This week, ACC Sports Report takes a close up look at Clemson. Once again, expectations are high for the Clemson Tigers. Clemson is a national powerhouse team that has historically been in the Top 20 programs in America. How will Clemson do in 2007?......
by Jay Holgate
ACCSportsReport.com
ATLANTA, GA--Once again, expectations are high for the Clemson Tigers. And they should be. Only two teams in the ACC are in the Top 25 pre-season polls, Virginia Tech and Florida State. Clemson is a national powerhouse team that has historically been in the Top 20 programs in America.
In 2006, Clemson was about three plays from going 11-1 in the regular season, and they beat both of the division champs. So with five offensive players returning and seven returners on defense, why can't Clemson finish in the top two of their Atlantic division in 2007? Can Tommy beat his Dad in front of the home crowd? Can Clemson return to Columbia and beat the new Gamecock team under Steve Spurrier? Is Tommy Bowden on the hot seat? These are the questions Tiger fans are asking.
Things were just getting Warmed-Up in The 2006 football season. Clemson started strong with a 7-1 record and at one time had a #10 ranking in the polls. But the pot started getting warm again when Clemson finished on a less than happy note with a heartbreaking loss to Maryland (12-13)- then a loss to South Carolina by three and then a Music City Bowl loss to Kentucky. What was once a great season with a dominating team turned into a rough season with an unhappy ending.
Clemson was Smoking Teams in 2006. Clemson could have been the ACC champion for 2006. Clemson beat both of the ACC division winners Georgia Tech and Wake Forest.
The Clemson offense had some fire power, racking up 27 points against ACC Champion Wake Forest and 31 points against division champs Georgia Tech. The duo of running backs, James Davis and CJ Spiller, was probably one of the best backfields in the country.
If Clemson could have won the overtime game with Boston college (33-34), the game with Maryland (12-13) and South Carolina (28-31), the year would have been outstanding.
If Bowden would have won two of those three games, he would not be on the hot seat.
Is Tommy Bowden on the Hot Seat? Of course he is. And when the heat is on, that is when Tommy Bowden does his best coaching. In 2003, after losing to Wake Forest 45-17, it looked like Bowden and Clemson would part ways. That's when Clemson rallied to beat Florida State, South Carolina and Tennessee in a bowl game. Since then, Tommy Bowden has started every season on the hot seat and he hasn't had a losing season yet. In 2006, Clemson finished 4th in the division with a 5-3 record.
One of the reasons, the seat has been just warm is that Tommy has beaten his Dad three of the last four years, and Tommy has beaten South Carolina consistently until 2006. But this is 2007 and Florida State has re-loaded and Steve Spurrier is now coaching a much improved Gamecocks.
Does 2007 get Hotter? There are only three games Tommy Bowden can lose: Florida State, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. A loss to anybody else, coupled with a South Carolina loss, could be a turning point for Bowden. The first test and barometer for Clemson will be against a revamped Florida State team. The game will be carried nationally on ESPN on a Monday night on Labor day for the world to see this year's direction for Clemson.
This is not a must-win game, but it does set the foundation for the Clemson fan base. Bobby Bowden has his own pressure to win in Tallahassee. Whoever loses this game, starts the year on the wrong foot. The winner could play for the division championship.
The second test is the Georgia Tech game which has been a close game for Bowden's tenure. This game will be in Atlanta, and GA Tech will be trying to avenge their humiliating loss from last year to Clemson. The third and biggest test is the following week against Virginia Tech. Clemson will be playing top ten ranked Virginia Tech at home and will try to reverse the four game losing streak to the Hokies.
Things Could Come to a Boiling Point in Columbia. Tommy Bowden came to Clemson at the same time as Lou Holtz came to Columbia. Tommy started strong and returned Clemson to their winning ways. Holtz took South Carolina to the basement, then had a couple of good years, then finished with chaos. Spurrier has turned the corner for the Gamecocks. The Head ball coach out recruited Clemson for the 2007 class. Spurrier's win in 2006 with a average team over Clemson with a strong team raised a lot of eyebrows.
Now, Spurrier has the experienced team and Clemson is playing with a lot of young players. If Spurrier wins this game big, Bowden could be finished in Tiger town. For Clemson fans, it's one thing to lose some ACC games but not having the advantage over South Carolina is unacceptable.
Every man in America dreams of coaching a football team on his best day. When you win, you are a hero. Tommy Bowden is 60-38 at Clemson. That's a lot of wins- and a lot of losses.
Every diehard Clemson alumnus will agree that even with a young team, Clemson should always finish in the Top Two of the ACC.
Jay Holgate is an analyst for ACC Sports Report. Just ACC Sports!
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