Have you ever had something in your life that hangs over your head, no matter how long ago it was or how serious it was?
I know I have, and we know that Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson has as well. While it has only been a year since the Demon Deacons’ 51-45 double overtime loss to Clemson at home last season, the game is one Clawson will never live down. It was the Tigers’ 14th straight win over Wake Forest.
Clawson met with the media Tuesday to discuss their upcoming Week 6 matchup against Clemson. When asked about last year’s game, Clawson stated it is a game he will be taking to his deathbed.
“It’s always part of my preparation for games. I always try to watch two whole copies of this year’s game, and I always go back and watch last year’s game if we played the opponent. I’d say to Dabo, if he’s in pain, then my pain should be worse because they won the game. We hit some big plays on them, but they hit some big plays on us. That was a very good day to be an outside receiver and a very bad day to be a cornerback in press coverage. Their quarterback, DJ (Uiagalelei), played great that day. But we had opportunities to win that game, and we didn’t take advantage of it. We were up eight, and then they tied it up, and then we had the ball with two minutes left. Even in overtime, we went up, and if we get one stop, we win the football game.”
“There are certain games in your career you never, ever get over. That’s one of them. When I’m on my deathbed, that game will still bother me. Hopefully, our players feel the same way.”
A win over Clemson could have been historic for Clawson and the Demon Deacons last season, but that didn’t workout for them. This season, they head to Death Valley with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove.
Last season’s loss was great motivation for Clawson’s team, but the win for Clemson is the same. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney hated what he saw on tape for the Tigers’ in their win last season, and that, too, is motivation in itself.
Week 6 Clemson vs. Wake Forest is shaping up to be a great matchup.