TigerNet Talk (TNT)

TigerNet Talk #79: Seventeen Years - 11/05/09

tnt@tigernet.com (TigerNet.com) — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:12:48 -0400

There was a day in the not so distant past when ACC stood for Another Clemson Championship. Since Florida State’s arrival in the league, Clemson has failed to expand on their once-proud conference championship legacy. Seventeen years, zero championships.

In the two games prior to the Seminoles joining the conference these two teams were virtually indistinguishable. Both were ranked in the top five of the 1988 preseason poll, and no one in the country wanted to see either on their schedule.

Flashback with me if you will to September 17, 1988, where a rain soaked crowd of Tiger faithful watched Florida State go “Prime-time” in more ways than one. I have long believed that the contest forever known as The “Puntrooski” Game was the beginning of Clemson’s demise, and the ascension of Florida State’s program as a national power.

On that day, the Seminoles may have broken the #3 ranked Tigers spirit, a Clemson team that was good enough to win the national title. However the next season, Clemson answered in Doak Campbell Stadium winning 34-23, and I doubt many Tiger fans thought these two teams were headed in different directions. The Tigers blistered the Seminoles on both sides of the ball that night and finished 10-2 for the second straight year.

But in 1992 Florida State joined in ACC, and in their second conference game the Seminoles, led by Charlie Ward's late game heroics beat the Tigers 24-20 and took the Atlantic Coast Conference from Clemson. FSU finished 11-1, 8-0 in conference play. The Tigers, a dismal 5-6, 3-5 and a seventh place finish. This was Clemson’s worst finish in more than fifteen seasons.

Seventeen years of frustration. Seventeen years of someone else winning what was at one time our conference. We have been through three coaches, hundreds of players, multiple stadium renovations, and 87 losses or roughly five per season. In the seventeen years prior to Florida State joining the league we only lost 52 games.

In a prime-time Saturday evening game, Clemson takes control of the Atlantic Division. By beating the Seminoles, Clemson places themselves in position to make their first ever appearance in the ACC Championship Game.

Tune in this week to see if the Xbox can move to 9-0 while El Swann looks to go 8-1 on the season with his Tiger predictions.

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Follow the Tigers throughout the season on TigerNet Talk and Clemson Hotline. Each week, Lawton Swann will review the previous weekend's game and preview and predicts Clemson's next game. You can listen to both shows at www.clemsonpodcasts.com.

Follow our Twitter feed to get all the latest news about your Clemson Tigers. http://twitter.com/clemsonpodcasts
Go Tigers!

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TigerNet Talk #78: The U Didn't Know - 10/29/09

tnt@tigernet.com (TigerNet.com) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:34:51 -0400

Believe it or not the Clemson Tigers traveled to South Florida and pulled off a major win for the program, defeating the #8 Miami Hurricanes 40-37. The Tigers have won against the Hurricanes in back to back road trips to Florida, which should bring a welcomed booster shot to recruiting. Beating the Canes is no simple task, and Clemson looked like the more athletic team throughout the game. It still early, but this victory could be the first of many special wins for Coach Dabo Swinney.

If you watched the game, it was pretty obvious that Clemson did everything they could to give the game away at times. However, I never felt at anytime Miami controlled the game. From the start, Clemson seemed to set the pace on both sides of the ball. Sure, there was poor player execution, questionable coaching decisions, and at times just pure bad luck. Even so, Clemson found a way to claw out their biggest victory of the season. A victory which could mark the turning point in the season, and become a statement win for Dabo Swinney.

Much of the night it was Clemson's Heisman candidate C.J. Spiller lighting up the Miami skyline with play after play. Spiller's 90 yard kick return late in the second quarter showcased his elite speed for the country. Totaling a Clemson record 310 all purpose yards, Spiller made a strong statement for being considered the top player in the country. People laughed a few weeks ago when I wrote that he was the best player in the country and that I wouldn't trade him for anybody. I guess those folks hadn't seen him play enough. It's sad that a grass roots movement is going to have to push Spiller into the Heisman conversation. He deserves to be in New York for the ceremony if he can keep this up.

