Wednesday October 24, 2007

Huger than Huge

Huger than Huge
Last week I admitted that I was not excited about the Central Michigan game and even joked with some friends that I needed another week off because I was still ticked about the previous two games. I also knew that going into this week I would be more “nervouster” because the Maryland game has now become “huger.”

On the morning radio show my co-host Roy Philpott has made the claim that this is the biggest game for Tommy Bowden in years. I will admit that this game does fit the criteria for a big game. It has divisional title implications thus it has conference title implications. It also has bowl game implications.

I wrote a blog a few weeks ago that claimed NC State was the must-win game until the Tigers won the game then the Georgia Tech game became the next must-win affair. As it turned out Virginia Tech proved to be just as big as both of those games which leads us to this week.

With the exception of the national title, all of Clemson’s goals are still on the table. The Tigers can still win the Atlantic Division of the ACC, the conference title and can still go to a BCS bowl game. Clemson can still win 10 games this year as well. However, those things cannot be said the next time the Tigers drop a conference game. Some will still try to convince us that Florida State went to the title game two years ago with a 5-3 record but that is not happening this season nor should it.

I will admit that a season ending win over South Carolina would also help ease the pain of a disappointing season but that is exactly what this season will look like to many the next time Clemson loses a conference game.

I can’t say this is the biggest game of the year but it is the biggest game to date. If Clemson wins this weekend it only sets up a big game at Durham next weekend. Quite frankly, a win this week would not mean a lot if the Tigers went and laid an egg against Duke next weekend. The same can be said for the Wake Forest game and the Boston College game.

Saturday’s game is not a title game but you cannot win a title if you lose Saturday. You could consider the rest of the ACC season a single elimination tournament for the Tigers.

I am not saying the Tigers have to run the table to have a successful season, in fact I can see one more loss and still have a success campaign but only under one of the two following scenarios:

1. If Clemson beat Maryland, Duke, Wake Forest and Boston College and lost to South Carolina many would consider this a success. I know Tiger fans would not take losing to South Carolina too well but they would enjoy Jacksonville and a chance at the ACC title the following weekend. A loss to the chickens would be easier to swallow if you had a conference title game to look forward to the next week. A win the following week means the Orange Bowl and a loss means probably the Peach Bowl and I think Tiger fans could live with that. A 9-3 regular season and an Atlantic Division title are acceptable and would be considered a success.

2. If Clemson lost another conference game to either Maryland, Duke, Wake Forest or Boston College and did not go to the ACC title game many would consider a 9-3 season with a win over South Carolina a success. Many would be disappointed with another year of not playing in the ACC championship game but a win in Williams-Brice would make for an easier winter and a trip to the Gator Bowl following a 9-3 campaign would be nice.

But many fans I know would be very disappointed in an 8-4 season with no Atlantic Division title and a loss to the Gamecocks. If the Tigers went 9-3 in the regular season but lost the ACC championship game and a bowl game and finished 9-5 many would also be disappointed.

With all of those scenarios out there and all of the combinations of wins and losses still in front of us I understand that you should take things one game at a time but that only strengthens the argument that this game is a huge contest for the Tigers.

Last week Clemson put up 70 points on an inferior opponent and got a little momentum back. A loss to the Terps means all of that momentum goes away. A win in College Park means a more momentum is added. Confidence is a big factor in November and I don’t want to have to face Wake Forest, Boston College and South Carolina with a fragile football team.

I don’t want to talk about Tommy Bowden’s future even though I do understand his future is directly tied to the next few weeks. I would rather look at what this team has in front of it. This football team still has a chance to play for a title. It still has a chance to reach almost all of its goals. It still has a chance to win 12 games. It still has a chance to win a ring. It still has a chance to go to a BCS bowl game. It still has a chance to be remembered as a great team.

However, most of those terrific opportunities go out the window unless you beat Maryland on Saturday, so yes this is the latest installment of a must-win game.

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