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RECAP
Clemson beat Florida State in front of a national audience on ESPN last night, dropping 19 unanswered points on the Noles in the final 9 minutes of the game. Dabo Swinney claimed it was a sloppy game, one that will precipitate a lot of film study and coaching, and anyone who witnessed the game would agree. Mistakes by the Tigers included fumbles, interceptions, and — most embarrassingly — missing two field goals and three PATs. The Tiger defense, while surrendering 24 to FSU, also managed to force the normally poised Christian Ponder into four interceptions, more than doubling his season total. Clemson’s defensive dynamo DeAndre McDaniel picked up his 8th interception on the year to ice the game, and blew up Ponder at the end of the ensuing return.
The main storyline of the night was the continued amazing season of CJ Spiller. Spiller continued to show that he is the best player in the game right now by amassing 312 yards of total offense, and recording yet another 50+ yard touchdown, the 20th of his career. He surpassed Travis Zachery for the all-time record for receiving yards by a Tiger running back. He even struck a mini-Heisman pose in the end zone towards the tail end of the game, a fitting stance for the performances he’s notched in his past two conference games.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
Clemson fans were relatively cautious coming into the game against the Seminoles. Games like this – national audience, conference title hopes on the line, following up a string of victories – were where Clemson teams had failed in the recent past. Dabo Swinney seems to have instilled the Tigers with a different mentality, at least for the time being. Winning the final ACC games of the season at NC State (which for some reason seems like a trap game but maybe that’s just me) and home against Virginia are vital for the Tigers to reach the title game, but you know that already. What is of paramount importance is how the Tigers mentally handle the two games. Do they shape up and correct some of the mistakes of the past week and ultimately the past coaching staff, or do they lapse back in the abyss?
Veering from the title race to the Heisman race, CJ Spiller did his damnedest in front of a national audience to propel himself further up the ladder of Heisman hopefuls. In the week following the Miami game we saw national pundits take up his case and this week will hopefully be no different. I honestly don’t see him winning the trophy, and I feel that attending NYC is a reachable, albeit difficult to obtain goal. It’s not that I don’t believe he deserves it, he absolutely should win the Heisman this year, it’s that I realize the politics at play. I’m not going to rehash the argument about the Heisman being as much an award for the best player on the best team, but there is far more at play here than just the top player in the nation. I question whether or not Clemson has enough pull or media savvy to get the hard facts on Spiller out there and swing some undecided voters. Time will tell, but there is no more deserving player than Spiller. I cherish every game I get to see him in as he’s a special kind of player, one that doesn’t come along that often. He’s got one more home game and then he’s gone. Enjoy him while he lasts, Tiger fans.
1chris simp
on Nov 8, 2009 at 3:04 pm:
That was an AMAZING game, and I’ve not had that much fun since 06 G-Tech! Dabo and the coaching staff did an amazing job in preparation, and the Tigers fought hard to win it! Now time to tame the Pack!
2CUin1993
on Nov 8, 2009 at 3:56 pm:
I am happy with the outcome but think that there are some serious issues with poor tackling, the inability to defend short to intermediate passes, opponent third down conversion percentage, understanding what ineligible man downfield means and kicking.
I think that Napier tends to phone it in on some series. Florida State’s playcalling was far more imaginative than Clemson. Clemson won on talent (who would have thought that would be said a few years ago?).
A lot of work to be done, but bright spots were the play of the D even with all the injuries and Ellington.
Cautiously optimistic…
BTW Clemson’s D only gave up 17 last night, you can thank Parker for the other 7.
3TolleyJenkins
on Nov 8, 2009 at 4:18 pm:
Small asterik: the defense only accounted for 17 of FSU’s points, since one of their TDs was a pick-six.
4dwight_clark87
on Nov 8, 2009 at 5:44 pm:
McDaniel pwning Ponder was just awesome; pointing at him beforehand just made it all the more sweet. Ponder should have done a Favre and hit the turf. Anyway, sloppy, ugly win and hopefully Dabo and Co. are getting ready for the Textile Bowl. I agree that it seems like a trap. Remember what Admiral Ackbar said…
5Tully
on Nov 8, 2009 at 6:18 pm:
That is all.
6Tully
on Nov 8, 2009 at 6:20 pm:
Oh man look at how happy DeAndre looks. He knows he’s going to blow up Ponder there.
7thedabokoolaid
on Nov 8, 2009 at 7:35 pm:
partyyyyy like a rockstar! if we lose to either virginia or ncstate, i won’t ever come out of my house again.
8Mogrits
on Nov 8, 2009 at 8:35 pm:
I loved how McDaniel pointed at Ponder, dropped his shoulder and cut directly inside into him. Too many db’s would have stepped out of bounds.
And hey….maybe he was calling for a block…
9joe
on Nov 8, 2009 at 8:45 pm:
That hit took ponder out for at least the next game, maybe the season.
10Daniel
on Nov 8, 2009 at 9:01 pm:
I agree that NC State has the makings of a trap game. I hope this team is different than the ones prior to it and can go up there and take care of business. If we beat them then I think we definitely handle our business at home against UVA and then off to Tampa. If Spiller can’t get the Heisman, and he probably can’t, he should definitely win the Maxwell Award.
11Mogrits
on Nov 8, 2009 at 9:09 pm:
I don’t think there will be any more trap games. The other shoe dropped at Maryland. It won’t happen again on this crowds watch. Never.
12Danny's spit cup
on Nov 8, 2009 at 9:30 pm:
We will we will ROCK YOU!!!!!
13Tully
on Nov 8, 2009 at 9:30 pm:
@11 Next week is AT NC State, so yeah.
14flaact
on Nov 8, 2009 at 10:56 pm:
@4
You called? :)
15Willy Mac
on Nov 9, 2009 at 9:49 am:
@2 – I love the new gravatar man.
16tigercpa
on Nov 9, 2009 at 3:09 pm:
Spiller needs Clemson and the ACC head Office to get behind his campaign….and I don;t mean just have Ron Cherry “give him the business” ….
17Lloyd Christmas
on Nov 9, 2009 at 4:57 pm:
When they played we will rock you….wow….they played it so loud…felt like a shat out an ice cream cone….and somehow it wasnt shit covered….and clean enough to eat…..imagine how good that would feel….