The Tommy Bowden Game

It really needs no explanation for any die hard Clemson fan. It was a "Tommy Bowden game." That is code for a game in which the Tigers had superior talent all across the field and were heavily favored to win the game but managed to make just enough mistakes to lose. It's happened so many times over the past 10 seasons that it isn't even surprising anymore. Clemson's loss to Maryland was the 7th time in Bowden's tenure that the Tigers have lost at home to an unranked opponent.

This week's mistakes were numerous, but here are just a few:

• Three turnovers, including two from struggling QB Cullen Harper
• A C.J. Spiller touchdown run negated by a holding penalty called on Aaron Kelly
• A failed 4th down with 5 minutes left when the offensive line failed to get a few inches of push on a QB sneak
• Allowing a 70-yard reverse to set up a Maryland touchdown

The 2nd half play calling was questionable at best. After piling up almost 200 rushing yards in the 1st half, Clemson ran the ball six times in the final two quarters. Six. Rob Spence simply has got to go as offensive coordinator, as the entire game plan exists of little more than handoffs and bubble screens. Tommy Bowden continues to let down Clemson fans and the Tigers appear headed for another trip to the Gator or Chick-fil-a Bowl. It is painfully obvious to everyone except for the athletic administration that Bowden has peaked as a coach. It will take a change at the top to get Tiger football over the final hurdle, and it appears that no one with the authority has the cojones to make that decision. At least they have a bye week to think about it.

Shutout

Clemson continued its September run of less than challenging home games by entertaining the South Carolina State Bulldogs, the second Football Championship Subdivison (FCS) team to visit Death Valley in the past three weeks. The Bulldogs stood little chance against the Tigers, as the game served as more of a scrimmage for the home team and a way for the visitors to show off their impressive marching band. Clemson's defense was outstanding all the way through. The secondary intercepted three passes, with Chris Clemons returning his for a touchdown to open the second half. The front seven stayed tough throughout the day and held SC State to net negative yards rushing and only 150 total yards.

The running game was clicking on all cylinders for the Tigers' star-studded backfield. James Davis rushed for 95 yards and three touchdowns on only 11 carries. C. J. Spiller added another 65 yards and continued to pick up tough yards inside. Even Jamie Harper and backup QB Willy Korn kept the offense moving in garbage time and put up the last two touchdowns. The only negative from the game was the sluggish performance of starting QB Cullen Harper. The senior continually overthrew open receivers down the middle of the field. Two of the errant throws led to interceptions by the Bulldogs, as Harper posted only 150 passing yards in his three quarters of work. If performances like this persist throughout conference play, coach Bowden will have to seriously consider pulling Harper in favor of redshirt freshman and anointed savior Korn.

Up next is a visit from Maryland to conclude the stretch of September home games. The Terrapins are coming off of a surprising defeat of the then-ranked Cal Bears and should give Clemson its best game since the season opener.

ACC Opener

Clemson opened its ACC schedule on Saturday by hosting the N.C. State Wolfpack. State, which had lost to South Carolina 34-0 to open the season, looked to be another easy victim for the Tigers. State posted an early lead after picking off Cullen Harper's pass on the first play of the game and returning it for a touchdown. The Tigers calmly mounted a touchdown drive on their next possession and assumed control of the game from there. The final score ended with a 27-9 Tiger victory. Notes from the game:

The Good

Wide receivers Aaron Kelly and Jacoby Ford played outstanding. Each player made several touch catches to keep drives alive for the offense. Kelly was the go-to-guy on third down conversions, breaking tackles and using sheer determination to get the first down. Ford scored the Tigers opening touchdown, driving two N.C. State defenders into the end zone from the two yard line for the score. Ford, along with RB C.J. Spiller showed a previously unseen willingness to go inside and take hits to get extra yardage, instead of dancing laterally and losing yards. The offensive line also finally asserted itself in the forth quarter, as the Tigers mounted a nine minute plus scoring drive to put the game away by running right down the middle of the field. The defense managed to not allow an offensive touchdown and harrassed State quarterbacks regularly throughout the game. Freshman Jarvis Jenkins, Daquan Bowers, and Stanley Hunter were particularly outstanding. The special teams also continues to be flawless, with strong kick coverage and return game. Placekicker Mark Buckholz also continued his perfect season, making two more field goals.

The Bad

The defensive play calling continues to be mind boggling. State repeatedly converted on third down and long as coordinator Vic Koening never blitzed and often rushed only three lineman. This gave the quarterback ample time to find an open receiver or run for the first down. The only other complaint could be the ACC for starting this game at noon in September. Conditions were extremely hot and humid with non-stop sunshine throughout the game. A large cloud that covered the sun briefly in the first half got the biggest applause from the home crowd. Schools simply should not be playing games in the South early in the afternoon in such temperatures. I'm amazed there aren't more cases of heat exhaustion and heat stress.

