Wednesday’s Thoughts – Syndication Server

Clemson D is tough, nasty, always fun to watch

The one thing that has been fun to watch during Clemson’s run the last decade is the Tigers’ defense. The Clemson defense is always one of the hardest hitting and physical defenses in college football. This past year was no different. While the …

This past year was no different.

While the offense tried to find an identity for much of the 2021 regular season, it was clear from the beginning what the identity of the defense was. Once again, they took on the personality of their defensive coordinator … tough, gritty and hard working.

With Brent Venables directing the defense, the Tigers once again rank among the nation’s best in just about every defensive category, while leading the ACC in eight of the major categories, including scoring and total defense. They rank in the top 10 nationally in scoring, total and rushing defense, while ranking in the top five in scoring defense, points allowed, touchdowns allowed, yards per play and sacks.

In all, the Clemson defense is ranked in the top 10 nationally in 12 major categories.

During the season, the Tigers not only shut out South Carolina to close out the regular season, but they did not give up an offensive touchdown to Georgia, S.C. State, Georgia Tech and UConn as well. It is the first time since 1990 a Clemson defense held five of its opponents without an offensive touchdown.

In an era when fans are always clamoring for more points and big offensive numbers, it is refreshing to a football purest, such as myself, to see a defense that can consistently stop some of these pass-happy offenses.

I love to see a defense that will deliver a big hit. I love to see a defense that will get after the quarterback. I love to see a defense that will shut down the run. I love to see a defense that is physical and nasty and makes sure, win or lose, that their opponents know it.

That has been the calling card for the Clemson defense the last 10 seasons under Venables. It is understandable why big-time schools, such as Oklahoma, want him to be their head coach. With his exotic schemes and blitzes, his Clemson defenses are just so much fun to watch.

Clemson’s defensive numbers in 2021

*note: (ACC rank /national rank)

Scoring defense: 15.0 points per game (1^st/2^nd)

Total TDs allowed: 21 (1^st/2^nd)

Total points allowed: 180 (1^st/2^nd)

Total defense: 308.4 yards per game (1^st/9^th)

Yards per play: 4.44 (1^st/T 4^th)

Rushing: 98.8 yards per game (2^nd/9^th)

Yards per rush: 2.83 (2^nd/7^th)

Rushing TDs allowed: 7 (1^st/4^th)

Passing yards per attempt: 6.1 (2^nd/8^th)

Passing TDs allowed: 10 (1^st/7^th)

Defensive passing rating: 110.42 (1^st/6^th)

Sacks: 41 (2^nd/T 4^th)

Sacks per game: 3.42 (2^nd/ T 4^th)

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The more antagonistic at Billy B, the more Clemson likes it

You would think playing a noon game at Williams-Brice Stadium might be the time the Clemson Tigers would like to play their bitter rival, if they had a choice. However, that is not the case. Though the home of the South Carolina Gamecocks is a much …

You would think playing a noon game at Williams-Brice Stadium might be the time the Clemson Tigers would like to play their bitter rival, if they had a choice. However, that is not the case.

Though the home of the South Carolina Gamecocks is a much more hostile atmosphere at night, Clemson prefers to play there at night.

“Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Yeah! I am happy the game is at 7:30. I happy,” linebacker James Skalski said.

Why?

“The last time we played there was the noon game. Coach [Dabo] Swinney jokes about it. We got the mild version of the atmosphere kind of because noon games are just different. You want the night games,” Skalski said.

Skalski says he and the Tigers welcome the bad language offered their way in night games. They welcome the Coke bottles, batteries or whatever it is being thrown at them. They welcome “Sandstorm” being played and the little white handkerchiefs being waved in the air.

“As hostile as you can get, we want it that way,” Skalski said. “That is the most enjoyable. That is what it is all about. That is what college football is about. You do not want just half the people there and it is quiet. You want as much energy as possible. You feed off of that as a player. You want that.”

