43
Like father, like son: Cole Stoudt’s dad, Cliff, played at YSU
CLEMSON’S COLE STOUDT FOLLOWS IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HIS DAD, CLIFF
By Ryan Buck
Former Youngstown State quarterback Cliff Stoudt, a native of Oberlin, regrettably says his last visit to his alma mater, and his wife’s hometown, was as a broadcaster for his school’s 63-20 home playoff win over the late Steve McNair’s Alcorn State team in 1994.
“We don’t get back much,” admitted Stoudt, retired from professional football since 1991 and a father of three. “With the kids playing high school ball, it’s been a long time since I’ve been in Youngstown.
“My father never missed one of my games when I was growing up. Now it’s my turn.”
Stoudt’s youngest child, son Cole, has followed in his father’s quarterback footsteps. A 2011 graduate of Dublin Coffman High, Cole is the backup quarterback for Clemson.
Cliff, fresh out of the waters of South Florida where he is in town to see the No. 12 Tigers take on No. 7 Ohio State in Friday’s Discover Orange Bowl, instilled in Cole much of what absorbed as a quarterback.
“He’s been a major impact on my life and in football,” Cole said by phone from Miami. “I always knew I was going to play football. My dad played for 17 years and that’s all we talked about.”
His father, after leading the Penguins from 1973-76, was selected in the fifth round of the 1977 NFL Draft and went on to play for the Steelers, Cardinals, Dolphins, Cowboys and the Birmingham Stallions of the now-defunct USFL.
Cole, older brother Zack (a former quarterback at Mississippi) and older sister Cydnei (a former basketball player at North Carolina-Wilmington) were immersed in athletics, especially stories from Cliff’s college years.
“He’s told a few stories here and there and it’s fun to listen,” said Cole, a junior at Clemson who shares his father’s No. 18. “It’s things normal players talk about. It’s more about his teammates, friends and bonding. What you’ll really remember is what you went through with all of your players.”
Though he will only take snaps at quarterback if starter Tajh Boyd is injured or the Tigers build a comfortable lead, Cole Stoudt’s tale is one of the Orange Bowl’s most interesting story lines.
“This one means a lot to him that it’s the Buckeyes,” said Cliff.
After crisscrossing the country for Cliff’s football career, the family, who has spent much of their time in Greenville, S.C., settled in Dublin, a Columbus suburb within a 15-minute drive from the Ohio State campus.
Cole was a highly regarded high school quarterback who sought a scholarship offer from the Buckeyes.
“I did always want to [play at OSU],” Cole said. “I thought it would be cool. They were more interested in [current OSU quarterback] Braxton [Miller] and I thought I’d branch outside of Ohio. I was excited when Clemson came calling. I felt at home and I was born here.
“I’m excited about it. I’ve always wanted to play against OSU. They’re a top team in the country and I know it’ll be a fun experience.”
And nowhere was his father’s presence more effective than during Cole’s college recruitment.
“The best advice I could give was that every school that’s going to recruit you is, ‘They’re going to tell you what you want to hear,’” Cliff said. “‘Find the place you like the most combined with opportunity to play and the future of the [coaching] staff. Are they going to be there? And, hopefully, you make the right choice.’”
Stoudt’s own experience at YSU, albeit very successful, forced him to adapt to the carousel that is college football.
“Anything can happen,” Cliff said. “I started my freshman and sophomore years, then spent my junior and senior years running the triple option.”
Cole entered Clemson knowing Boyd, who has become one of his closest friends on the team, was entrenched ahead of him.
Through three seasons as the former Heisman contender’s backup, he has positioned himself to take over in his final year, thanks to unwavering support from his father, himself a backup to the likes of Terry Bradshaw and Troy Aikman.
“He taught me how to keep a leadership role and lead by example,” said Cole, who is studying sociology and has aspirations to one day coach. “I’m excited about it and I’m trying to get better every single day.”
And for every move Cole has made, his dad has already been there and done that.
“Cole soaks everything up,” Cliff said. “Every story means a lot to him. It’s been a part of maturing process for him and making a path of his own.
“It’s like Coach [Chuck] Noll always said: ‘You’ve never arrived.’”