Make or Break for Tigers?Importance of game against Wake Forest not lost on Clemson By Larry Williams (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Richard Shiro After losing 12 days ago to Maryland, a reinvigorated Clemson squad takes on Wake Forest tonight at 7:30 in Winston-Salem, N.C., on ESPN. 
AP Tommy Bowden CLEMSON — James Davis couldn't believe his eyes or ears in the moments that followed Clemson's Sept. 27 loss to Maryland. It was no doubt devastating to watch the Terrapins overcome an 11-point halftime deficit to win 20-17 in Death Valley, but Davis was disturbed by the hopelessness he witnessed in the locker room. "I couldn't believe a lot of guys were putting their heads down," said Davis, Clemson's senior tailback. "You could just tell a lot of guys were thinking the season was over with." Davis says things have changed, that his teammates are now refreshed and reinvigorated after last week's open date. But he knows the Maryland locker room scene could seem like a carnival by comparison if the Tigers don't manage to win tonight at No. 21 Wake Forest. As much as coach Tommy Bowden talks about staying the course and playing the whole season, this team needs a win tonight almost as much for its confidence as for the conference standings. After a 34-10 smashing against Alabama in the opener and the second-half ugliness that unfolded against the Terrapins, the Tigers' psyche might not be able to withstand another gut punch. "I can't imagine" what a loss would entail, Davis said. "I'm not even going to imagine. I'm dreaming right now, hoping that we can get this game." As disappointing as the Tigers' 3-2 start (1-1 ACC) has been, they find their goals still within reach. The Demon Deacons (3-1, 1-0) are the only Atlantic Division team without a conference loss, and Clemson would find itself in good position with a victory in Winston-Salem, N.C. A defeat, though, would put the Tigers in a major hole with next week's visit from Georgia Tech coming. The Tigers follow that game with an open date before embarking on back-to-back trips to Boston College and Florida State. Bowden, still seeking an ACC title in his 10th year with the Tigers, has faced considerable scrutiny thus far this season. Fans couldn't understand why his team wasn't emotionally ready for Alabama. They couldn't comprehend how an offense that moved so effectively in the first half against Maryland ran aground after halftime. Bowden might well be coaching for his job just 10 months after signing a contract extension, but he's giving little indication that the pressure is getting to him. "I hope they feel a sense of urgency," he said of his players. "But you can't create an environment of being tense or being uptight going into a game from a players' standpoint. ... You walk a fine line." Bowden said he spoke to his players earlier this week about being resilient. "It's not so much that you never get knocked down. It's the team that keeps getting up and getting up and getting up. You relate it to life and family and sicknesses and all that stuff. You relate it to what they have to face in the real world. This is no different." Davis said he and fellow senior Cullen Harper addressed the team after the Maryland defeat in an effort to keep everyone together. Junior center Thomas Austin took it a step further three days later, asking Bowden for permission to lead a players-only meeting. Davis and Austin said they've since seen results from their teammates in the form of hard work and a determination to correct the mistakes that derailed them against Maryland. All that sounds good, but both Davis and Austin know the perceived progress won't mean anything if they don't carry it over into tonight's game. "The only way to get that bitter taste out of your mouth is to get a win, and to right the ship in a sense," Austin said. "We're definitely kind of tired of hearing what's being said. We want to go out and prove ourselves again." Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com and check out the Clemson blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/tiger_tracks. |
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Comments
This article has 24 comment(s)
Posted by carolinadude on October 9, 2008 at 4:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Go Deacons!
Posted by eyeinthesky on October 9, 2008 at 7:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Go Deacons.....and take the Lamecocks with you!
Posted by Rooster07 on October 9, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Boy, Bowden really knows how to keep pressure on himself. The weight seems to get heavier every week. Tough task to try to beat Wake on the road. Good luck Tigers.
Posted by jane_doe01 on October 9, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets go TIGERS!!!!! I cant wait for the game tonight!
Posted by uscsax on October 9, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I see a Wake win, close game, with some fireworks in the lockers, similar to the Davis incident from last year.
Posted by robbybobby on October 9, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wake is a good team, cluemzun always loses to good teams. See no reason to change now. James Davis - they were right, it's over, as in finished, kaput, fini, sayonara, adios, hasta luewago, or however you spell it. It's time to join our "wait till next year" club. Tammy and the kool aid band will be back. Bank on it.
Posted by FF40212 on October 9, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tigers win despite more terrible playcalling by Rob "Slip Screen" Spence.