Skalski and the rest of the Tigers are going to get it. Though there are still some tickets available for Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. kick on the SEC Network, South Carolina officials are expecting more than 80,000 fans at Williams-Brice.

“If you are going to be great, you have to love hostility. You have to love it,” the Clemson linebacker said. “I love playing at other places where the fans are into it. It is good going to NC State. I love playing over there because they have a great atmosphere, and the fans are right at your back. Or going to Louisville. You can hear them chirping the whole time. So, I love going on the road. I think it is a lot of fun.”

Skalski hopes the Tigers (8-3) can have as much fun in Columbia as they did the last time they played a night game at Williams-Brice – a 34-10 victory in 2017. Despite the fact the Tigers have won the last three meetings between the two rivals in Columbia, Skalski ranks USC’s home field with some of the best road environments he has played in.

“Oh, it is up there. It’s up there. At that place, they are throwing whatever they can at you. They got the (Sandstorm) playing and the towel swinging, so it is a great place to go play,” he said. “They do a great job over there creating a great environment.”

And Clemson has always done a great job of winning there. Since 1977 – the year of “The Catch” – the Tigers are 16-6 at Williams-Brice Stadium. By the way, Clemson is 7-3 in night games at Williams-Brice.

Now you understand why the Tigers like playing night games there.

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Clemson fans have opportunity to love, care their ‘wounded dog’ back into shape

As a person who owns five rescue dogs, I get Dabo Swinney’s analogy, when he said his Clemson Football team is a “wounded dog on the side of the road.” They may be hurt. They may be down. But they are hungry and more importantly they are still …

As a person who owns five rescue dogs, I get Dabo Swinney’s analogy, when he said his Clemson Football team is a “wounded dog on the side of the road.”

They may be hurt. They may be down. But they are hungry and more importantly they are still alive.

A wounded dog is a fighter. Its determination and will to survive is like no other. I own two dogs that I literally picked up on the side of the road. Well, I should say my ex-girlfriend did. I own another my friend found and one I found wounded and in dire need.

They all had one thing in common when we founded them. They all had that will to live. They all had that will to fight and continue even when all seemed lost.

With the number of injuries, the Tigers have suffered this season, quitting would have been easy. And to be honest, you really could not blame them.

Clemson has had more than 30 players on the injury list this year that have missed at least one game or significant time in a game due to injury. With the news of wide receiver Justyn Ross possibly being lost for the remainder of the season, it would mean 15 of those players have suffered some sort of season-ending injury.

Yet, despite all the injuries. Despite the tough losses to Georgia, NC State and Pittsburgh. Despite all the negative talk on the television, radio, Twitter, and message boards, here they are. It is Week 12 of the college football season, and the Tigers are still alive in the ACC Championship race.

“We are limping along, and we keep finding a way,” linebacker James Skalski said. “I think we are a wounded dog a little bit. I think this is the most injuries I have seen since I have been here. It is definitely the most adversity we have seen. But we are still alive. We are still limping. We are still moving.”

Granted, a lot has to happen for the six-time ACC Champion to make it back to the championship game, but they are still a live and they appear to still have some fight left in them.

“We got to win, but like I said, we are a wounded dog on the side of the road. We need some help man,” Swinney said.

What help is Swinney talking about. Like he said, they first have to win on Saturday against No.10 Wake Forest (9-1, 6-0 ACC). The Demon Deacons are undefeated in conference play and are coming off a huge win over NC State that has them in control of the ACC’s Atlantic Division race.

A win over Wake Forest will keep the Tigers (7-3, 5-2 ACC) alive, but then they will need some help to make it back to Charlotte. Clemson will need NC State (7-3, 4-2 ACC) to lose one of its remaining two games against Syracuse and North Carolina, plus Boston College will need to beat the Demon Deacons in the final week of the regular season.

But the first step in helping a wounded dog is you have to have mercy for it. You have to pick it up and bring it home and show it some love. That is where Clemson fans come in this week.