The Ugly

The officiating. Wow. Head referee Ron Cherry continues to be the bane of existence for good officiating everywhere. It's hard to say which was the worst call of the game. I would say it was the missed horse collar tackle on Jacoby Ford in the first quarter, but you could also argue it was the phantom personal foul called on Clemson early in the third. A touchdown catch by Jacoby Ford should also have been called down on the one yard line when his knee hit the turf. Not even instant replay helped Mr. Cherry get this call correct. A special shout out also goes to the N.C. State special teams which was far from special. The punter barely managed to outshank the placekicker and the Wolfpack squadered several scoring opportunities and repeatedly set up Clemson with good field postion.

Death Valley Opener

This past Saturday, Clemson set out to redeem their season, starting with the home opener at Death Valley against the Citadel Bulldogs. The results could best be described as a mixed bag. On the positive side, QB Cullen Harper had time to throw and looked very sharp, completing 14 of 18 passes with a touchdown before heading to the bench in the 3rd quarter. Star running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller also returned to form with over 100 yards and a touchdown for Davis and 75 yards and 3 touchdowns for Spiller. Freshman Jamie Harper also added a late touchdown, seeking to atone for his opening snap fumble to start the season.

On the downside, the defense still left much to be desired. They again gave up 400 yards of total offense, although much of it came against the second string late in an already decided game. The secondary was repeatedly torched for long gains by both Citadel quarterbacks and allowed over 300 passing yards. Only some timely interceptions by Michael Hamlin and some poor field goal kicking by the Bulldogs kept the score as low as it was.

Overall, it was still a game that Clemson can use as a building block to kick start their season. The Tigers will face their first ACC opponent this Saturday, as the N.C. State Wolfpack will visit Death Valley for a noon kickoff.

Clemson Tigers: Out with a Thud

Saturday night was to mark the beginning of what was projected to be a memorable year for Clemson Tiger fans. Instead, it appeared to signify another season of mediocrity and unfulfilled potential. In front of a fairly even-split packed crowd at the Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta, Clemson came out and laid a big fat egg against Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide. The game was a highly anticipated duel between two programs seemingly on the rise. The Tide were entering Saban's second season and sported the consensus #1 recruiting class in the nation, led by stud receiver Julio Jones. Clemson was the near unanimous pick to win the ACC and returned loaded at the skill positions and also boasted a Top-5 recruiting class. The game was televised in prime time on ABC to a national audience, ESPN televised its Gameday program from Atlanta, and each team had a chance to start their season off on the right track with a solid non-conference win.

The game itself was far from the barn burner it was built up to be, as it more resembled the New England Patriots taking on the Decatur High Junior Varsity squad. 'Bama simply pushed the Tigers around on both sides of the ball and were clearly the more prepared team. On offense, the Tide rolled up over 250 yards rushing and QB John Parker Wilson was rarely under pressure. Alabama's defensive line seemed determined to host a party in the Clemson backfield on every play, plugging running holes and giving preseason All-ACC QB Cullen Harper barely time to get a grip on the ball before trying to dodge 300 lb lineman. Clemson's only offense came courtesy of a C.J. Spiller kickoff return that gave the Tigers a brief glimmer of hope. That hope was quickly squashed by more time consuming Alabama drives, as it was clear who was the superior team on the field.

For Clemson coach Tommy Bowden, it was the latest in a series of disappointing losses. Bowden has repeatedly squandered chances to win the ACC outright in the past few seasons, and although not a conference game, Saturday was not a good harbinger of things to come. Clemson appears headed to another 8-4 season and a mid-level bowl game. If there is any hope for a strong season, the offensive and defensive lines will have to gel quickly and start playing up to their talent level. Clemson needs to regroup and come out motivated to win every week, something this team has consistently failed to do under Bowden. The Tigers play a series of weak opponents throughout September, beginning with The Citadel this Saturday, that should give the team a chance to come together and rally. Otherwise, it will be another average year and a likely extension of Bowden's already too-rich contract for a program that seems to aspire to mediocrity.

I leave with this experience from post-game that best sums up Clemson's performance on Saturday. While sitting on a packed MARTA train car late that night a random Alabama fan started the following chant that will forever haunt my dreams:

Give me a 'B'
B!
Give me an 'A'
A!
Give me an 'M'
M!
Give me an 'A'
A!
What do we got?
Bama!
Who got Julio?
Bama!
Who got 12?
Bama!
Who's getting 13?
Bama!
Who beat Clemson?
Bama!

My friend asked me if we should chime back with some '1-2-3-4.' "No," I said, "Clemson doesn't deserve it today."