In the end, Spiller's heroics were overshadowed by a laser thrown from Kyle Parker to Jacoby Ford that ended the back and forth affair. On 3rd and 11 in the 1st overtime, Parker sent a strike to Jacoby, and a dagger to the Miami faithful. "Vol Alert" was the call, and it was a thing of beauty. One foot to the right and the pass is knocked down, one foot to the left and it might be picked, in a game of inches this 26 yard strike will be remembered for some time. With one bullet pass, Clemson now sits in the driver seat to represent the Atlantic division in the ACC Championship game and controls their own destiny.

The offense was brilliant at times, but it was the defense that made the stops when Clemson needed them the most. After a late interception, when Clemson had the tying field goal in their pocket, Clemson's defense forced Miami to go three and out and gave the offense a chance to get back on the field. Then in the overtime period, a opening 19 yard run by the Hurricanes turned into only a field goal after the Tigers defense held on three plays forcing the Canes to settle for three. The offense and special teams kept the Tigers in the game, but the defense won this game.

With huge implications riding on every ACC game remaining, I expect the Tigers to put it on cruise control versus Coastal Carolina. All-Time All-Purpose Yards and the Heisman Trophy, take a back seat to what is best for this team. Sure, Spiller could rack up the yardage this week, but he puts the team first. In order to reach the ACC Championship, C.J. Spiller has to be healthy and you just can't afford to lose him now. I expect C.J. to get his early, and often. You better be in your seats at kickoff, because I doubt you see Spiller once 4 minutes remain in the second quarter. It should be that kind of day for the Tigers.

Tune in this week to see if the Xbox can move to 8-0 while El Swann looks to go 7-1 on the season with his Tiger predictions.
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Follow the Tigers throughout the season on TigerNet Talk and Clemson Hotline. Each week, Lawton Swann will review the previous weekend's game and preview and predicts Clemson's next game. You can listen to both shows at www.clemsonpodcasts.com.

Follow our Twitter feed to get all the lastest news about your Clemson Tigers. http://twitter.com/clemsonpodcasts
Go Tigers!

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TigerNet Talk #77: Clemson vs. Miami - 10/23/09

tnt@tigernet.com (TigerNet.com) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:35:39 -0400

El Swann takes a look at the upcoming game vs. Miami.

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TigerNet Talk #76: Clemson vs. Wake Forest - 10/15/09

tnt@tigernet.com (TigerNet.com) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:42:32 -0400

El Swann takes a look at the upcoming game vs. Wake Forest.

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TigerNet Talk #75: Rush to Judgement - 10/01/09

tnt@tigernet.com (TigerNet.com) — Thu, 1 Oct 2009 22:52:17 -0400

Each week I try to come up with some level of prose that you all will feel is acceptable to read as Clemson Tiger fans. I am, by no means, a writer. I can barely punctuate a sentence correctly. The English scholars here could shred my writing to pieces at will. Even during the best of times for Clemson football, writing for TigerNet Talk is difficult for me. I am envious of those who write for a living, I couldn't do it, but I continue to try. I like to have some writing with each release of TigerNet Talk, if time permits. As many of you know, I am a now a father and the time I used to have, is now missing. Having a three month old at home, has limited my time to write. Some of you probably wish it would limit my time to talk as well. I am still hoping to find my missing time again one day, but most of you have informed me that it will never come back. So I hope you will forgive me if from time to time, I choose not to write an accompanying piece.

In the mean time, our Tigers face the most important game of the year. They must stay undefeated against our side of the conference, or face an uphill battle to the ACC Championship game again. As we all know, that hill has been insurmountable in recent years, and I see no reason that it would change if the Tigers drop one at College Park. Clemson's offense has relied too heavily on C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford thus far. You can bet Maryland will try to take those two away this weekend, hoping to bog down this Clemson offense. If they can do that, it leaves Kyle Parker and a slew of unproven, inexperienced wide receivers to make the difference on the road. In that scenario, I don't like our chances against, what has been, a porous Terrapin defense.

