COMMENTARY: Dan Scott on CU vs. Wake |
Misbehaving on press row despite being under the watchful eye of the boss...
- Wake Forest gave away rushing yards Saturday like Democrats give away money in large sums to those who don't really need it. Clemson rushed for 436 yards in the 55-7 victory, including 263 in the first half. The previous high for a Tommy Bowden-coached Clemson team for an entire game was 290 last season vs. Maryland. Quarterback Woody Dantzler ran furthest and most often, using a dazzling array of spins, jukes and slides on his way to 166 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. On one first-half play he pulled a Danny Terrio-esque spin move on a would-be tackler in the open field that left the poor Demon Deacon dancing with himself. But Dantzler's supporting cast was nothing to discount. Folks like Travis Zachery (15-73), Bernard Rambert (6-46, 2 TDs) and Keith Kelly (16-93) helped complete the dominating performance. Just goes to prove what Bowden's been preaching since Day One - spread or no spread, you have to run to win. - Did anyone else see the ghost of Danny Ford stalking the sidelines? - To make his day complete, Dantzler added 157 yards passing (9-of-19), including a beautiful 52-yard scoring strike to Zachery, a ball he threw off his back foot under pressure that dropped gorgeously over the Clemson tailback's shoulder right in stride. Not a bad day at the office for Dantzler, who continues to prove he held the keys to this high-powered offense all along. - Evidently there's something to being macho even in defeat. Why else would Wake Forest players trash-talk trailing by 40? - Willie Simmons continues to impress in his limited playing time behind Dantzler. After a opening-week 5-of-15 performance against The Citadel, when he was so jacked up it appeared he was trying to throw every ball through a brick wall, the redshirt freshman from Quincy, Fla. has shown flashes of the talent which caught the eye of Clemson coaches two years ago. Everyone knew about his rocket arm, but Simmons has shown the ability to throw the touch pass over the past two weeks, as well. And even against The Citadel Simmons consistently made the right reads. Every pass he threw was in the direction of an open receiver. As last year proved, having a talented backup quarterback is a must in today's version of college football. Just as Dantzler provided solid, sometimes spectacular, support to Brandon Streeter in 1999, so must Simmons to Dantzler as this season wears on. So far, so good.
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