four days after Christmas in 1978 at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida. Clemson had just sealed a 17-15 victory on an interception by Charlie Bauman, who was tackled near the Ohio State sideline. Legendary Buckeyes coach Woody Hayes lost his cool, his sense of decency and the next day his job. He grabbed Bauman and slugged him in the throat.  It was an inauspicious start to a feud that perhaps shouldn’t be called a rivalry because Clemson has won every game. The Tigers will try to make it 5-0 all time against Ohio State on New Year’s Day at the Sugar Bowl national semifinal in New Orleans.  In what has become known as ‘The Punch,” this…

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