All that said, without taking anything away from our defensive coaching staff. Kevin Steele and company have been great to watch. I think Coach Steele has been much harder on himself and the players about giving up touchdowns, than the fans have been. Steele didn't sit through hours of bend and eventually break defense for the past ten years. I expect you did, and if so, you shouldn't dislike what you have seen from his D. They attack from the get go and are without a doubt one of the best in the conference.

It's the offensive staff and the under utilization of a consistent rushing attack that worries me this week. It seems that we have gotten away from the run too quickly this season. Coach Napier must get the most out of the weapons we have. Personally, I would like to see us run the wildcat formation more frequently. I am not an offensive guru and I would probably fail miserably, but I watch plenty of other teams get the ball to their play-makers in open space. Putting Spiller, Ford, and Ellington on the field at the same time would help create confusion for the defenses. We don't have an identity on offense, let's create one now.

In my opinion, it has to start with an effective ground attack so that Kyle Parker can get comfortable. I thought I read the stat sheet wrong after the TCU game. Zero carries for Andre Ellington? Zero? He's not C.J. Spiller, but that can't happen anymore. He has shown that he deserves to run the ball, and I would get both he and Spiller in the backfield together. If teams are going to key on Spiller, make them pay for it. We can't send Parker or Willy Korn out there and expect them to light it up without proving that we can, and will run the ball. The receivers are still learning and they will improve throughout the year, but I don't expect us to win our division if we continue to get away from the run.

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Listen to TigerNet Talk and see if the Xbox 360 can stay undefeated this year: 4-0

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TigerNet Talk #74: Clemson vs. TCU - 9/24/09

tnt@tigernet.com (TigerNet.com) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:01:25 -0400

El Swann reviews the Boston College game and takes a look at the upcoming game vs. TCU.

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TigerNet Talk #73: Pouncing Back - 9/16/09

tnt@tigernet.com (TigerNet.com) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:00:47 -0400

After the first quarter at Georgia Tech, much of the national audience had already flipped over to the opening game of the NFL season. It appeared to most, Clemson was about to get crushed in their opening ACC game. Another prime time Tiger flop was only three quarters away. Trailing 24-0, with possibly the entire season riding on their reaction to the situation, Clemson struck back.

In a flash, literally, Clemson began one of the best comebacks in years. Clemson’s twenty-seven unanswered points gave them an opportunity to have the second greatest come from behind win in Clemson history. Even after the final gun, Clemson’s players, coaches, and fans saw something they could be proud of regardless of the outcome. Moral victories are worthless, but stepping up when many would have folded says a lot about this team. In a strange way, the loss at Georgia Tech made this team stronger. One would expect a fired up Clemson team to arrive in Death Valley on Saturday.

This weekend Clemson is set to battle the thorn in their side, Boston College. The Eagles have won three out of four against Clemson since joining the ACC. On top of that, recently, Tiger teams have allowed one loss to beat them multiple times, never being able to put the last loss in the rear view mirror. I think Coach Swinney is going to change that trend.

In the four games against Boston College, the Eagles have been the dominate team in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Their line dominance, in my opinion, is why they are the most difficult team for Clemson to match up with in the conference. Hopefully, the loss of defensive linemen, B.J. Raji and Ron Brace to the NFL, will be enough to even the line play this season.

The good news for Clemson fans is that the Eagles have more question marks at quarterback than any team in the league. If the Tigers can shut down the Eagles rushing attack between the tackles, it might make for a long day for quarterbacks, Justine Tuggle and Dave Shinskie. Boston College can’t allow this game to be decided by their arms alone. If the Eagles are forced to beat Clemson in the air, the Tiger’s ball hawking secondary should have plenty of opportunities to make game changing plays.

