Yardbarker: Clemson Tigers

Underdogs face tough odds in pulling off shocker over their enemies

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:20:59 -0500

Their chances are quickly dwindling: Three games and counting to determine TCU's hopes of playing in the BCS national championship game. One of those games (Florida State at No. 1 Florida) is today; the other two are next week in league championship games. If Florida State beats Florida today, TCU needs the Gators to beat Alabama next week in the SEC championship to become the first non-BCS team to advance to the BCS national championship game. TCU also gets there if Texas loses to Nebra...

Spiller Force Behind Clemson Revival

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500

by Jim HenryFiled under: Boston College, Clemson, Duke Football, Florida State, University of Miami, Virginia, ACCMuch of the credit for Clemson's turnaround this season goes to its offense. Let us count the ways. During Clemson's current five-game winning streak -- the program's longest in three seasons -- the Tigers have scored at least 38 points in each game, a program first. During that span, Clemson has averaged 42 points per game, 425 total yards per game, 6.87 yards per pla...

Football. Clemson Football Game Program Feature: Jeremy Campbell

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:05:43 -0500

For linebacker Jeremy Campbell, the 2009 season has marked a turning point in Clemson football. Not only is it his senior season, but he and the Tigers are in the driver's seat for their first ACC Championship game appearance. For a player who strives to put the team first, there is nothing more exciting than that.

Talking NC State/Clemson With Block-C

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:03:56 -0500

More photos » by Richard Shiro - AP

Yeeeaarrrrrghgrrrr pound it son, what! (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)

Browse more photos »

This week's exchange is with the guys at Block-C, the awesomest Clemson blog on the tubes. My answers to their questions will appear at their site later today.

1) Clemson's offense has been on fire during the team's four game winning streak. How much of that is thanks to Kyle Parker? Has he turned the corner? How's the cult of Willie Korn doing?

I wouldn't say he's turned the corner as he is still very green. He still makes some huge mistakes and still has the feeling of an athlete rather than a true quarterback (true as he's a stunner for our baseball team as well.) But he is a great, great athlete. Parker has an excellent support system and at this point of the season I'd have to hand part of the congratulations to Parker starting to mature and the other part to his teammates for really pulling him out of some mistakes he's made. WILLY KORN is still the best quarterback to ever grace the South Carolina High School League. He needs a year long break. He'll be back next year after Parker goes to the MLB and we need a new quarterback controversy between him and Tahj Boyd. That or he's going to find himself a home in a nice FCS program.

2) I remember watching the Tigers' baffling loss to Maryland and thinking, "same old Clemson." Things have changed pretty dramatically since then, though. Are there any obvious differences between Swinney's team and Tommy Bowden's Clemson squads? How uncomfortable are you right now with the division seemingly in hand?

Swinney seems to actually make adjustments and meet things head on. From what we understand from our friends that played under Bowden, he didn't address things with the passion, fire, and motivation that Dabo does. Dabo is a Clemson guy. He's from rural Alabama and, much in keeping with previous Clemson coaches, he played at Alabama and "Get's it" in terms of what it takes to succeed at a program like ours. As a fan base we're still really nervous. This is the trap game here. This is the game Bowden would always lose. If we take care of this one, it's a new era. I mean, it's already a new culture, but us beating you guys and BC losing would close the book on Bowden for good. We've got a lot of players that were banged up against FSU though, so who knows.

Dabo would like to tell you somethin'.

3) What have the teams that have had success against Clemson's defense done to exploit the Tigers? Do you guys run more man or zone?

The only real thing I can tell you is quarterbacks can tear us to shreds getting out of pocket and running up the middle. We play a lot of man so it spreads the field way open. It usually takes us to get bit a few times before we spy or start playing a little zone. It's a give and take though: We can give up those yards because we're still making huge plays on passing defense and eventually that quarterback is going to get popped hard by one of our monsters on defense. Christian Ponder found out the hard way. More of DeAndre McDaniel's picks have been in man versus the zone, so expect us to keep on trucking.

4) Is there a more terrifying sight in college football than Jacoby Ford and CJ Spiller on the field together waiting to return a kick? I say no. I don't know what you people had to do in order to earn this sort of luxury, but it was worth it.

Last week they set a record as the best all purpose tandem ever in college football... however you do that... or whatever that means. CJ Spiller is only as good as his blockers and the one guy that usually makes the block at the other teams five yard line is Jacoby Ford. Watching these two play, especially CJ, is something very special that most of us won't realize till they're gone. And we can thank Dabo & co. because both were his recruits if I'm not mistaken.

5) If Danny Ford is God, who's Jesus?

Yet to be determined, but based on the latest Dab-O-Meter that judges the more homerish fans that wear orange, Dabo is approaching dangerously close levels. He's been here one season folks... come on.

This article was originally published at http://www.BackingThePack.com. If you are interested in sharing your website's content with SCACCHoops.com, Contact Us.

Earlier this week, Bud Elliott, founder of the popular Florida State blog Tomahawk Nation, was...

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:01:30 -0500

Earlier this week, Bud Elliott, founder of the popular Florida State blog Tomahawk Nation, was reading a "film review" of last Saturday's FSU-Clemson game on the Clemson blog Shakin' The Southland. Contained within that site's 3,600-word, drive-by-drive game review were 13 embedded videos and links to several others, one of which was a YouTube clip (shot by another Clemson fan site, Tigernet.com) of a play in which Tigers safety Rashard Hall recovered a fumble by '...