If the fans want to keep their Tigers’ title hopes alive, they need to show them how much they care. Death Valley needs to be packed on Saturday against Wake Forest. I know it is a Noon kick and I know how difficult it is to get to Clemson that early in the day. But the best way for Clemson fans to show they love their wounded team is to get to the stadium and give the Tigers a home field advantage the Demon Deacons have never seen before.

That kind of love and support can go a long way.

“We need someone to pick us. Bandage us up and give us some new life,” Swinney said. “We are still alive. We are still alive. But if we don’t win this game we are not.”

And trust me, once you pick up a wounded dog and you love and care them back to full strength, there is no friend or companion more loyal and dedicated to you.

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It’s time for the Tigers to seize the moment

Prior to this season, Clemson was 27-2 in true road games since the start of the 2015 season. During that stretch, the Tigers were a team that controlled the game, especially on offense, seizing every opportunity that came their way, taking away any …

Prior to this season, Clemson was 27-2 in true road games since the start of the 2015 season.

During that stretch, the Tigers were a team that controlled the game, especially on offense, seizing every opportunity that came their way, taking away any hope the home team had.

But that has not been the case in 2021. The Tigers have struggled away from Death Valley this year. They are 1-2 in true road games, with losses at NC State and Pittsburgh, while barely surviving at Syracuse.

“If we want to finish the season the way we want to, then we need to go find a way to win on the road,” head coach Dabo Swinney said.

Clemson’s issues in road games have been a big reason why the Tigers are not the dominant team they have been in years past. What makes a good program a great program is its ability to go on the road and dominate.

How did they do it? How did they win 27 of 29 games in their opposition’s backyard?

They were opportunistic.

In both of their road losses this year, the Tigers had an opportunity to win the game. But in both cases, they failed to take advantage of those opportunities.

Despite playing awful on offense at NC State, the moment to win the game came in the second overtime, but Justyn Ross dropped what would have been a touchdown on one play and then got turned around on a second and missed the opportunity to score.

At Pittsburgh, D.J. Uiagalelei threw a bad pass in the red zone that sealed Clemson’s fate on one drive and then running back Will Shipley dropped a potential touchdown pass on another.

“It probably should have been 17-0 in the first half, but we turn it over in the red zone on a bad play. We are in field goal range, and we miss a touchdown on the same drive, we can at least get a field goal there. We drop a touchdown,” Swinney said. “The next thing you know, when you are on the road, you miss those opportunities and you let that home team get going, it is tough.”

Pitt eventually got going with two late second-quarter touchdowns, as the Panthers took advantage of their opportunities and built a 17-point lead.

“We are in position, but we were not opportunistic, and I think that was the biggest thing,” Swinney said. “That is something we just can’t do.”

As Swinney said, if the Tigers want to finish the season strong and at least put itself in position to stay in the ACC’s Atlantic Division race, it has to find ways to win football games on the road, instead of finding ways to lose them.

That has to start Saturday night at Louisville.

“For us, we have to stand on our foundation,” Swinney said. “Our effort has to be amazing, and we have to win the physical matchup. We have to take care of the ball. We can’t have stupid penalties and don’t help them. The main thing offensively, we just have to be opportunistic. We did not do that the last time we were on the road. The opportunity was there, but we just did not seize the moment.

“When you are on the road and you got those opportunities, you have to seize the moment.”

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Jim Phillips had one of the Best Voices in College Football

A few weeks back, I was around when a young man got the opportunity to meet Don Munson. The young man said to Don, “Don Munson! You are the Voice of the Tigers.” Though appreciative of the recognition, Munson replied very politely, “No. No. I am not …

A few weeks back, I was around when a young man got the opportunity to meet Don Munson.

The young man said to Don, “Don Munson! You are the Voice of the Tigers.”

Though appreciative of the recognition, Munson replied very politely, “No. No. I am not the Voice of the Tigers. That is and always will be Jim Phillips.”