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TigerNet Talk #72: Changing the Tide - 9/8/2009

tnt@tigernet.com (TigerNet.com) — Tue, 8 Sep 2009 23:17:34 -0400

When Clemson travels to Bobby Dodd Stadium for Thursday night’s game, the Tigers will be forced to reflect on their last visit to Atlanta, a 34-10 loss to Alabama. Clemson never recovered from an opening tilt that was supposed to prepare them for an ACC Championship run. The disappointment from last year still lingers in Death Valley. A championship season slipped away just after the coin toss in the first game of the year.

However, this time around the Tigers head to Atlanta with a win under their belts. Not only is this game a chance for redemption from last year, but it will also be Coach Swinney’s first revenge game. Georgia Tech handed Swinney and the Tigers a 21-17 loss last season in the week following Coach Bowden’s departure. Thursday night, Clemson can erase the bad memories of last season from the minds of Tiger fans everywhere. A victory in Atlanta would put Clemson is a good situation very early in the ACC season.

In the eyes of the national media, these two teams are clearly separated. Georgia Tech and Paul Johnson’s Triple Option offense come in ranked #15 and are looking for an ACC title run of their own. Clemson on the other hand, has limited expectations nationally, a stark contrast from last season. No one is talking about the Tigers, but that could change if the Clemson’s defense can control Tech’s vaunted rushing attack.

After looking at these two teams on paper, they seem quite similar. I don’t know that either team has a distinct advantage. Both teams feature high profile running backs that can change the game with one play. Under the lights on Thursday night, both Jonathan Dwyer and C.J. Spiller are sure to be electric. The defenses are aggressive and will look to put pressure on the quarterbacks in hopes of forcing mistakes.

The one area where I think Clemson can excel is special teams. It’s clear that Andre Powell has his unit focused and Paul Johnson claims he will ‘kick it and cover it’. If the explosive Tiger return tandem of C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford can get loose it might just be the difference Clemson needs to spring an upset.

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TigerNet Talk #71 - A fresh start - 9/2/2009

tnt@tigernet.com (TigerNet.com) — Wed, 2 Sep 2009 09:10:32 -0400

The Clemson Tigers kickoff the 2009 football season this weekend against Middle Tennessee State with the tarnish of last season in the back of the fans' and players' minds alike. The expectations in Tiger Town are far from where they were this week last season. I don't recall many teams going from National Title hopes to fired head coaches in six weeks. You
can't blame Clemson fans for approaching this season with much more caution, or guarded optimism, after the rough campaign last fall.

However, others seem to feel that the Dabo Swinney era will be a resurgence for Tiger football. I doubt it will come easy, but it sure would be nice to recapture the feeling Clemson fans had leaving Death Valley after the 2006 Georgia Tech game. Many if not all of the Clemson faithful left that game with the thought, "We're Back!" only to find themselves stunned once again and going 17-14 overall since that win.

I don't know if Dabo can recapture that championship swagger that the great Clemson teams brought to the table each weekend, but I feel good about his chances. I believe that the lessons he has learned throughout his life will push him to be successful. He has overcome hardships, and if I've learned anything in life it's that you grow through the toughest times. Hopefully, Coach
Swinney will inspire this team to be more passionate, assertive, and aggressive on the field.

I honestly have no idea how this team will fair in 2009, but at least it starts in just a few days. No Clemson fan will complain about that!

*Follow the tigers throughout the season on TigerNet Talk. Each week, Lawton Swann will review the previous weekend's game and preview Clemson's next opponent.

This season I am going to try and expand TigerNet Talk's coverage to include more former Clemson athletes. I hope you will also follow our twitter feed to get all the latest Clemson sports
news. Twitter is a great way to get the information you want to your computer or even your mobile phone. http://twitter.com/clemsonpodcasts

If you have any comments or suggestions, please let me know. I also hope you will tune in each week to Clemson Hotline, on a network of stations across South Carolina. Clemson Hotline can be heard live Monday nights on WOLT-FM @ http://www.wolt-fm.com/wolt.m3u I look forward to hearing from you all throughout the season.

Go Tigers!

http://www.clemsonpodcasts.com

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All TNT episodes are back online!

tnt@tigernet.com (TigerNet.com) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:31:29 -0400

Look forward to new episodes coming soon!