Posted by summerville_guy on October 9, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wake Forest 65, Clemson 2.
Posted by ConcernedinCHS on October 9, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
After losing 12 days ago to Maryland, a reinvigorated Clemson squad takes on Wake.
How many times has the team been reinvigorated this year?
Tonight is a loss so are the next two against GT and BC. That will guarantee no ACCCG for the Tigers yet again.
Posted by surfer on October 9, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Come on guys get real. Tammy Bowden is 7-2 against the Deacs, and they've been dominant pretty mush the whole time (except for one unexpected blowout at Memorial Stadium). I originally predicted that Wake would win, but the more I think about it the more I realize is just won't happen. Clemson wins decisively, but not in a landslide.
31-21
Posted by fantasy5 on October 9, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Stono, you just took a perfectly funny joke, even by my standards as a Clemson fan, and RUINED it! Could someone please correct this fool?? Go TIGERS!!!
Posted by uscsax on October 9, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
what is there to correct, Tommy calls daddy for advice, who's to say he's not the one coaching Clemson, he certainly doesn't seem to be coaching FSU, has the man put on a head set in the last 5 to 10 years?
Posted by fjms on October 9, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
surfer, when did Clemson lose to the W.F. at home under Bowden? I know they have lost twice at W.F. but can't recall any home losses to them under Bowden.
Posted by KidYendor on October 9, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Clemson should not do that Howard's rock thing. I saw them do that on TV before the Maryland kickoff. They stand up there at the top of the hill, hoot and holler and jump and hoot some more, then after what seems like almost a minute they run full blast down that hill a long way. By the time they get to the sideline they are winded and worn out. They ought to just keep the rock on the sidelines where the players can casually touch it after they walk to their line from an end zone corner. Clemson football teams need to save energy when at home just like the rest of us.
Posted by softbatch on October 9, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
will be kind of tough for Clemson to do that "howard's rock thing" tonight seeing as how the game is being played in North Carolina.
Please stop with the FEMA joke. It was funny the first time we all heard it about a month ago. just doesn't have the same zing after hearing 50,000 times.
Posted by DixieTiger on October 9, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GO TIGERS! But tonight is a win/win situation if we win thats great and still have a chance at the ACC Title. If we lose Tommy has a better chance of getting fired. I hope it's a blowout either way. FIRE TOMMY AND SPENCE.
Posted by rebel1 on October 9, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Geez, some of these tiggers fan think they are playing at home and all of them still think if they win the average coast conf it wold mean something. Yea, you might be the best of the worst. Hey not knocking the tiggers, its just the sad truth.
Posted by theronce on October 9, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As I said earlier today, Clemson is already in the broken stage. A win tonight is a treatment. A complete recovery is a conference championship this year. A loss is a system failure requiring a brain transplant.
Posted by huj on October 9, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
He hopes the team will feel a sense of urgency? What about him? Does he not feel anything? Secondly, he only hopes they feel it, he doesn't know for certain? Talk about a guy disconnected from his team. But then again he can afford to be this coy, he's sitting on $4 million, so what does he care?
Posted by Rebel_Yell on October 9, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I usually bet against clemson to add some excitement and because Clmeson rarely covers when giving points. Clemson is getting points tonight against what should be a far inferior football program. I think Clemson will pull it out so I am staying away from the line on this one. If the offense doesn't play up to their potential, I predict Spence is gone tomorrow. 12-0 ? Go Deacons!
Posted by TTBoy on October 9, 2008 at 3:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"summer" that 63-17 still stings. "rebel" you know all about best of the worst...0-21 - hope you two are happy in that "modular home".
Posted by rebel1 on October 9, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
" A complete recovery is a conference championship this year". Like I said yall will settle for the best of the worst
Posted by surfer on October 9, 2008 at 9:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
fjms, I'm not a Clemson fan. I thought one of those losses was at home. I could be mistaken though. Either way I think my prediction was way off. It's 0-3 right now in the 3rd.
Posted by GreenvilleGirl on October 9, 2008 at 11:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Chalk one up for whoever plays against Clemson .....it's a guaranteed win. Wake Forest? Clemson looked like a high school team.
Mr. Bowden may want to call his movers to start packing for him. I don't think the alumni will invite him to come back and play again next year. If they were smart, they'd find a way to void his contract without litigation. The money the university would save could go toward helping students pay their tuition for next semester.