Can they dominate Wake?

posted by LW, Friday, October 16, 2009

Can Clemson flex its muscles Saturday against Wake Forest?

That's certainly not the most pressing question entering this one. The most pressing question is whether the Tigers can win at all.

But the opponent got me thinking back to when the Demon Deacons were last in Death Valley.

Off the top of my head, the 44-10 smacking ranks as Clemson's most impressive performance from the last three years.

You could make a case for last year's 31-14 bulldozing of South Carolina. But in terms of precision and comprehensive dominance, I'd say the 34-point win over Wake in 2007 was the best we've seen from the Tigers since that 31-7 annihilation of Georgia Tech in 2006.

Clemson simply overwhelmed the Deacs on both sides of the ball. The defense was stifling. And the offense put everything together in a way that was seldom seen against solid teams under Rob Spence, slicing the Deacons to ribbons.

Over the summer at the ACC media gathering in Greensboro, N.C., I spoke with Riley Skinner about various topics. Among them was that game.

“Our defensive coordinator came in at halftime and was like, ‘Out of their first 23 plays, they had 21 new formations that we had never seen.'"

When a quarterback remembers something so vividly from the other side of the ball two years later, you know it was a fairly extraordinary occurrence.

Jim Grobe doesn't often get smacked around that thoroughly. He has coached 104 games at Wake Forest, and only one time has he suffered a worse margin of defeat -- a 45-point loss at No. 12 Miami in 2004.

Could Clemson smack the Deacons around tomorrow? Again, not a great question because the Tigers are just trying to win, period.

And the comparison with 2007 is unfair because that offense had a lot more weapons (James Davis, Aaron Kelly, a better OL, and Cullen Harper pre-shoulder injury).

But you do wonder whether the Tigers' offense could break out a bit Saturday. In my mind, Wake's defense is vulnerable. And Clemson has had an off week to get things right.

Speaking of getting things right ... Oliver Purnell, pictured here ...


Er, here...

Has done a splendid job at Clemson. Once he gets this NCAA Tournament thing down, he'll cement a truly remarkable rebuilding effort.

How far has he taken this program? Far enough that I'm actually considering attending tonight's "Rock the John" event.

Not to cover it. Just to go and check out some of those freshmen. Just to check out a team that, despite the loss of three starters, should be awfully fun to watch this year.

I used to dread basketball season because a) the start of it comes during football season, and that means more work, and b) because basketball at Clemson stunk.

Now, not so much.

Here's more on tonight's event.

And Bart Wright, the resident paragon of journalistic virtue, has good news for the basketball team: Noted pessimist Ron Bradley is optimistic about the Tigers' 3-point shooting.

Back to some football talk ...

Here's an injury update on Wake Forest.

And a story on the resurgence of Deacs' tailback Josh Adams.

In the Post and Courier, Travis Sawchik writes about coaches' welcoming dissent from their assistants.

Paul Strelow of The State writes about Riley Skinner, and offers some blog thoughts that include his prediction:

Wake 58, Clemson 3.


You can reach Paul at (864) 653....

Oh, wait. Actually it's Clemson 27, Wake 17.

In the Independent-Mail, a piece on Dalton Freeman's first start. Just so happens to come against daddy's alma mater.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Freeman, a Pelion native, said this week. “That’s what I came here for, what I’m working hard for and will continue to work hard for. It’s kind of ironic that my first start could be against my dad’s alma mater. So there’s a lot on the table — it’ll mean a lot to me.”

I was a little surprised about this position news, because I thought Mason Cloy had done pretty well this season overall. Shows you how much I know.

In the AJC, a look at all the big plays produced by Georgia Tech's offense.

There goes Anthony Allen for 82 yards. Don’t look now, but Jonathan Dwyer just darted for 74. Receiver Demaryius Thomas is loose for a catch of 73 yards, then snatches another for 65.

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden chuckled over the phone when asked about lightning strikes from Tech’s run-game.

“When you play us, you would think we would be the big-play team and they would be the ground attack, ground it out team,” Bowden said. “It is not stylish, but it sure does whip you.”

The Yellow Jackets (5-1) enter Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech (5-1) with nine plays of 50 yards or more. The next closest to Tech among ACC teams are the Hokies with five.


Could not be more stoked that the big game in the ATL is at 6 p.m.

So yeah, I'm one of the .001 percent of people in Death Valley on Saturday who will be happy for the noon start.

Don't hold it against me.


LW

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