He is right. Jim Phillips will always be the voice of the Clemson Tigers. He is who I grew up listening to every Saturday afternoon in the fall.

Jim Phillips and Clemson Athletics went hand-and-hand, especially Clemson Football.

From 1968 until his death in 2003, Phillips was the voice generations associated Clemson Football with. Like the great ones of his time, Phillips had some of the most iconic calls in Clemson history.

He called “The Catch” in 1977 after Jerry Butler made a leaping-twisting catch of a Steve Fuller pass in the final seconds to beat archrival South Carolina. He called Clemson’s dramatic win at Maryland to clinch the 1978 ACC Championship. He called the Tigers’ come-from-behind victory to stun Notre Dame on Senior Day in South Bend, Indiana.

Phillips called Willie Underwood’s two interception returns in Clemson’s upset of No. 14 South Carolina in 1980. He called both of David Treadwell’s last second field goals to break the hearts of Georgia fans everywhere in back-to-back years. He even called “Catch II” in 2000, when Woodrow Dantzler found Rod Gardner deep down the near sideline to set up Aaron Hunt’s game-winning field goal to beat the Gamecocks.

Some of my fondest memories from my youth were when my brother and I were playing football in the backyard and listening to the Clemson game. Every time there was a big play, we would stop what we were doing, and we would listen to Jim Phillips.

He called it all. Besides football, he called men’s and women’s basketball and baseball games. He was there for the biggest moments in all of those sports, too.

I am writing about Jim Phillips this morning because I watched a documentary on ESPN last night that chronicled the legendary careers of some of the SEC’s most iconic voices. Guy’s like Georgia’s Larry Munson, Tennessee’s John Ward, Alabama’s Eli Gold, Auburn’s Jim Fyffe and Rod Bramblett, and Mississippi State’s Jack Cristil, who was the Voice of the Bulldogs for 58 years.

All of them were legends, just like Phillips is to all of us who followed the Clemson Tigers during the 36 seasons he called Clemson games. Watching the documentary on Tuesday made me go back and search for some of Phillips’ calls. It brought back a lot of good memories and made me want to write this column.

The last time we all heard Phillips’ voice was on Sept. 6, 2003, when he called Clemson’s 28-17 win over Furman. That following Tuesday, he passed away due to an aneurysm of the aorta. He was 69 years old.

My favorite memories of Jim Phillips were listening to him call the 1981 season as the Tigers sent us all on a magical journey to an improbable national championship. His voice is forever etched in my mind, as each Saturday he told a different story as the Tigers ascended to No. 1 for the very first time.

The only disappointing part about the 1981 season was the fact Phillips could not call the 1982 Orange Bowl because NBC owned exclusive rights to the game.

But we all got to hear so many more great calls from Jim Phillips over the years, like his call of Treadwell’s game-winning kick in 1986 to beat Georgia “Between the Hedges” in Athens.

Like a lot of you, Phillips was a part of my life for so many years. He was there when the Tigers made me proud. He was there when they made me mad, and he was there when they made me cry.

It is a shame there are now generations of Clemson fans who never really got to hear Jim Phillips call a Clemson game.

Like Don Munson said, there is only one Voice of the Clemson Tigers and that will forever be Jim Phillips.

So, as I sign off this morning, I just want to write these words, and as you read this, I hope you hear Jim Phillips’ voice.

“Jim Phillips, so long everybody.”

–File Photo courtesy of Clemson Athletic Communications

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This could be Swinney’s best coaching to date

Dabo Swinney said he had so many players wearing yellow jerseys at Monday’s practice, he had enough guys to win a bowl game. And he was not exaggerating. Like most programs through the years, Clemson has had its fair share of injuries, including …

Dabo Swinney said he had so many players wearing yellow jerseys at Monday’s practice, he had enough guys to win a bowl game. And he was not exaggerating.

