The Tigers did not have to stress too much in this one. Now it’s time to get ready for the big matchup v. Duke next Saturday night.
Categories
Tag: clemson
Categories
Clemson is not Populated with Obama Fans
I understand why President Barker had to issue this apology, however, I also admit I did giggle at the whole situation.
Categories
Tigers Sleepwalk to Victory
The headline says it all. Of course, I guess I should be happy that Clemson is actually at a point where they can not show up for a game and still come out with a victory.
Such a touching story. Elyssa says that he is now her favorite football player, and I cannot argue with that.
Categories
Some Quality Quotes from Dabo Swinney
Coach Swinney has had a good week for “quotability”. First he [fired back at Steve Spurrier’s claim](http://www.orangeandwhite.com/news/2012/oct/10/dabo-swinney-fires-latest-verbal-salvo-steve-spurr/?partner=RSS) LSU has the “real” Death Valley:
> “I can see where (Spurrier) might have a little confusion,” Swinney told reporters. “Our guys have never been to USC. California is a long way from here. I can see where there can be a little confusion there. There are two Death Valleys and two USCs. There’s only one real one.
> …
> Swinney quipped that “Carolina is in Chapel Hill, USC is in California and the university in this state always has been and always will be Clemson” to begin an extended, now-infamous rant.
Coach Swinney then had a good [response for Alabama coach’s Nick Saban’s issues with no-huddle offenses](http://www.orangeandwhite.com/news/2012/oct/11/dabo-swinney-nick-sabans-view-no-huddle-offenses-s/?partner=RSS):
> “I don’t agree with that,” said Swinney. “I think that we have a play clock, and if you look at us, we substitute all the time. We play fast, but we’re constantly changing personnel, constantly multiple formations and shifts and personnel groupings.
> “When you do that, the defense has to be allowed to change personnel, and that’s the refs’ job, to manage that part. But we don’t just put the same 11 guys out there and play them for 80 plays. You know, I don’t know if there’s a lot of teams that do that.”
> …
> “To me, if you look around, what makes college football fun is you have a lot of variety,” Swinney said. “You see different things from week to week, whether it’s the spread or the “I” or the triple option or whatever, and I think that’s one of the things that makes it an incredibly popular game is that you just really never know from week to week.
> “If you really want the same old thing and everybody to be conformed, then you’ve got that in the NFL. That’s what Sundays are for, in my opinion…
It is pretty easy to see why guys want to play for Coach Swinney.
Categories
Shakin the Southland’s Mid-Season Review
The best summary of the 1st half of Clemson’s season that you will read.
It gives Clemson another open slot to play another marquee non-conference opponent[^fn1].
[^fn1]: Not to mention playing Notre Dame every so often
Categories
Clemson Half-Season Review
> The defense still has serious issues: Following an opening-drive three-and-out, Clemson’s tackling got absolutely cringe-worthy, and quick. A sideline pass to Anthony Autry that should’ve been a 15-yard gain, at most, turned into a 53-yard jaunt after safety Jonathan Meeks whiffed on a tackle. Later, Meeks was dragged for at least 20 yards by quarterback Tevin Washington. He wasn’t immune; fellow safeties Travis Blanks and Rashard Hall also had their share of bad angles and poor tackling as Tech rolled up 483 yards.
The Tigers are going to have just outscore opponents going forward. Hopefully, next year–with some new top level prospects–Coach Venables can provide the defensive upgrade Tigers fans were hoping for when Clemson signed him.
> “I’m proud of the way they responded in the second half. We lost some leverage and had a couple of poor tackles. We didn’t change a whole lot. I thought our plan was good. You’ve got to trust the guys around you and know what everyone’s responsibility is, but I thought we really responded big-time. We had some huge plays in that second half. I think those were steps of growth and confidence. What a great play, the blocked field goal, the safety, the fourth-down stop. Just defending a little more sound. Tackling in great positions. Big plays sting but we’re so glad this day is done. It’s a tough offense to defend and creates a lot of stress. They do a great job of in-game adjustments. I’m proud of our guys. They didn’t freak out, stayed calm. We made some minor adjustments and they handled those really well. Really great team effort.”
Hopefully the progress can continue.
