2008 Woodie Awards
Intimidation not an issue for Central at Clemson
Team takes winning attitude, three-game win streak on road
By: Brian Manzullo
Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Red Keith said the football team is more confident heading into Saturday's game at Clemson than it was heading into Kansas and Purdue earlier this year.
But the senior linebacker also said playing the noon game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C., will be the team's toughest task yet.
"There will be a lot of times in this game where adversity will come up," Keith said. "Leadership will have to come out. In good or bad, we have to keep the team focused."
Clemson is coming off a bye week and is looking to rebound after consecutive losses to Atlantic Coast Conference opponents Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.
The game also is Homecoming for Clemson, which is 31-3-2 in its last 36 Homecoming games.
Coach Butch Jones said the Tigers might feel like their backs are against the wall.
"They've had extra time to heal up and extra scouting time to prepare for us," he said. "All we can do is worry about ourselves and do the best we can at being prepared."
Although CMU's offense has scored 140 points in its three-game win streak, it faces its biggest challenge yet.
Clemson comes into Saturday's game with the top passing defense in the nation (135.2 yards allowed per game) and the 12th-best total defense (289.3 yards per game).
Success on offense may rely on the play of the offensive line and the running backs.
"We've got to be real physical up front this weekend," said junior left guard Andrew Hartline. "If we can get the run game going, that will open the pass game up."
Clemson's offense averages 398 yards per game.
Quarterback Cullen Harper is 130-for-213 for 1,530 yards and 14 touchdowns with three interceptions.
Running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller are splitting carries, with Davis leading at 463 rushing yards, 6.1 yards per carry and four touchdowns.
"They both bring a little bit different to the game," Jones said. "You've got to get 11 guys to the ball and you have to gang tackle. We can't have missed tackles."
Clemson committed five of its eight turnovers in the last two games while being outscored 54-26.
Jones said the team will need to force turnovers much like it did last week against Army.
"We've got to be extremely opportunistic," he said. "It's a game where we've got to be able to take the ball away. Then we have to take advantage of the field position and the momentum."
bmanzullo@cm-life.com
But the senior linebacker also said playing the noon game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C., will be the team's toughest task yet.
"There will be a lot of times in this game where adversity will come up," Keith said. "Leadership will have to come out. In good or bad, we have to keep the team focused."
Clemson is coming off a bye week and is looking to rebound after consecutive losses to Atlantic Coast Conference opponents Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.
The game also is Homecoming for Clemson, which is 31-3-2 in its last 36 Homecoming games.
Coach Butch Jones said the Tigers might feel like their backs are against the wall.
"They've had extra time to heal up and extra scouting time to prepare for us," he said. "All we can do is worry about ourselves and do the best we can at being prepared."
Although CMU's offense has scored 140 points in its three-game win streak, it faces its biggest challenge yet.
Clemson comes into Saturday's game with the top passing defense in the nation (135.2 yards allowed per game) and the 12th-best total defense (289.3 yards per game).
Success on offense may rely on the play of the offensive line and the running backs.
"We've got to be real physical up front this weekend," said junior left guard Andrew Hartline. "If we can get the run game going, that will open the pass game up."
Clemson's offense averages 398 yards per game.
Quarterback Cullen Harper is 130-for-213 for 1,530 yards and 14 touchdowns with three interceptions.
Running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller are splitting carries, with Davis leading at 463 rushing yards, 6.1 yards per carry and four touchdowns.
"They both bring a little bit different to the game," Jones said. "You've got to get 11 guys to the ball and you have to gang tackle. We can't have missed tackles."
Clemson committed five of its eight turnovers in the last two games while being outscored 54-26.
Jones said the team will need to force turnovers much like it did last week against Army.
"We've got to be extremely opportunistic," he said. "It's a game where we've got to be able to take the ball away. Then we have to take advantage of the field position and the momentum."
bmanzullo@cm-life.com
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