Like most programs through the years, Clemson has had its fair share of injuries, including loss of a player or two with season-ending injuries. That is football. It comes with the territory. But for the most part, especially during its run to elite status in college football, Clemson has been fairly fortunate.

But the Tigers good fortune ran out in 2021. The injury bug has run rampant through the program as 20 players have some kind of injury that has either held them out of game, knocked them from the game or ended their season all together.

Six players–WR Will Taylor (ACL); DT Bryan Bresee (ACL), OL John Williams (ACL), OL Dietrick Pennington (ACL), wide receiver Brannon Spector (shoulder and COVID-19) and OG Daquan Johnson (pec tear)—are done. Johnson and Spector were done before preseason camp even started and Williams was injured during camp. Pennington went down early in the year and in the last two weeks the Tigers have lost Bresee and Taylor for the season.

“We’re a M.A.S.H. unit. We’ve got a lot of guys that we’d have a hard time probably playing this week,” Swinney said.

Never in the Swinney era has Clemson been this beat up. Heck, in my 17 years covering the Tigers, I have never seen them with so many injuries.

Defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart had his knee scoped prior to camp, and he still has not played. Offensive guard Mason Trotter broke his hand in camp and has missed most of the season thus far. Defensive tackle Tyler Davis has a bicep injury he suffered in Clemson’s win over Georgia Tech, and he likely will not return until the postseason.

Running back Will Shipley suffered a lower leg injury at NC State and will miss at least a few more weeks before he can return.

Defensive tackle Tre Williams has an undisclosed injury, but he has been playing hurt all year, according to Swinney. Linebacker James Skalski has been dealing with a shoulder issue for most of the season and had to leave the NC State game because of it.

This past week, corners Malcolm Greene (shoulder), Mario Goodrich (groin) and Fred Davis (ankle), along with right guard Will Putnam (toe) all missed the Boston College game due to injury, while wide receivers Frank Ladson (groin), E.J. Williams (hand, knee) and Justyn Ross (concussion) were all forced to leave the game because of an injury. Tight end Braden Galloway also suffered a concussion in the Tigers’ win over BC.

Swinney expects most of the players on the injured list to be back by this Sunday when they begin game week for Syracuse on Oct. 15.

But, as you can see, Clemson is truly a beat-up football team right now. Trying to win football games is already a tough enough task, but with so many injuries it is even harder.

Clemson’s goal is to win the ACC. Though the Tigers need a little help right now, that goal can still be obtained. And if the Tigers can find a way, do it, this might the best job of coaching Dabo Swinney’s career.

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Tigers need to have fun

Dabo Swinney always likes to say, “This game is the biggest game of the year.” He says it as a way to make sure his team’s focus is on the task at hand and not what is going to come down the road. It is a philosophy that has worked well in his 13 …

Dabo Swinney always likes to say, “This game is the biggest game of the year.”

He says it as a way to make sure his team’s focus is on the task at hand and not what is going to come down the road. It is a philosophy that has worked well in his 13 seasons as Clemson’s head coach.

However, Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. kick against Boston College is not just a saying this week, it is the Tigers’ biggest game of the season. Thanks to last week’s loss at NC State, Clemson cannot afford another loss in the ACC if it hopes to win a seventh consecutive ACC Championship.

In fact, even if the Tigers win the rest of their remaining conference games, there is no guarantee at this moment that will be enough to earn them a spot in the ACC Championship Game. They also need NC State to lose two conference games in the next eight weeks.

“Right now, we can’t control any of that. NC State, they are in full control of the [Atlantic] division now with the win over us. So, it is just one week at a time,” safety Nolan Turner said. “Control, what we can control. Come in and put the work in today. Have a great day, today. Then when you start stacking those days on top of each other, you will end up getting the results you want.”

The Tigers’ current situation is one they have not really been in during their string of championships, which began back in 2015. Even when they lost to Syracuse in 2017, Clemson was still in control of its own destiny because the Orange was not a contending team in the division.

