Clemson

We can deny it, we can make fun of their coach's funny name or mock the colors and fans, but Clemson is our kin. In a basketball conference top heavy with academic snootiness, we are brothers in gridiron arms. Two football schools that have their sensibilities squarely south of the Mason Dixon line. We tailgate the same, talk with the same accent and have the same passion. We ain't city schools, and we each have big brothers in the State that get all the money, attention and play in the damn SEC. The Tigers controlled this conference before those boys from Tally came to play in 1992, and believe me they know that the next 18 years delivered exactly no ACC Championships. Over the next few seasons, as the Hokies fade and the Canes go into the NCAA toilet, the stakes on this game will continue to rise. Good to have this one behind us, because I don't believe many others will find a way to slow down that incredible offense. I am sure it was a TV delight in HD, but we had HDD (High Doak Definition) and that is viewing that is incomparable.

Speaking of coaching, we can complain all we want about the officials. And believe me, Tank, Timmy and Bjeorn all had to retire their jerseys because they were stretched beyond usable fashion this week. But, this Clemson offense was coached and executed better than any I have ever seen in our place. A crowd in an absolute uproar, and no false starts. So many reverses and gadgets that Q from the Bond films was wearing purple and orange on the sideline, and no fumbles, illegal shifts or motions. Give credit...they prepared and performed at an elite level on a big stage, and made the favorite react. I have to believe that both Chad Morris and Mark Stoops will face each other again as head coaches next season rather than in the roles they currently play.

Simply put, it was the best our QB has ever played and there is not even a close second place. His footwork was so solid. Finally trusting his line and having the time to check down all the way through his progressions, EJ was sharp, accurate and in charge. We have always heard what a leader he was, and learned post game that he was the individual who addressed the team in the locker room at halftime. In fact, we understand that the coaches barely spoke. Two throws stand out like Mitt at a Food Stamp Rally to me. The toss over the safety in the face of a blitz to O'Leary was gorgeous, but the go-ahead pass was unbelievable...Just after Chris Thompson gives absolutely every ounce of effort in that muscle-filled Lilliputian body to break 4 tiger tackles and score, the idiot on the field wearing the white hat waits... (and I was watching him) until we score and then tosses his laundry for a hold committed 25 yards behind the play. EJ responds by tossing a perfect parabola into the streaking arms of Rodney Smith in the student corner of Doak. Pandemonium.

Like the castoffs in a Dickens novel orphanage at the Holidays watching the parade of adults tromping through the front gates and hoping for a family, we were optimistic that this group of enormous humans on our front lines was capable of bringing us home. They just might be. Jackson and Matias are really good in space, and opponents do not want to see us screen. First, the best blocking FB in college football takes out the backer and then 950 pounds of beef are looking for orange road kill followed by either a rabid hamster in CT or another Mack Truck in JWJ. It is an automatic 20 yards. We will not truly appreciate the greatness that is Lonnie Pryor until he is gone, but in my mind only Edgar Bennett compares in terms of all timers at the position. Bottom line is that while our young D coordinator was flipping around his Rubix cube, the offense was scoring and scoring and scoring until even old Farah Faberge Organics commercial was jealous.

So what happened on defense. Well, if you were unfortunate enough to be within 40 rows of me during the game (and we sit on row 39), then you certainly knew my feelings. Watching the replay the next night and having my wife's boy toy Herbstreit validate my rants on TV means I don't have to apologize (much) to everyone between me and young Stoops either. We were scared. Maybe justifiably scared after watching film of these Clemson skill guys. But Mark chose to put our back five into a passive zone. Result is that even with pressure up front, receivers were wide open. After halftime, maybe because of the obnoxious jackass on row 39 (not really but it makes me feel better), we put on our big boy pants and switched to a pressing man defense. How about five consecutive possessions with a punt or a pick. Our DL depth also wore out their young line and without an inside running game, it was night-night Howie and his pet rock. When asked to play straight-up Waisome and Rhodes were off the charts. And twice Christian Jones was asked to cover Clemson flyers on middle streaks and both times, he delivered. Wake and Clemson have thrown so much misdirection at our boys that I think our DL eyes are now closer to their ears than than their noses. Bring on the Bulls.

Got away with an abysmal night on special teams. Dustin did not just miss two field goals, he was also off on his kickoffs. So much so, that for the first time all season we gave up on the high deep kickoff that has set the tone for our defense all season. Granted, late he was just avoiding a Sammy Watkins counterpunch, but we threw in the white towel here way before then. We also have to find a punt returner that can simply consistently catch the ball and move ahead 10 yards. Not only has Rashad dropped two balls, but he has let way too many punts land in front of him and bounce for 20 (I vote for my fave frosh Ronald Darby). Again, huge kick return from Joyner probably changed the game, but still want to see #9 take it to the house again sometime this season.

Time for my first home game in 26 years - might be the last. Sorry about all y'all having to drive to a Nole football game - I know it is tough :)