Clemson Proving It Is More Than Ready for South Carolina

CLEMSON, S.C. – It’d be hard to write a more perfect finish to Clemson’s 2013 home season than what unfolded Saturday afternoon inside Memorial Stadium.

The record-setting senior quarterback finishes his career with a bow and a salute at midfield.

The decorated military veteran, Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient gets his first career touchdown on Military Appreciation Day.

No. 7 Clemson 52, The Citadel 6 was the perfect coda to Memorial Stadium’s 2013 home slate. The Tigers (10-1, 7-1 ACC) dominated their overmatched Southern Conference foe, outgaining the Bulldogs 558-172.

Most importantly, they showed that they are more than ready and focused for the matchup everyone in the Palmetto State really cares about: next Saturday’s 7 p.m. trip to No. 12 South Carolina (9-2).

Since a 51-14 loss to now-No. 2 Florida State, Clemson has averaged 51.5 points per game. The Tigers have scored 50-plus points in three consecutive games for the first time in program history and scored at least 50 points in five games this season, also for the first time in program history.

“I feel like we’re playing our best football right now,” said offensive coordinator Chad Morris. “The last three, four weeks, I feel like we’ve gotten better every week. You see it. Our guys see it. We knew what Sammy Watkins was doing, you see Martavis Bryant, he’s really playing well right now. You’re seeing Mike Williams playing well, running the ball well. Again, we’re playing our best ball right now.”

Following a nightmarish 156-yard, one-touchdown and two-interception effort against Florida State, senior quarterback Tajh Boyd has been outstanding. He has thrown 13 touchdowns against three interceptions, surpassing 300 yards three times.

In his final home game, Boyd completed 21-of-28 passes for 288 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions.

And he played hard, too. Up 40 points late in the third quarter, Boyd drew the ire of coach Dabo Swinney by tucking and running right into the heart of The Citadel defense on a third-down play.

Sure, he was chasing the Clemson single-game touchdown record – he’d tied the record of five six times, and needed one more – but hits like the one he absorbed following a six-yard, third-down scramble were cringe-worthy.

This was the same guy with knee, ankle and collarbone injuries, and here he is, taking big shots up 40 on a FCS team.

Save a little for South Carolina, you know?

“I didn’t appreciate that,” Swinney said. “I told him it was going to be his last drive. I told him, ‘Nobody hits you, don’t run the ball.’ What does he do? Not only does he run it, he runs over about three of those guys. That’s Tajh Boyd. That’s his mentality. I really wish he hadn’t done that.”

It all ended fine.

Late in the third quarter, Boyd trotted out for one final curtain call. Swinney called a timeout, and Boyd walked to the sideline to a standing ovation from those who remained, getting hugs and hand-slaps from coaches and teammates.

Then, he trotted back out towards the paw at midfield, giving a final salute and bow to Memorial Stadium. It was a perfect finish for a player who owns more than 50 Clemson and ACC records and will go down as one of the best players in Clemson history and one of the best quarterbacks in ACC history.

“I don’t think there’s any better way to end your senior season at home than five touchdowns,” Boyd said. “Enjoying that moment with the guys out on the field. The linemen. The defense. Talking to Sammy. That’s what makes it that much more sweet. That’s what you remember from that.”

After a Bryant drop short-circuited the first offensive drive, Clemson’s offensive machine hummed right along. The Tigers scored touchdowns on their next six possessions, with Boyd throwing his five touchdowns to five different receivers.

Senior tailback Rod McDowell chipped in 108 rushing yards on 21 carries for good measure.

And Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient Daniel Rodriguez got his first career touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

And while the Tigers’ defense likely won’t see much triple option in Columbia, it looked sharp against the Bulldogs’ system. Before a 21-play, 63-yard, 12-minute drive that resulted in a field goal on Clemson’s reserves, the Tigers had yielded just 113 rushing yards on 38 attempts. And The Citadel managed minus-4 passing yards for the game.

How lopsided was it? More than half of Swinney’s postgame press conference dealt with South Carolina, not The Citadel rout just completed. The looming Gamecocks are a hot topic, buzz fueled by four consecutive wins over the Tigers (South Carolina’s longest streak in the rivalry’s history).

“I live with it year-round,” Swinney said. “We’ve got to do a great job, a better job than what we’ve done in the past. We’ve got to play better. Nobody wants it more than me, I promise you.”

He offered no excuses.
“They’ve outcoached us, outplayed us,” he said. “Bottom line. They’ve been the better team. They’ve played better on the field. Nobody wants it more than me, I promise you.”

Following a dominant home finale, Clemson is on the right track.

*Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained directly by the author.

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