Wide open
posted by LW, Monday, September 14, 2009
It's gone something like this: Pundits look around at the ACC and realize it isn't very good. Pundits look at Clemson's skill guys and defense and realize the Tigers can be very good.
Then, sooner or later, Clemson fans get something approximating this:
Well, ready or not. Because it's starting to become apparent yet again that Clemson could make some real noise in the ACC this year.
Part of it stems from the Tigers' impressive comeback Thursday night, a comeback whose fuse was lit by big plays on offense and stifling defense. Part of it stems from the ugliness that took place Saturday in Tallahassee and College Park.
Clemson is very much on the radar of Heather Dinich:
3. Clemson looks like a true threat in the Atlantic Division. Despite its loss to Georgia Tech, the Tigers had no shame in their second-half performance on Thursday night, as they came back from a 24-point deficit to lead 27-24 lead in the fourth quarter. The coaching staff made a comeback, along with the team, and did a better job of getting the ball to their playmakers than their predecessors did. Unlike last year in Atlanta when the Tigers were embarrassed by Alabama, this team didn’t quit on coach Dabo Swinney. Clemson’s performance, coupled with Florida State’s poor play, leaves the door wide open for the Tigers.
In his weekly power ratings, Rob Daniels of The ACC Sports Journal ranks the Tigers fourth behind Georgia Tech, Miami and Virginia Tech.
I still have the Hokies No. 1 in the unofficial (and unreleased) TI power poll.
Good line from Daniels:
Be honest: When the Tigers were down 24-0, you suspected another Georgia Tech-Cumberland score.
How about the battle for last among Duke, Virginia and Maryland? Good gosh ... gotta hold your nose when you venture that deep in the standings.
Count J.P. Giglio in the camp that thinks a Tommy Bowden-coached team would not have come back Thursday night.
Maryland doesn't have a lot of talent as it is. So it really hurts when the Terps lose someone of Nolan Carroll's stature.
At this point, I'm feeling fairly comfortable with my against-the-grain pick of Boston College to finish ahead of Maryland in the Atlantic Division. At least the Eagles have a semblance of strength up front on both sides of the ball.
This guy says B.C. could be much better than anticipated.
I wouldn't go that far, not after wins over Northeastern and Kent State. We'll know more Saturday.
Clemson's coaching staff probably won't know about BC's QB situation until Saturday. Frank Spaziani says he'll keep it under wraps.
Speaking of injuries, Wake Forest suffered a big one on defense in Saturday's comeback win over Stanford.
Gotta feel for the Cardinal. A questionable clipping call on a big pass late (think Thomas Austin on Thursday night), and a questionable touchdown ruling on Riley Skinner's late sneak.
It frustrates me to no end when, in a short-yardage situation, you see refs wait to make a ruling on a spot only after they've dug to the bottom of the pile.
What in the world can they discover that they didn't already know?
I understand there's really no other option when you're trying to determine who recovered a fumble. But in situations like the one that unfolded Saturday, you make a decision on the spot right away and you stick with it.
Some Clemson stuff...
Dabo Swinney sees the positives in stories by The State and Independent-Mail.
Oh, almost forgot ... how about them Virginia Cavaliers?
LW
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Clemson's problem in recent years has been performing when people are saying nice things about them.
It's gone something like this: Pundits look around at the ACC and realize it isn't very good. Pundits look at Clemson's skill guys and defense and realize the Tigers can be very good.
Then, sooner or later, Clemson fans get something approximating this:
Well, ready or not. Because it's starting to become apparent yet again that Clemson could make some real noise in the ACC this year.
Part of it stems from the Tigers' impressive comeback Thursday night, a comeback whose fuse was lit by big plays on offense and stifling defense. Part of it stems from the ugliness that took place Saturday in Tallahassee and College Park.
Clemson is very much on the radar of Heather Dinich:
3. Clemson looks like a true threat in the Atlantic Division. Despite its loss to Georgia Tech, the Tigers had no shame in their second-half performance on Thursday night, as they came back from a 24-point deficit to lead 27-24 lead in the fourth quarter. The coaching staff made a comeback, along with the team, and did a better job of getting the ball to their playmakers than their predecessors did. Unlike last year in Atlanta when the Tigers were embarrassed by Alabama, this team didn’t quit on coach Dabo Swinney. Clemson’s performance, coupled with Florida State’s poor play, leaves the door wide open for the Tigers.
In his weekly power ratings, Rob Daniels of The ACC Sports Journal ranks the Tigers fourth behind Georgia Tech, Miami and Virginia Tech.
I still have the Hokies No. 1 in the unofficial (and unreleased) TI power poll.
Good line from Daniels:
Be honest: When the Tigers were down 24-0, you suspected another Georgia Tech-Cumberland score.
How about the battle for last among Duke, Virginia and Maryland? Good gosh ... gotta hold your nose when you venture that deep in the standings.
Count J.P. Giglio in the camp that thinks a Tommy Bowden-coached team would not have come back Thursday night.
Maryland doesn't have a lot of talent as it is. So it really hurts when the Terps lose someone of Nolan Carroll's stature.
At this point, I'm feeling fairly comfortable with my against-the-grain pick of Boston College to finish ahead of Maryland in the Atlantic Division. At least the Eagles have a semblance of strength up front on both sides of the ball.
This guy says B.C. could be much better than anticipated.
I wouldn't go that far, not after wins over Northeastern and Kent State. We'll know more Saturday.
Clemson's coaching staff probably won't know about BC's QB situation until Saturday. Frank Spaziani says he'll keep it under wraps.
Speaking of injuries, Wake Forest suffered a big one on defense in Saturday's comeback win over Stanford.
Gotta feel for the Cardinal. A questionable clipping call on a big pass late (think Thomas Austin on Thursday night), and a questionable touchdown ruling on Riley Skinner's late sneak.
It frustrates me to no end when, in a short-yardage situation, you see refs wait to make a ruling on a spot only after they've dug to the bottom of the pile.
What in the world can they discover that they didn't already know?
I understand there's really no other option when you're trying to determine who recovered a fumble. But in situations like the one that unfolded Saturday, you make a decision on the spot right away and you stick with it.
Some Clemson stuff...
Dabo Swinney sees the positives in stories by The State and Independent-Mail.
Oh, almost forgot ... how about them Virginia Cavaliers?
LW
For questions or comments on this blog entry, please visit The West Zone message board.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
Donnie Patterson. Donnie Patterson is the founder of Patterson Tax Service, located in Easley, S.C. He has been active in tax preparation since 1970, and offers a full range of tax and bookkeeping services.
Larry Williams. Larry has covered the daily beat at Clemson since 2004. Williams, who worked for the Charleston Post & Courier from 2004-08, joined Tigerillustrated.com in November of 2008. He may be reached by email at ldubya08(at)gmail.com. Replace (at) with @.