Clemson beat the beleaguered Colorado Buffalos 19 – 10 last night in the Champs Sports Bowl, but their performance was less than inspiring. The Tiger defense held Colorado to 17 yards rushing, and toyed with replacement quarterback James Cox. On offense Clemson relied on freshman man-child halfback James Davis to carry the load, and Davis responded with 147 yards and a touchdown.
This took the pressure off senior QB Charlie Whitehurst, and allowed him to finish with 196 yards passing on 19 of 27 throws. Whitehurst has the size NFL scouts love, as well as ex-Packer David for a father. Charlie’s name fell down the list of top-NFL QB prospects the last two years, as he failed to lead Clemson from the middle of the ACC pack in none of the four years he started. The longest Clemson reception last night was only 29 yards, and Whitehurst’s interception was thrown right into the safety’s hands. Next year the Tigers’ offense may actually improve when understudy Will Proctor moves under center.
By comparison, Vandy senior Jay Cutler’s stock skyrocketed this season. He was named SEC offensive player of the year, because he brought the Commodores out of the SEC basement. Vandy even scored over forty points in two losses. Cutler threw for 3,073 yards, 21 touchdowns, and only 9 interceptions…for Vanderbilt! Beat out SEC veterans Brodie Croyle, D.J. Shockley, Chris Leak, and Kenny Irons for the conference honor. Whitehurst could only muster 2,278 yards, eleven TDs, and 9 INTs, placing him in the middle of ACC stalwart QB’s Weatherford, Hollenbach, Baker, Wright, Hagans, Ball, Vick, Ryan, and Asack.
Why the hate? Does Whitehurst not have the downfield arm? Is Clemson’s languid offensive scheme to blame? This is not a one game, or one season, phenomenon. Will Tiger Nation ever tire of settling for field goal after field goal? Will they ever tire of playing in below-average bowl games, and winning between six and nine games? That’s all Clemson has to look back on since their 1981 national championship.
The ACC has become much tougher, thanks to the addition of Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College. This year Clemson ran into FSU and NC State at a good time, and rolled over mighty Duke. But its four other victories were squeakers, only one play away from defeat. This against the nation’s 36th toughest schedule.
Game day at Memorial Stadium is a sight to behold, rivaled in the ACC only by FSU and Virginia Tech. A sea of orange, fans who know how and when to make noise. A place that should be able to attract a bevy of quality athletes (if they’ll go to Blacksburg, why not Clemson?). Coached by football royalty, son of the king.
King Bobby lost his starting QB before the season and had an off year. Lost several top assistants the last few years, but he hasn’t lost his charm. FSU fell to 7 – 4 and was on the ropes, poised to be knocked out in the ACC Championship game, before getting off the canvas to knock off Virginia Tech. Like Papa Joe, perhaps King Bobby still has a few rounds remaining in him.
But maybe Clemson got the Prince Charles of the family. Tommy Bowden mostly stays above board and gets a princess of a recruit from time to time (like Whitehurst, Davis, and receiver Chansi Stuckey). But he hasn’t transformed the recruits, or the program, into beautiful swans. And so far at least, his subjects haven’t figured out that perhaps the emperor has no clothes.
Clemson is in the weaker of the ACC’s divisions, beat FSU, and still finished second behind the Seminoles. Perhaps next year Proctor, Davis, and Stuckey can lead the Tigers to the conference championship game. But why do I get the feeling another 7 – 4 record is on the horizon?
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