Clemson

"Touchdown Florida State!" was the resounding scream over the Death Valley Public Address system late in the 4th quarter. The only problem was that it was the home team who scored. Whoops, I guess he just assumed...sometimes, habits formed over just a few hours are tough to break. Good gracious, what a game.

Clemson and Florida State are University Brethren in so many ways. The true fans reflect a southern charm and classy demeanor that has always separated us from our arrogant (nicest word possible) downstate rivals. However, we are still both the snot-nosed younger brothers in our State. It always feels like an uphill battle in our relative republics fighting for funding & power. I can recall walking by a UF Booster invitation-only breakfast on the morning of our annual clash in Hogtown with the entry fee being $2,500 per plate and all 50 tables were miraculously sold out.  They raised a million and a quarter doling out eggs and hash browns and at our place, I think we will let you throw the damn spear for $100k. USC has a similar stranglehold on all the start buttons in the Palmetto State. So, when the World stops to watch us on the same afternoon that both the Lizards and Cocks were unceremoniously embarrassed on National TV, a celebration is in order.

Speaking of the USC loss, it was an absolute treat in the Tailgate lots to just listen to the waves of jubilation as the game unfolded. Different tv satellite systems and radio delays meant that every wonderful Tennessee success was greeted by small parties all around us in one to ten second increments as the action was downloaded. I actually stood with a rowdy group of about 25 Tigers that looked on anxiously as UT lined up for the decisive kick...only to hear wild cheers erupting in pockets and waves from all directions. They knew the result, but it had not yet bounced off their personal 50,000 foot earth orbiter yet, so they all stood and half cheered and then - like it was a mystery just solved - erupted on their own when the pigskin floated in between the goal posts. Hats off to the tailgate professionals in the lots who thought to bring Rocky Top for just this moment; that is a level of rival hatred preparation that I was really impressed with.  Similarly, you could locate our own kind because we were glued to the game in the "other" Columbia and reveling loudly in the demise of the Lizard in the Show Me State. So, the ACC little brothers all hugged and entered Death Valley arm-in-arm-happy...and some of us left the same way.

It is time to give young Mr. Pruitt the credit he deserves. This was not a Clemson team that was easy to slow down. Tahj Boyd was rattled, confused and throwing into incredibly tight windows all night long. With the exception of the Joyner pick where we only had 10 on the field (and that mess worked out all right!), we only had one true defensive bust all night. Last season, the Clemson attack had us on our heels for two full quarters and talent alone stopped the bleeding. On this night, a scheme completely designed to handle the spread did just that. Darby, Williams, Andrews and Brooks were terrific and oh yeah, that little #20 can play some ball too. Like a supercharged angry dwarf on Ritalin, LJ just ransacked in a blur everything in orange. He and Telvin Smith acted like they were holding Dabo's ugly sweatshirt manufacturer hostage in return for knowing all the plays in advance. Pruitt has mastered the ability to take these two boys and completely fluster offensive coordinators with where they will be on the field. As an aside; if someone out there can make a chinstrap that will hold a helmet on Timmy Jernigan's dome, that would save us about four plays a game with him. Even hatless, Timmy and his interior buddies held up beautifully all game and by making Clemson entirely reliant on attacking through the air, the game was won. Loved seeing freshman Walker and Casher in the first quarter as they will only get better with meaningful reps.

When the pundits paid to stalk high schoolers tell us that we have the best defensive player in the US, we tend to set our standards a wee bit too high. Well, Mario Edwards Jr. may never hit that pedastal, but he is beginning to carve out a place on this squad. His strength is his strength, and although that is a tough fit for a traditional rush end, in this defense he simply needs to hold the edge and win the single team battles. He is doing that, and I can see an evolution of MEJ into a bull rushing force by season's end. However, the next time a ball is bouncing at his feet and there is an option of having LJ scoop it or himself, he may want to check his calendar-timed 40 at the door and let the little guy run toward the sticks.

Smiling and goofy. Watching Jameis clown around in the locker room before the game, how can his teammates not be confident they are gonna win. He makes ridiculous throws each game and on this crazy stage still delivered a few jawdroppers. 2nd and 30. Easy. Two frozen ropes in the face of a blitz to Kenny Shaw and mission accomplished. Every throw to NOL was in the only tiny hole it could be. And the high point jobs to a suddenly dependable Kelvin Benjamin were simply sublime. We got lightning in a bottle, fellow Noles, and we may have to just win this whole damn thing while goofy is hanging out in Tally. Speaking of O'Leary, that offseason workout of slamming a city bus paid dividends as he left Tiger road kill on the sideline. Even Greg Jones was smiling at that shoulder shiver. But, the real story of this game was the five well fed, sweaty boys in front of the Bessemer Bazooka. Clemson knew they lost this game and their manhood on that 7 minute 16 play field goal drive. We ran it down their throats and they just took it. It was only 10-0, but all the talk about a new and sparkly, improved Tiger defense was left on the bus above Howard's Rock. Cam Erving picked a helluva time to show an All-American DE what it will be like on Sundays. I know it is a broken record, but Devonta Freeman is an absolute monster in pass protection. If they ever choose to mix it up and throw a screen to the dude, look out. Really sorry to see JWJ banged up again. This game was made for him and I think we were saving him for this moment. Hopefully, he will recover soon to knock some Hurricane heads around...

Maybe the best thing about the outcome and style points we got this week is the timing. The Seminole torch has been firmly and indubitably passed to Jimbo Fisher now. The doubters left simply have to go away. From recruiting to development and finally results - this program has been reborn in his image. What better time is there to comfortably welcome back the man who set the table for us all to eat than now. Welcome back Coach Bowden. In one glorious night, we get to celebrate the past, present and future of Florida State football. Can't wait.