Wednesday September 23, 2009

Big Game?

Big Game?
Here we are again. It’s Big Game Week.

That kind of sounds like a promotion on the Outdoor Network but instead it is where we are with college football today. In today’s world, when you win you are the best and a genius but a loss means you are not a good coach and this team is in trouble.

I have noticed that it is not good enough to just anymore. Now, you have to win pretty. Clemson had its second best game in ACC history on the defensive side of the football by holding Boston College to just 54 total yards. The defense forced turnovers and gave the offense great field position. The special teams had a fantastic day with a punt return for a touchdown, a terrific punting effort and six field goals. Yet, I have fielded a bunch of e-mails and calls on my radio show complaining about the red zone offense.

The last few years Clemson would have killed to have an 18-point victory against Boston College but now you can’t please some folks.

So now the Tigers have Texas Christian coming to town and this is the next “Big Game.” Here are eight reasons why this is a big game:

It’s the Next Game
As mentioned above, fans want to win every game so in essence, every game is a big game. Coaches feel pressure to win every game and thus every game is a big game. And from a psychological standpoint, you have to focus on the upcoming game without regard to the rest of the schedule, so THIS is the only big game that matters THIS week.

Ranked Opponent
Clemson gets a chance to beat a ranked opponent this week. TCU finished last season ranked seventh in both polls and the Horned Frogs enter Saturday’s game 14th in one poll and 15th in the other. A victory against a ranked opponent gives the Tigers credibility.

National Exposure
I know this is not a TV game but the country will take notice of this game Saturday. Scores involving games with ranked teams fly across the bottom of TV screens all across the nation and the winner of this game will get time on the national review shows.

The Conference
This is one I could not care less about. I am not a fan of the ACC and have zero interest in any ACC team outside of Clemson looking good. Last week, I was pulling for Nebraska against Virginia Tech and BYU against Florida State. It would have suited me if East Carolina would have beaten North Carolina. But for those that do care about the ACC, this is a big game for the conference. Also the Mountain West took a beating last week with BYU and Utah losing so that conference needs this win for credibility.

Dabo vs. Gary Patterson
About 325 days ago some felt TCU’s Gary Patterson might have been the next head football coach at Clemson University. If he comes into Death Valley and wins then the people who were touting him for the job will have some ammunition. Dabo has probably not thought a lot about it but a win over TCU on Saturday would send a message to those who might have doubted the hire.

The Offense Gets a Major Test
We have seen Clemson move the ball so far in the first three games but the red zone issues have popped up. This Saturday Clemson will face an aggressive 4-2-5 scheme and one of the nation’s top defensive players in Jerry Hughes. TCU loves to pressure offenses and this Clemson offense will face perhaps its biggest challenge this weekend. If they can move the ball Saturday I would think you could see a lot of confidence gained by the offensive unit.

It’s a Home Game
If Clemson wants to get its program back to where it once was then the Tigers have to make Death Valley a feared venue again. From November of 1980 to September of 1985 Clemson went a stretch of 25 homes games in which the Tigers went 23-0-2. There was a stretch from September of 1986 until September of 1992 where the Tigers went 32-3-2 at home. Clemson must make Death Valley and a pit for opposing teams. During those two remarkable stretches of play in the early eighties and late eighties to early nineties often times the opponent was beaten before the game because of the intimidation factor. I will discuss this topic in more detail in Thursday’s blog.

3-1 vs. 2-2
Of all of the reasons why this is a big game, the major reason in my mind is the record. In my opinion, there is a big difference between 3-1 and 2-2. When you see professional basketball or baseball play-off series then you see this really show up. A 3-1 mark is very respectable and Clemson could head to Maryland next week full of confidence. At 2-2 the Tigers take a trip to College Park with confidence left behind. At 3-1 Clemson would be favored at Maryland and at home against Wake Forest and could take a 5-1 record to Miami. At 2-2 the Tigers would still be favored over the Terps and Deacons but a loss at Miami could mean a 4-3 record. So this game is huge for momentum and confidence. A 3-1 mark is light years ahead of a 2-2 record.

So this week’s game is the next big game. It is not a conference game and in the grand scheme of things is not as big as all eight of the ACC games or the South Carolina game. If that is the case this is probably the tenth biggest game on the schedule.

However, TCU is ranked and Clemson needs the confidence. A 3-1 mark is a big deal compared to 2-2. It is a home game as well and the Tigers need to defend their home turf. But the main reason this is a big game is because this is the next game.

I am looking forward to a big game atmosphere in Death Valley Saturday at 3:30. Please check in tomorrow for a blog on Death Valley and how we can renew an old tradition.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Ann Fallaw, Bob Pollock, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs.