7 December 2011
"Ladies and Gentlemen I would like to announce that I will be taking my Clemson talents to South Beach, baby!”These were the words spoken by Head Coach Dabo Swinney at the press conference after the Clemson Tigers defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies 38-10 in the 2011 Atlantic Coastal Conference Championship game. On January 4, 2012 the Clemson Tigers will travel to Miami to play against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Discover Orange Bowl.
After the first few seconds of the ACC Championship game it was apparent that the Tigers had arrived in Charlotte prepared to show up and show out. Clemson only picked up about 21 yards in their first offensive possession of the game, but a strong tempo amongst the offense was still present. Within the initial drive the Tigers’ plays consisted of 2 runs, 2 passes, and included a “Wildcat” that definitely put the Hokies on their toe-kies.
In Virginia Tech’s first play of the game, quarterback Logan Thomas was sacked and fumbled the ball. Defensive end Andre Branch is credited with the sack and the fumble recovery but it was linebacker Stephone Anthony who knocked the ball out of the hands of Thomas. After only mere seconds passing on the game clock the Clemson offense was back on the field at the Hokies’ 24 yard line. This possession led to the 24 yard touchdown reception by tight end Dwayne Allen.
Clemson ended the game with 5 touchdowns, 457 total yards, 0 turnovers, and breaking a slew of records. Quarterback Tajh Boyd was named the MVP of the game, and the win positioned the Tigers as the number two team in the nation in wins over ranked opponents.
This win was accompanied by a great sense of accomplishment for everyone associated with the Clemson football program. The fans, no doubt, were ecstatic and relieved over Clemson’s demolishing of the Hokies. The weeks that led up to this championship game where tough for the Tigers with them losing 3 out of their last 4 games of the regular season.
It seemed the team had lost its swagger and was in dire need of confidence. In an interview earlier this week Boyd mentioned that he and some of his other teammates had grown complacent after beginning the season on such a positive note and that he chalked it up as a lesson learned. There was also a little contention in Death Valley after Clemson’s 13-34 loss to its rival, the South Carolina Gamecocks.
The week prior to the ACC Championship game South Carolina Head Coach Steve Spurrier was quoted as saying, “We ain’t Alabama, we ain’t LSU, but we ain’t Clemson.” In his 4 minute response to this comment Coach Dabo Swinney acknowledges the great 2011 season USC has had, he compares the historical stats of both teams, he then proceeds to diss the Cocks by saying "That's why Carolina's in Chapel Hill and USC's in California and the university in this state always has been, always will be Clemson.", and he initiated what was undoubtedly one of the biggest trending topics of the week for Tiger fans by saying “print that, tweet that” at the closing of this interview.
Even in the heat of controversy the Clemson Tigers ignored the hullabaloo, played with passion and precision, and went on to become the 2011 ACC Champions. It is amazing to think that Clemson dominated the ACC with a first year starting quarterback, true freshman Sammy Watkins at starting wide receiver, true freshman running back Mike Bellamy, and first year offensive coordinator Chad Morris. Even with the youth of the team, the Tigers would not have been able to accomplish a 10-3 season without team veterans Kourtnei Brown, Dwayne Allen, Andre Branch, Coty Sensabaugh, and third year Head Coach Dabo Swinney.
Without question, for Tiger fans worldwide that are “all in all the time” this win is definitely something to tweet about!
