La Tech - Clemson Postgame Notes

by Dan Scott - Correspondent - Sat Sep 07 17:54:25 GMT-04:00 2002

CLEMSON - Clemson paid tribute to the upcoming Sept. 11 anniversary Saturday

with pregame march featuring school athletes and local police and fire

officials.

The third-annual Parade of Athletes featured 450 Clemson student athletes

waving miniature flags and wearing t-shirts with a patriotic theme of

"Celebrating America's Freedom."

Six area firemen and six police officers led the march along with Major

Marshall Collins, a 1984 Clemson graduate, who served in Operation Enduring

Freedom with the North Carolina Air Force National Guard based in Charlotte.

At halftime the Tiger Band's show was a salute to New York City:

Police agencies participating in the event came from the Anderson County

Sheriff's Department, the Clemson University Police Department, SLED and

local officers from Pendleton, Pickens and Liberty.

OFF BROADWAY

Saturday was the first-ever trip into Death Valley for Louisiana Tech,

marking the 43rd different opponent to play in the facility since it opened

in 1942.

Clemson's only other game vs. the Bulldogs came in last December's

Humanitarian Bowl, though Tommy Bowden did defeat La. Tech as Tulane's head

coach in 1998.

Only two schools have won their debut games at the stadium since 1977 - Notre

Dame (1977) and Marshall (1999).

KICKING THEMSELVES

Aaron Hunt's 47-yard field goal in the second quarter Saturday was the

second-longest of his career. He kicked a 48-yarder in last season's 38-3

loss to North Carolina.

His four field goals also represent a new career single game high.

Meanwhile, when Louisiana Tech's Josh Scobee connected from 51 yards in the

first quarter, it marked the first time in four years that a Clemson opponent

hit a field goal of 50 yards or longer. The last player to do it was Virginia

Tech's Shane Graham on Sept. 12, 1998, when he drilled a 53-yarder.

Scobee's kick tied his career high.

FEWER BLUNDERS

Clemson's special teams made just one big mistake Saturday, allowing La. Tech

to block Wynn Kopp's first punt attempt in the opening quarter.

The block, recovered at the Clemson 13, later led to a Bulldogs' field goal.

Otherwise all seemed to go much more smoothly than the disaster against

Georgia a week ago. Kopp showed better consistency when he was able to get a

punt off, hitting kicks of 42 and 53 on his other two attempts. The block

brought his game average down to 31.7 yards.

The Tigers also turned in their first punt block of the season when Ronny

Delusme got one of Dustin Upton's kicks in the second quarter. The block,

recovered at the La. Tech 17, set up Kelly's second scoring run of the day

and put Clemson ahead 17-6.

SHORT STUFF

- Offensive tackle Derrick Brantley left the game in the third quarter with a

sprained knee. He is scheduled to have an MRI today. He was replaced in the

lineup by William Henry.

- Fullback Chad Jasmin left the game at halftime with a groin problem. Bowden

said he had been fighting the problem in the days prior to the game.

- Derrick Hamilton didn't start at wide receiver due to the strained tendon

in his lower leg, but he did play. Hamilton had four catches for 37 yards and

also returned punts in the second half.

MILLER TIME

For Clemson, first-year freshman Justin Miller had a

reception for nine yards and an interception return for no yards (caught in endzone) in the same game. He is the first Clemson player to have an interception and a reception in the same game since Pat Crain had 1-0 receiving and 1-15 on an interception return against Virginia on Halloween day of 1964.

During the 1964 season, players went both ways much of the game, so Miller is the first to do it in the two-platoon era.

Miller is the first to do both in Death Valley since Pat

Crain had 1-0 receiving and 1-15 on an interception return against

Virginia on Halloween day of 1964.

During the 1964 season, players went both ways much of the

game, so Miller is the first to do it in the two-platoon era.