Re: Hill Watch...143 days!!!

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143 - Johnny Rembert had 143 Yards in Interception Returns for Clemson

Apr 10, 2024, 12:16 AM

As a kid, I remember seeing Rembert on the bench talking to one of the assistant coaches in Clemson’s 1981 home opener against Wofford. Since I did not remember the name “Rembert” as having played much the previous season, I assumed he wouldn’t play much in 1981 either (a kid’s way of thinking).

I could not have been more wrong!

At Clemson:

LB Johnny Rembert put together a special season in 1981. He then followed that with a special season in 1982. According to Sports-Reference.com, Ball-Hawk Rembert registered 8 interceptions with 143 return yards (17.9 average). During those two seasons, he returned one interception for a touchdown and he returned one punt for a touchdown.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/johnny-rembert-1.html

Love these quotes from Rembert regarding the 1981-1982 National Title clinching Orange Bowl game:

“"We were ranked first and undefeated, and Nebraska was fourth and had lost two games, but Nebraska was favored to win," Rembert recalled. "It shocked us.
…
"Our defense was so dominating that we never thought the other teams had a chance to score on us," Rembert said. "All our offense had to do was get us about 15 points and we'd be fine."

Fifteen points would have won 10 games for the Tigers that season as the defense gave up only 8.7 points per game. Opponents scored 10 or less points nine times and during one four-game stretch early in the season, Clemson yielded 5, 3, 3 and 0 points.
…
Rembert said practices were so difficult, with so much hitting, that the games were the easy part.

He also said he never worked harder on a football field than his two years at Clemson - including the 10 years he played for the New England Patriots.

"We out-worked everybody," Rembert said. "The games were nothing to us. When I got to the NFL and was in my first practice, the whistle blew and a coach said, 'that's it ... practice is over.' I said, 'over?' I wouldn't even be sweating. I never played with a team that was in as good shape as that Clemson team."

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/college/2016/01/08/clemsons-lone-national-title-team-1981-was-dotted-players-first/15695303007/

Love those comments! And, yes, Rembert did parlay his development at Clemson into 10 NFL seasons.

Rembert also made a key play against the Gamechickens as part of that magical 1981 season. As described by ClemsonTigers.com:

The Tigers were attempting to close their first perfect regular season since 1948 at South Carolina. The Gamecocks took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. When the Gamecocks were forced to punt later in the game, reserve defensive back Rod McSwain blocked a punt. Johnny Rembert picked up the ball and raced in for a touchdown. A few years later, McSwain and Rembert would be teammates with the New England Patriots.

https://clemsontigers.com/best-performances-off-the-bench-2023-program-story/

After Clemson:

The New England Patriots selected Johnny Rembert with the 101st Pick (4th Round) of the 1983 NFL Draft. According to Pro-Football-Reference.com, Rembert registered the following statistics in his ten NFL seasons with the Patriots:

Johnny Rembert – New England Patriots (1983-1992)
- 126 Games (72 Starts)
- 7 Interceptions (70 Return Yards)
- 11 Fumble Recoveries (46 Return Yards)
- 2 Fumble Recoveries
- 3 Kick Returns for 27 Yards (9.0 Average)

- He made 2 Pro Bowl appearances (1988 and 1989)
- He appeared in 5 NFL Playoff games (1985 and 1986).
- 1 Interception in the playoffs
- 1 Fumble Recovery for a TD in the playoffs

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RembJo00.htm

According to Wikipedia, Rembert continued his success off the field after his NFL days:

After his playing career, Rembert was the director of athletics at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida and also the quality control representative for the NFL.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Rembert#:~:text=After%20his%20playing%20career%2C%20Rembert,control%20representative%20for%20the%20NFL.

In 2000, Rembert was later honored by his High School. The CowleyTigers.com reported the following:

“At Clemson, he earned All-American honors in 1981.

At the time of his induction, Rembert was vice president of the NFL Retired Players Association. He makes annual appearances as a guest speaker for the Boy Scouts of America, conducts summer camps as a counselor for young boys, and serves as a football camp counselor for youth.”

https://cowleytigers.com/inside-athletics/hof/bios/johnny_rembert

Another true Clemson man for sure!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B8gS076iAY

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North Carolina Highway 143 is a 38.3 mile state highway that runs from the west end at SR 165 at the Tennessee state line to the east end at NC 28 near Stecoah, crossing US 129 in Robbinsville. The first 18 miles is part of the Cherohala Skyway, along with Tennessee SR 165.

Lyman Lake is part of the "Greer Chain" of lakes, 6 lakes from west to east including lakes Robinson and Cunningham in Greenville County and lakes Lyman, Cooley, Bowen, and Blalock in Spartanburg County. Lake Lyman is a 350 acre lake on the Middle Tyger River managed by the SJWD Water District. SJWD stands for Startex-Jackson-Wellford-Duncan or Stuff Jesus Would Do. Lyman Lake is a source of drinking water for the SJWD District, but swimming, fishing, boating with a permit, or just relaxing are allowed. There is also Lake Lyman park with a lodge available for rent, a picnic shelter also available for rent, a boat ramp, and a fishing pier.

Hill Watch...143 days!!!