Bodrick Hopes to End Career in Style |
ORLANDO - While he enjoyed the sights and sounds of Clemson's 2001 trip to
the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho, Altroy Bodrick figures to gain significantly more pleasure out of this year's postseason trip. Not only because of the location, though a week in Florida during December does have its perks. But because come Monday, Bodrick will be lining up at his rover position preparing to face Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury in the Tangerine Bowl. It's a drastic turn of events from a year ago, when all Bodrick could do in Boise was stand on the sidelines and cheer as he continued recovering from a torn ACL suffered during preseason. "It was tough watching, but I tried not to let it get me down," he said following a practice session at Disney's Wide World of Sports. "I tried to make a positive out of it, cheering my teammates on from the sidelines and helping them any way I could." But there's no denying Bodrick has spent his redshirt senior season savoring every moment on the field. From the first day of full contact back in August, when he proudly displayed a broken nose suffered after delivering a devastating hit on a Clemson receiver, to his swagger on the practice fields here in The Land of the Mouse, Bodrick seems hell bent on making his last days as a Clemson football player the best of five-year career. Of course, winning his final game would go a long way toward making that happen. But in Texas Tech, Bodrick and his defensive teammates will face an offense that throws even more than the Louisiana Tech team they faced in the Humanitarian Bowl. Kingsbury has thrown for over 4,600 yards and 42 touchdowns this season, the latter number bettering by one the Clemson career TD passing mark. So Bodrick knows the Tigers' defense will be under the gun come Monday. "He's a great quarterback," Bodrick said of Kingsbury. "But we feel like we've got some people who can play, too. Our defensive line has been good at getting pressure on the quarterback all year, and that helps us in pass coverage. I expect us to play well." So confident is Bodrick in his team's ability that he all but guaranteed a victory Monday. "Let's just say this: I plan on winning my last game," he said. And the score? "Check back with me later in the week. If I'm still feeling good, I'll give you a score to go with it."
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