Categories
Clemson’s Defense Does Not Hold up at FSU
> Four games into Venables’ tenure as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator, it doesn’t appear that easy fix is imminent. Saturday night, No.4 Florida State shredded his system for 667 yards of total offense – second-worst in school history – in a 49-37 win over No.10 Clemson.
That is not what us Tiger fans were hoping for when Coach Venables joined the coaching staff.
Categories
Clemson v. FSU Preview
*Shakin the Southland* with their in-depth preview of the game tomorrow.
*See also:* [Orange and White’s Preview](http://www.orangeandwhite.com/news/2012/sep/21/breaking-down-clemson-florida-state/?partner=RSS).
Categories
The Drive of Dabo Swinney
Dan Wetzel writing for *Yahoo Sports*:
> There are no obstacles in Dabo Swinney’s mind, just opportunities. There are no excuses. There is little sympathy. Faced with wallowing in perceived reality or driving forward to a path in which he controlled his future, there was never a bit of hesitation.
> There still isn’t.
> So what if he was the poor son of a drunk, a statistic waiting to slip through the cracks of society? He studied so hard he got into the University of Alabama and walked onto the vaunted football program as a wide receiver.
This article by Mr. Wetzel is fantastic. I did not know Coach Swinny’s background before—but now that I do—I respect him even more.
I had dinner with President Barker once[^fn1] and he left me with a positive impression. I never would have guessed he would be doing pushups on the sidelines of a football game though.
[^fn1]: Humblebrag? I guess.
Categories
Clemson Beats Furman
The run defense still scares me going into next week.
Categories
Notre Dame, the ACC, and Scheduling
Some more of the details related to the scheduling:
> The arrangement will obviously be unusual. Notre Dame will play close to a full ACC schedule – the full members of the conference play eight league games – but not be part of the league. Notre Dame could go 5-0 in games against regularly scheduled ACC foes but wouldn’t claim the conference championship, at least officially.
[Dan Wetzel explains why this is important](http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaab–notre-dame-protects-treasure-football-schedule-in-move-to-acc.html) to Notre Dame:
> As other conferences grew in size – the SEC expanded to 14 teams, the Pac-12 and Big 10 went to 12 – so too did the threat that the Irish couldn’t just pick and choose opponents, especially in October and November, as they always have. The other conferences might go to nine league games (as the Pac 12 already does), eliminating one slot for a tough non-conference opponent. Earlier this year, the Big Ten and Pac-12 set up a scheduling agreement that concerned Notre Dame – although it later fell apart when the Pac-12 pulled out.
> Notre Dame currently must schedule all of its 12 games per year. This drops to seven games with the ACC scheduling the other five. ACC teams will likely be featured during the more challenging dates later in the season. It’s a far easier task.
Even though I would have preferred an arrangement where Clemson got to play Notre Dame every year, knowing the Irish will be on the Clemson schedule in the very near future is pretty exciting.
I am ready to see him blow by a few defensive backs this week.
Categories
Optimism at Clemson
This might be the most promising development:
> The offensive line has some depth: Saturday, the Tigers’ line played without starting right tackle Gifford Timothy, who missed the game with lingering knee soreness from an August knee surgery. Starting left guard David Beasley left the game in the first half with a knee injury which is not believed to be serious. Clemson shuffled in its entire second-string line midway through the second quarter but still rolled up 526 yards of total offense, marking the first time since 1980 that the Tigers have had 500-plus yards of offense in the season’s first two games. While it must continue to protect Tajh Boyd, the first two games are a positive sign.
Only one more tune-up game before Florida State. I am already starting to get nervous.
Categories
More on Clemson’s Run Defense
> “They ran the ball for too many yards,” said [Clemson Defensive Coordinator Brent] Venables. “Whether it was physicality or technique or a combination of the two, we’ve got to get those things corrected.
Clemson fans agree with both of these points. Thankfully, they have anther game to figure it out before they face FSU.
Categories
It Has Got the Distance
Congratulations to Clemson’s Spencer Benton for kicking his way into the ACC record books.
Categories
Clemson wins Big against Ball State
Dr. B with the full breakdown, including the continuing issues with Clemson’s run defense.