Notes and Quotes

by TigerNet Staff - Sat Oct 27 20:26:52 GMT-04:00 2007

NOTES

*Michael Hamlin had a fumble recovery in the first half, his team best fifth takeaway of the season. He now has three interceptions and two fumble recoveries for the year. He has 11 total takeaways for his career, tied for 16th in Clemson history.

*Cullen Harper completed his first pass of the game, a nine yard completion to Jacoby Ford. That was his 16th consecutive completion over two games. He fell short of the Clemson record for consecutive completions over two games by just one. Nealon Greene had 17 consecutive completions over two games in 1997.

*Cullen Harper threw two touchdown passes today, giving him 21 for the season. He has now tied the Clemson single season record. Charlie Whitehurst had 21 in 2003 and Woody Dantlzer had 21 in 2001.

*James Davis and C.J. Spiller both had over 100 yards rushing today. It is the fourth time they have both had at least 100 yards rushing in the same game. That is the most for a Clemson running back duo in school history. Kenny Flowers and Stacy Driver did it three times in the same game between 1983-85.

*The 30 points is the most by a Clemson team against a Ralph Friedgen coached Maryland team and the most by the Tigers against Maryland since the Tigers scored 35 in a 35-14 win at Clemson in 2000. This is the most points Clemson has scored at Maryland since the Tigers scored 42 in a 42-30 victory in 1999, Tommy Bowden's first year. The 13-point victory is Clemson's largest margin of victory over the Terps in College Park since a 49-25 win in 1988.

*Clemson is now 31-1 under Tommy Bowden when it gains at least 200 yards rushing.

QUOTES

Maryland Head Coach Ralph Friedgen

On tonight's game:

"Clemson is a good football team. We're not the team we were physically (at the start of the season), but I think emotionally and heart-wise we're still the same. People that know me know that I'm not a big guy on losing. Our kids hung in there. I told our team after the game that I was proud of the way they hung in there, and in the long run we will be better for this. We're going to get some guys back. I'm hoping to get Travis Ivey back this week and I'm hoping Cory Jackson can play."

On the team's injuries:

"Tight end Dan Gronkowski had an ACL problem, but they don't know how bad it is yet. They didn't seem to think it was that bad. They tell me Bruce Campbell has the same injury as Jaimie Thomas and Andrew Crummey, but we're going to do X-rays on him and see if it's broken."

On the defense against Clemson:

"I think our defense got tired because they were on the field a lot. We gave them a short field with the missed fourth down and the two turnovers. I think we just got tired."

With the team's chances of an ACC title:

"I think it's going to be tough with three losses, especially with Boston College being undefeated. Going to a bowl game after what this team has been through would be a good thing. What we have to do is try and get well. We've got to get some players out there."

Maryland Players

Senior Tailback Keon Lattimore

On consecutive losses:

"We don't want to make losing a habit. But once you get in that rhythm, it's hard to pick it back up again. We just have to really dig down deep. The losses really hamper our chance at an ACC Championship, which was originally our goal. Now we just have to work on getting to a bowl game."

On Clemson's defense:

"Their front seven is very good. They're big and they run really well. I think we just got down in the second half and basically had to throw the ball to get some points on the board. That took us away from our game plan and that led to the eventual outcome of the game."

Sophomore Quarterback Chris Turner

On the team's injuries along the offensive line:

"All things considered, I think we did a pretty good job. Our depth is getting pretty thin ... Things just aren't going our way right now and we need to get a break. We don't have a lot of options at a lot of places and it's tough."

On Maryland's goals for the season:

"We're playing to go to a bowl game at this point. We originally wanted to win the ACC but I don't think the chances of that are too good now. We want to go to a bowl, we want to win out from here and say we had a good season."

Senior Tight End Joey Haynos

On the Terps' 4-4 record:

"Three losses in the ACC, and four overall, is not where we want to be. But we've got to get ourselves up for next week and get a win down at North Carolina."

On the team's psyche:

"It's just like you'd expect after two losses in a row. We fought hard, but a loss is a loss. I thought our defense played well in the second half, and offensively we just need to get it going a little bit better next week."

Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden

On today's game:

"I wish we could have made it a little bit cleaner there at the end but I have to give credit to Maryland for not giving up and moving the ball down the field for that last score."

On his team's offensive line:

"When you lose four out of five linemen, it is tough to recapture that element. Hopefully, we recaptured it with a little more consistency with the guys we are playing with."

On Maryland's injured players:

"They have the injury problem that we had last year. That is just part of the game. We had injuries last year and they have them this year. It is just something that you have to deal with."

On Brad Scott, Offensive Line Coach:

"He played those guys in a lot of different positions. In practice, they get a lot of stop in different positions. Good job by Brad that we have quality people for substitutions."

On next week's game at Duke:

"You have to win the next one. That is all we are trying to talk about is winning that next one. We are down to a four game schedule and the most important game is the next one. We are going to try to keep that mode of operation."

On losing this time of year:

"A loss will hurt, but players at that age are pretty resilient and they bounce back pretty quick, even better than a coach. I think coaches tend to hold the losses longer. We have a few losses and that is something we are going to have to live with."

Clemson Players

Junior Running Back James Davis

On his guarantee of a win:

"[Maryland] showed a lot of class tonight. I didn't [make the guarantee] to disrespect their team, I did it to motivate my own team and get my guys ready to go."

On team's win:

"It feels pretty good, but we've got some more games to go and I'm not going to guarantee anymore wins. There was a lot of pressure going into this game, but my team stuck with me and we got the win."

On team's offensive line:

"They played so hard this week; by far the best they've worked in practice so far. I think they'll keep working hard and keep on fighting."

Junior Quarterback Cullen Harper

On team's offensive line:

"I thought they did a great job. Even in the third quarter, we had some second string guys come in, and they did a great job. I'm really proud of them."

On Davis' guarantee:

"It motivated us. But words don't win a game. We ran the ball extremely physically tonight and our o-line opened up holes."

On team's offense:

"I think we have two of the top backs in the country, and now our o-line is starting to gel and come together, so I'm not really surprised [about our running game]. We did a good job offensively. Coach [Rob] Spence was making great calls and we came together and gelled tonight."

On moving forward after tonight's win:

"It's huge for this team to get another win, an ACC win, and pick up momentum a little bit going into Duke. We just have to continue doing what we're doing right now."