The No. 17 Clemson Tigers got off to a great start in the ACC Football Championship Game Saturday night, leading the SMU Mustangs 21-7 after the first quarter and 24-7 at halftime. But the Mustangs came roaring back to tie the game late. That set up a situation where Tigers’ true freshman kicker Nolan Hauser, who had hit just 72.7 percent of his attempts on the year, was sent out to try a 56-yard field goal with three seconds left on the clock. And that led to an incredible radio call from Don Munson, Tim Bourret and Reggie Merriweather on the Clemson Athletic Network:
Clemson Radio call of the walkoff FG, from WCCP ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/0XTAdM0xtY
— Ugly Duckling Digest (@UglyDucklingsCU) December 8, 2024
“Snap, hold, kick on its way, it’s got the distance, does it have the accuracy? IT’S GOOD!” “HE HIT IT! HE HIT IT!” The subsequent laughter in the booth illustrates just how wild this was; Hauser had never attempted a game-tying or go-ahead fourth quarter field goal in college, and his NCAA career long was 54. But he sure stepped up in a big way Saturday, which also produced a notable TV call (part of an overall-praised broadcast) from ESPN’s Sean McDonough:
“GOOD. AT THE BUZZER. CLEMSON WINS THE ACC.”
Sean McDonough on the call for Nolan Hauser’s 56-yard field goal as time expired.
The Tigers won the ACC Championship and are headed to the CFP. pic.twitter.com/Sx6f0uPq0I
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 8, 2024
Hauser’s field goal here adds to what’s been a remarkable season for the Tigers. They started with a 31-3 loss to Georgia in Week 1, and also fell to Louisville and South Carolina over the course of the season. But the win here gets them into the newly-expanded College Football Playoff, although it remains to be seen just where they’ll slot in seeding-wise (and SMU could still make it as well).
This also adds to the Hauser family legacy at Clemson. Nolan’s parents have quite the Tigers’ background themselves, as Jon Blau of the (Charleston) Post and Courier noted Saturday:
Also, a reminder: Clemson is to thank for Nolan Hauser’s existence. His parents are Clemson Hall of Fame soccer player Sheri Bueter and Clemson pitcher Scott Hauser.
Now, Nolan is forever enshrined in Clemson lore.https://t.co/I9IhZMJyhP
— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) December 8, 2024
Nolan indeed got his own name in Clemson history there. And his kick produced a memorable Clemson radio moment to boot.
[UglyDucklingsCU on X]
