Prior to Jan. 1, The last time a Clemson defense was embarrassed under defensive coordinator Brent Venables came at Georgia in 2014.
Todd Gurley and the Georgia running game ran wild that afternoon in Athens, especially in the second half. Gurley, now in the NFL, ran for 198 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-21 rout of the Tigers. The Bulldogs rushed for 328 yards as they physically dominated the Tigers’ defense.
How did Clemson’s defense respond in 2014?
They did not forget about it. They used it as motivation. The Tigers took out their frustrations against everyone else they played, allowing them to end the season with the nation’s No.