Moore says battle with FSU is personal

Moore said a win over FSU this year would help to erase not only one painful loss, but a season of painful losses.

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Wed Sep 21 12:04:43 GMT-04:00 2011

CLEMSON – The first play from scrimmage in last Saturday’s game between Clemson and Auburn was delayed a few times as the officiating crew battled clock issues but also tried to stop the trash talking and rein in the emotions that were already evident on the field.

Front and center for some of those emotional exchanges was senior defensive tackle Rennie MooreRennie Moore
RS Sr. Defensive Tackle
#94 6-4, 270
Saint Marys, GA
View Full Profile , who said he had waited too long for another chance to beat Auburn, and now has another emotional game in his sights as Clemson hosts No. 11 Florida St. this weekend in an early-season divisional showdown.

“There was a lot of built-up emotion last week,” Moore said this week. “I had to go all of Summer 1 and Summer 2 and spring practice just for the chance to get back at Auburn. That is all it was – just a little trash talk going on. I was feeling the emotion of being back in Death Valley, and having them back in the Valley. This week, there are going to be high emotions again. They beat us last year with that 55-yard field goal. I am amped up and ready to play.”

Moore grew up in St. Mary’s, Ga., right in the heart of Seminole country, which he says makes this game even more special to him.

“Down there, you are either a Gator or a Bulldog or a Seminole,” he said. “I went down there [to FSU] my sophomore year for a visit, and I was thinking of going to FSU, but Clemson pulled me in and that is where that story ended. For me, personally, it is a personal battle. Me and Brandon [Thompson], we have the same fuel on that.

“There is something personal with when it comes to playing Florida St. – it is in the blood. I love Clemson, I love the atmosphere. Just hearing that [pantomimes the tomahawk chop] all game and then their kicking hitting that field goal….just crushed me. I’ve already had one revenge and now I’m ready for the next.”

Florida St. kicker Dustin Hopkins drilled a 55-yard field goal as time expired to beat Clemson, and Moore said he has had to live with that sting since then.

“It crushed me. I wasn’t expecting their kicker to make that,” he said. “I thought it would blow to one side or the other, and when it went down the middle it burst my bubble. It hurt so bad. We had worked so hard, and if we had beaten then it would have worked out better for us. Now they are ranked all high, so I guess it is time to burst their bubble.”

Moore said he went home after Clemson’s win over Auburn and made it a point to watch Florida St. take on top-ranked Oklahoma, and he was impressed with what he saw.

“I went home after our game and watched that game,” he said. “I was impressed with the FSU defense and how they were playing. They have good running backs and a good running game. I know they have a few people injured, but we need to make plays.

“We have to focus on Florida St. They are ranked and they have a lot of great players, and you hear so much about them that it can't help but hype you up. For our team, this is a big focus week. We can't slip up or they will beat us. They can do it with offense, defense and special teams. It is going to take a lot of work. “

He also said that another win would help to erase not only one painful loss, but a season of painful losses.

“We went 6-7 last year, and that hurt us. It humbled us. Every game we win just boosts us even more.”