Monday sermon: Words, deeds and the road to glory

Dec 28, 2015, 10:44 PM

Which is the greater measure of a man: word or deed?

Which is the guidepost to the path worth following? ####, you know the answer.

Players can bustle and bombast from now to kickoff, using their outside voice at press conferences in a vain attempt to show he world how tough they are.

Or they can listen to the voice from deep inside. The voice that has proven true through the trials of the season. The voice that echoes with quiet confidence from the hills.

The voice that says, "You are Clemson ... you got this."

Sons of Clemson, we did not get here by using our mouths. We got here by using our hearts and our preparation. We did not get here through the misadventures of our foes, but by our strength ... our will ... our unwavering commitment to be the best.

Faith, it is said, can move mountains. Faith proven by deed makes level the road to glory.

It seems ages ago that Dabo rallied the Sons of Clemson against the defending national champs with these words: "You’ve got greatness in you but you have to make a decision to be great." Strong words made immortal by deed. We have kicked the door off the hinges, set up the TV and dare anyone to change the channel.

On Thursday the world, those who don't believe and those who don't WANT to believe will be watching to see who will win in Miami.

I already know who will win. The true sons of Clemson know who will win. My feeling is the bellicose boys from Norman know as well.

That's why they talk so loud this week, trying to drown out the still voices that linger in their own minds like the fragrance of a polecat. They scrub and scrub their conscience, hoping it will disappear. But it won't leave. It's there because it's going to happen.

No team has beaten Oklahoma three straight times in bowl games ... at least not yet. We don't have to talk big. We just have to play big ... something we've done repeatedly this year.

Talk inevitably falls short of deed. And come Thursday, I have no reason by word or deed to think it won't again.

15 tickets Tigers. Make it so.