Proof That Florida State's David Spurlock Was Definitely Eye-Gouged By Clemson's Andre Branch

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:31:39 -0500

You want your proof. I've got your proof right here. There has been much debate since last Saturday's debacle at Clemson whether Clemson's Andre Branch did indeed willfully and maliciously try to gouge at the eyes of Florida State Right Guard David Spurlock during a scramble for a fumble at a critical point during the game. FSUncensored, broke the story here, which is now starting to gain national media attention. In his story, he provided video proof and stated that: ...

Eye-Gouging Is All the Rage in College Football

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:07:41 -0500

You've undoubtedly seen the Brandon Spikes eye-gouging incident that made him miss the Vanderbilt game last weekend. Is this play below on the same level? Not as bad? Worse? You be the judge in the comments. At the very least, there's some sort of illegal hands to the face going on there. This clear-as-day angle should earn Clemson's Andre Branch a suspension. (H/T to Tomahawk Nation via Andy Staples' Twitter)

Clemson's Andre Branch Should Be Suspended For Cowardly Eye-Gouge

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:12:56 -0500

With all the attention given to the Brandon Spikes eye gouge incident last week against Georgia, why has this cheap shot not received any attention? Watch at the 0:04 mark, Andre Branch (#40) grabs #79 (David Spurlock) by the helmet, snaps his neck back, holds his head and sticks his fingers into Spurlock's facemask, an obvious eye gouge. The Branch gets up, talks trash to the justifiably angry Spurlock, points to the sky, and dances around. The ACC should...

Florida State Seminole's Quarterback Christian Ponder Done For The Year

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:45:33 -0500

More photos » by Richard Shiro - AP about 23 hours ago: Florida State's quarterback Christian Ponder (7) gets taken down by Clemson's Jamie Cumble (8) during the first half of their NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 7, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro) Browse more photos » Our sources imform us that Florida State Quarterback Christian Ponder is done f...

Who's Hot (Nov. 7) - Clemson, OSU D, & more

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:27:00 -0500

From Kyle Parker and Clemson, to the Ohio State defense, to Texas A&M's Von Miller, to Stanford, Richard Cirminiello spotlights who the hot players, coaches and programs are in the Week Ten Who's Hot.

Clemson Pulls Away From Florida State, 40-24

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:43:58 -0500

C.J. Spiller had a career-high 165 yards rushing and his 20th touchdown of at least 50 yards and Clemson took its biggest step yet toward an Atlantic Coast Conference title with a 40-24 victory over Florida State on Saturday night.Spiller, the Tigers' star senior, caught a 58-yard TD pass from Kyle Parker and, with 312 all-purpose yards, surpassed the school record of 310 he set in Clemson's 40-37 overtime win at Miami two weeks ago.

The Conversation: Talking the Clemson Tigers with Shakin' The Southland.com

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:56:17 -0500

More photos » by Lynne Sladky - AP C.J. Spiller has a chance to win major Heisman votes against FSU on national television Saturday night. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Browse more photos » This week our guest is Dr. B of Shakin The Southland.com We really like what these guys do and since it is one of the ACC blogs we recruited over to SBNation (parent network), I read them every day. Dr.B has ...

What We Learned: This finally could be Clemson's year

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:38:13 -0500

Sporting News' Dave Curtis analyzes what Sunday's buzz means to college football: Crouching Tigers Clemson has teased college football like this before. But maybe, just maybe, 2009 marks the Tigers' breakthrough into their first ACC Championship Game in school history. Saturday's 40-37 overtime victory at then-No. 8 Miami shows that eternally inconsistent Clemson might have some stability. And with November wins over Florida State, N.C. State and Virginia—not quite a...

ESPN Crew Makes Fun Of Clemson Fan

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:52:00 -0500

Clemson lost to Georgia Tech two weeks ago, but this video just recently hit the webs. A Tigers fan was a little upset about said loss, and Chris Fowler, Jesse Palmer and Craig James, got quite a kick out of it. For four whole minutes.... I love how they hammer the kid forever, and then Fowler has to get all serious and say that they don't want to make fun of him. The kid was acting like a three year old, guys....have at him. (via Hot Clicks)

Gator Bowl: Clemson vs. Nebraska

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:04:14 -0500

It is being reported that later today, the representatives of the Gator Bowl will announce that the Clemson Tigers are playing the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the January 1st bowl. The Tigers finished up their 2008 regular season 7-5, with a 4-4 conference record. They won the last 3 games of the year by an average of 17 points. Standing in Clemson's way is a Nebraska Cornhusker team that is starting to regain their strength of old, with an 8-4 season, including a 5-3 record in the tough B...

Breaking News: Tommy Bowden Fired from Clemson

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:29:05 -0500

Today, Clemson fired Tommy Bowden. Bowden was 3-3 this season. Dabo Swiney will be the new interim coach. It is yet to be determined if Bobby will throw his son a life preserver

Tommy Bowden fired as head coach of Clemson

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:03:27 -0500

The University of Clemson has fired head coach Tommy Bowden.

Tommy Bowden Fired As Clemson's Head Coach

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:21:31 -0500

According to sources close to the school, Clemson has fired head football coach Tommy Bowden. Assistant coach Dabo Swinney will take over as interim coach for the remaining of the season. This should not come as too much of a shock to anyone the Clemson Tigers were were ranked in the top 10 nationally in the preseason polls have fallen to a 3-3 record and are 1-2 in ACC play. This year has been a complete disaster for coach Bowden. Please stay with us as we will bring more news as it comes along.

2007 Football Recruiting Roundup: Clemson Tigers (ACC)

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:05:11 -0500

A review of the the Clemson Tigers 2007 football recruits from a fantasy college football perspective. Willy Korn is vying for the top QB job.