Chicken for Thanksgiving

Clemson rounded out the 2008 regular season on a high note, defeating the rival Gamecocks from South Carolina 31-14 in Death Valley over Thanksgiving weekend. The final score was not even indicative of how lopsided the game really was. If not for some bonehead fumbles and a couple of missed field goals, the margin of victory would have been much greater. The defense picked off Carolina QB Chris Smelley four times, and the offense capitalized by turning that into three touchdowns. It was obvious that Clemson's goal on offense was to run the ball right down the Gamecocks' throat, and they more than succeeded. James Davis and C.J. Spiller combined for almost 180 yards on 40 carries. Davis, one of Clemson's finest players in recent memory, ran in 3 more touchdowns on Senior Day, leaving him just one behind the school record.

The win marked a great turnaround for the Tigers, who won 4 of their last 5 games under coach Dabo Swinney to qualify for a bowl game. The victory over the arch rival Gamecocks might have cemented Swinney's position as the next permanent head coach. As the final seconds ran off, the players lifted a Gatorade-soaked Soaked onto their shoulders as he was serenaded with cheers of "Da-bo Swin-ney!" from the student section. It was the opposite feeling for Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, as he fell to 1-3 against Clemson. It only continues the trend of USC becoming the place where good coaches go to die. The Tigers will begin preparing for their upcoming bowl game and look to quickly determine their future head coach. The next few weeks will be very important in shaping the next 5-10 years of Clemson's football program.

Homecoming Victory

The Tigers responded on a blustery homecoming weekend to deliver one of their best performances of the season against the Duke Blue Devils. Cullen Harper, without question, played his best game in 2008, amassing almost 300 yards passing and finally completing a game without any interceptions. C.J. Spiller continued his standout play since returning from a hamstring injury, with his second 100-yard receiving day and another 70 yards on the ground. James Davis also added two short touchdown runs to help put the game out of reach. The defense held strong all game, rarely allowing Duke to venture into Clemson territory. Once Duke's standout quarterback Thaddeus Lewis left with an injury in the first quarter, it became clear that the Blue Devil offense would pose little to no threat to put points on the board. A special congratulation also goes out to Aaron Kelly, who became the all-time ACC receptions leader. Kelly, who had 10 catches on the day, has led a distinguished career at Clemson and the honor is highly deserved for such a classy and consistent player.

The win moved the Tigers to 2-2 under coach Dabo Swinney, and they must win their remaining two games to qualify for a bowl. Next up is a trip to Charlottesville to take on the Virginia Cavaliers for a, you guessed it, noon kickoff.

Noles Put Spear in Tigers

The Tigers fell back below 0.500 for the season with a loss to Florida State that finally put the nail in the coffin for an expected ACC championship. For the first time this season, the loss fell squarely on the defense, as they allowed FSU to rack up over 200 yards rushing and could not get off the field in the second half. Clemson actually came out firing to start the game and opened a quick 10-0 lead. Everything was clicking on offense and the pass rush was getting to FSU quarterback Christian Ponder. That quickly reversed when Cullen Harper threw his 72nd interception of the season (not really, but it seems like that) right to an FSU defensive lineman who returned it for a touchdown. From there, FSU's running game took off and their defense plugged up the line for the remainder of the afternoon. The loss means Clemson's only hope for a bowl game lies in winning their last three games. Next week is homecoming against a surprisingly frisky Duke team, followed by a trip to Virginia and the season-ender against South Carolina.

Tigers Finally Fry Eagles

Clemson crossed several major hurdles this past Saturday, as Dabo Swinney notched his first win as head coach and the Tigers beat Boston College for the first time since the Eagles joined the ACC four years ago. The offense came out clicking in the first half and the Tigers quickly built a 17-0 lead that easily could have been more. C.J. Spiller, returning from a hamstring injury, looked like a man possessed. He had big plays running, receiving, and on a kick return, despite missing some time after getting his bell rung on a sideline hit. Spiller's 105 reception yards set a school record for a running back.

In the second half, the Tigers tried their hardest to give the game away and suffer another excruciating loss to BC. Clemson started the implosion with a Cullen Harper interception to set up a quick touchdown. On the next possession, punter Jimmy Mayners looked like he was walking in quicksand and BC easily blocked the kick and returned it for a touchdown. The Eagles pulled ahead shortly thereafter, as another interception led to a quick touchdown drive that put the home team up 21-17. The scene looked all too familiar for Tiger fans. In past seasons, Clemson easily would have folded and lost the game. This time Swinney's team made a quick turnaround and scored on a touchdown pass to Aaron Kelly to retake the lead. The defense, which played stellar all game long, held BC on their final possession to secure the victory.

The win broke a three-game losing streak and returned Clemson's record to 0.500 on the season. It was definitely a step in the right direction, but turnovers and untimely penalties continue to put Clemson behind the proverbial 8-ball. The Tigers continue their road journey next week against Florida State, in the first non-Bowden Bowl in 9 years.