Clemson Tigers Fall From Top Twenty-Five

By MikeBullock  |   Monday, November 30, 2009  |  Comments( 0 )

Clemson Tigers
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article!

The dream streak for Clemson is over. Having climbed all the way to #15 in the polls, with star tailback C.J. Spiller firmly in the running for a Heisman and Clemson eyeing a spot in the Orange Bowl, today must be a sad one around Death Valley. While they still have the ACC Atlantic crown and a spot in next weekend’s conference title game against Georgia Tech, the end of their spectacular win streak, and an unceremonious drop out of the Top 25 can be called deflating at best.

Having an unranked South Carolina Gamecocks, a team the Tigers beat more often than not in recent memory, deliver the honors, even more so.

The game began in spectacular fashion, with Spiller returning the opening kickoff eighty eight yards for an NCAA record-setting seventh career kickoff return touchdown. Unfortunately, Spiller would only amass thirty seven more yards after that, battling a stomach bug and minor groin injury that would hamper his Heisman hopes. Combine this week’s efforts with last week’s, and Spiller is most likely out of the running for the Heisman.

"It's better for another guy to be out there,” said Spiller, “than for me to be out there not giving it my all."

After Spiller’s initial touchdown, the seemingly anemic Tigers wouldn’t score again until 3:37 into the fourth quarter, at which point the South Carolina Gamecocks held a commanding 24-10 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Clemson’s lone offensive touchdown came with just 3:46 left in the game on a pass from quarterback Kyle Parker to senior tight end Michael Palmer, the only real standout on Clemson’s offense. Palmer would end the day with eight receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown.

Tiger head coach Dabo Swinney has one week to pull his team back together and prepare to meet Georgia Tech for the ACC title.

"Our next goal is to try and win the ACC. We will turn the page," Swinney was quoted as saying.

And turn it they must. If the Tigers have any desire to return to the Orange Bowl after a long absence, soundly defeating Georgia Tech has to be first and foremost in their minds. With a win against the GT Yellow Jackets, the Tigers will be able to cap their Atlantic title with a more auspicious ending than the one they’re currently heading towards.

With a healthy Spiller, a solid performance from Parker and a little luck, Clemson can pull it off. However, the Yellow Jackets are a more formidable opponent than the Gamecocks, and the effort the Tigers left on the field last weekend won’t cut it in the ACC title game.
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article! (0)

Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report