In 2016, Clemson lost to Pittsburgh, but the Panthers are in the Coastal Division of the ACC, so the Tigers were able to clinch the Atlantic Division championship the following week with a win over Wake Forest.

But this time around, the Tigers have some work to do before they can even think about playing for another ACC Championship. And, as I said, even then it might not be enough.

“It is all about the work you put in and the commitment you have on a day-to-day basis,” Turner said. “That is just how I have always gone about my work and how I come in here and play. So, just go to work today and the rest will take care of itself.”

In other words, the Tigers just need to go have fun and play football.

“The season is not over. We have eight games left. We have a lot of football in front of us,” Turner said. “Regardless of what happens, I just enjoy going out there and competing. So, there is a lot of motivation in going out there and playing well. You want to go out there and put good stuff on tape and go play for the fans.

“You want to go out there and put on a show. So, that is what we are going to do these last eight games we have ahead of us.”

And that is a great plan.

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!

Target on Clemson’s back is bigger than ever

Clemson has won 31 straight games against current full-time members in the ACC. But is that streak in jeopardy this Saturday in Raleigh? I think so. The ninth-ranked Tigers hit the road for the first time this season on Saturday, as they visit the …

Clemson has won 31 straight games against current full-time members in the ACC. But is that streak in jeopardy this Saturday in Raleigh?

I think so.

The ninth-ranked Tigers hit the road for the first time this season on Saturday, as they visit the Wolfpack of NC State. Before the season began, this was a game many of us already chalked up as a victory, including myself. But let’s be honest, few believe this is a guaranteed victory anymore.

Clemson’s lack of offense has thrown that all out the door. Sure, the Tigers’ defense is one of the best in the nation, but how much longer can we expect them to hold an opponent out of the end zone? Also, can we expect the offense to stop scoring for the other team.

The offense is responsible for 12 of the 21 points Clemson has allowed in the first three weeks of the season, including nine directly.

“We have to stop scoring for the other team,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said.

The Tigers (2-1, 1-0 ACC) have to start scoring also. They can’t keep expecting to win games 14-8 every week and win another ACC Championship.

In their two games against Power 5 opponents, the Tigers have scored just 17 points. That is not going to get it done this week.

“We have to play well. It is that simple,” Swinney said. “We have to play well in all three phases, and if we do that, then we will have a chance to win the game. If we don’t, it is going to be a long day.”

Clemson has not had a long day against a true ACC opponent in almost four years. That came at Syracuse on October 13, 2017. Since then, the Tigers have rolled over just about everyone in their way.

Sure, they have had a few close calls here and there, but Saturday’s game at Carter-Finley Stadium could be their biggest challenge in a long, long time.

When is the last time you heard Swinney say, “It could be a long day,” when facing an ACC opponent? He knows his offense has to help out his defense this week.

Is Clemson the more talented team of the two? Sure, there is no debating that fact. But NC State (2-1, 0-0 ACC) is playing better as a complete team.

Granted, their two wins have come against South Florida (1-2) and Furman (2-1), but they dominated both of them. The ‘Pack is averaging 455.0 yards per game and allowing 261.0 on defense.

More than anything, they are an experienced team playing at home and playing with a lot of confidence.

“This is a very good NC State team. This is a very good team, complete,” Swinney said. “This has to be one of the more experienced teams in the country for sure. They have a ton of guys that have played a lot of ball on both sides of the ball. Nine of eleven back on offense and had ten of eleven back on defense, now eight of eleven after a couple of guys have got hurt. They have a few guys that have transferred in that were starters, as well.

“So, lots of experience with this team. They are incredibly well coached. They play hard. They play tough. They play smart.”

I know, some of you are thinking, “Well, that is all coach speak.” And you are right. It is coach speak, but this time Swinney just isn’t sugarcoating things.

This NC State team is for real, and if the Tigers do not get things going on offense, Clemson might lose its first game to the Wolfpack in 10 years.

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!