Wednesday October 25, 2006

Virginia Tech Preview

Got Swagger?
My college roommate was a former walk-on at Clemson and lettered twice under Coach Ford and Hatfield. He always asks me, “Do the Tiger have their swagger back?” I tried to explain to my 15-year old what swagger means but it was difficult. Dictionary.com defines swagger as “to walk or strut with a defiant or insolent air.” My college roommate says that is what the Tigers had in the late 1980s.

I have had swagger this season. I felt Clemson was going to win every game they played in. I know I was wrong at Boston College but I have been right most of the time when I say most of the games would not have been close. I told listeners to the radio show Friday that I doubted the Georgia Tech game would be close.

However, this week I have a different feeling. The injuries are mounting at a rapid pace. Lane Stadium is as tough a venue as there is in college football. Thursday nights are very difficult for the road team. The Hokies have NFL talent on defense and at running back and wide receiver. The weather might be miserable. Special teams are always a worry when playing Virginia Tech. I have not felt this way about a game yet but I wish I could shake this eerie feeling.

I know Tech has struggled in two games this season but this could be a fourth quarter battle.

If Clemson can take its wounded club up to Blacksburg and in the face of all of this adversity come out of the Commonwealth of Virginia with a win then I will regain my swagger.

I want to believe that the Tigers are too good on both sides of the lines of scrimmage. I want to believe that James Davis is healthy. I want to believe C.J. Spiller has a couple of more magical runs up his sleeve. I want to believe that Chansi Stuckey will be back close to 100%. I want to think that Gaines Adams and crew will shut down the Hokies offense. I want to believe the Tigers will not lose the game in the special teams.

Many of the stats on paper favor the Tigers. The Hokies average 124 yards less per game than Clemson. They average 132 less yards on the ground per game. Tech is second in the league in scoring but they average 13.1 less points per game than Clemson. These are the top two teams in terms of total defense in the league but Clemson is ahead there. The Hokies only give up 90 yards per game on the ground but Clemson gives up 18 less yards. Virginia Tech allows only 12.7 points per game but the Tigers lead the league with a 12.5 mark.

The Hokies do not have Michael Vick or even Marcus Vick at quarterback. Sean Glennon has been average this season and Ike Whitaker has not played a lot yet. They miss tight end Jeff King from last season and their offensive front has not been as talented as years past. However, Brandon Ore is the real deal at tailback and they have five receivers that can play. Eddie Royal, Josh Morgan, David Clowney, Justin Harper and Josh Hyman are as fine a group of wide outs as Clemson will see.

The Hokies defense includes the likes of All-ACC candidates Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall at linebacker, Chris Ellis at defensive end and Aaron Rouse at strong safety. Bud Foster is one of the finest defensive coordinators in America and could give the Tigers a hard time.

I believe this is the most talented team Clemson will face this season.

Nothing would make me happier than to be dead wrong about this one but I have too much respect for Frank Beamer, Foster, Ore, Adibi, Hall, Lane Stadium on Thursday night to feel great about the Tigers chances. Please prove me wrong Tigers.

Clemson Players of the Game
Each week the staff selects the players of the game on offense, defense and special teams and honors them with a great picture of each in the halls of McFadden. Here is a list of the players that have been honored for each game so far this season:
Opponents Offense Defense Special
FA Stuckey Hamlin McElrathbey
BC Proctor Clay Chason
FSU Off. Line Coleman Leonard
UNC Davis Scott Chambers
LT Stuckey Watkins Chason
WF Spiller Adams Ford
Tem Davis C.Chancellor Ford
GT Spiller Clay Chason

Virginia Tech Game Notes
*This is just the just the fifth time since 1933 that Clemson is playing twice in five days.

*James Davis is one rushing touchdown away from tying the school record for rushing touchdowns in a season. Lester Brown who had 17 rushing touchdowns in 1978 holds the current record. Travis Zachery had 18 total touchdowns (13 rushing and five receiving) in 2000. Davis is 12 points shy of Zachery’s 108 set in 2000. The ACC record for touchdowns in a season 21 by North Carolina’s Don McCauley who set the mark in 1970. McCauley shares the rushing touchdown record in the conference with Robert Lavette of Georgia Tech who in 1982 tied the record with 19.

*Davis and Spiller have combined for 25 touchdowns this season.

*The Tigers have won 11 of their 12 games.

*Clemson has outgained it opponents by 224.5 yards per game this season. The school record is 165.2 set in 1978.

*The school record for points per game is 34.7 in 2000. This years’ team leads the country at a 42.3 mark.

*I expect field position to be a key in Thursday night's game. Hopefully it will not be as bad as the Wake Forest ordeal when the Tigers had to pull themselves out of a hol almost every drive.

Incredible
I just wanted to thank ShoelessCU for the awesome job on Shoeless Works. The videos are incredible. Thanks for making Wednesday feel like Saturday again. Keep up the great work.

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