Clemson Tigers

Respect, Perception, Implications

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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There are so many things that hang in the balance with this game coming up Saturday night. Division, Conference, and National implications. Bragging rights, respect, national perception. The entire landscape of college football could be swung one way or another around the time the clock strikes midnight and Saturday becomes Sunday. Whew! Stacking the actual meaning of this game up, putting it in black and white adds a little more anxiety than I am ready for. Hopefully these 18-22 years old college kids don’t dig that deep into the broad picture that this game represents.

At 8:18 pm on Saturday, October 29th our Orange Clad brethren, Tiger Nation, will ascend onto the playing surface at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida to take part in a football game that is shaping up to be one for the ages. This game used to be billed as David vs Goliath. That just isn’t the case anymore. This game is now Goliath vs Goliath. Both Clemson and Florida State are chocked full of talent.

More stars will line the sidelines Saturday night than will be visible under the dark

Nov 14, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles tradition Chief Osceola and Renegade during the game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Florida sky. Dabo Swinney and Jimbo Fisher have recruited as well as anyone in the country. Both programs have worked their way in to the “Choosing” luxury. Neither program really has to “recruit” their prospects, they simply choose whom they want to come play for them.

When Clemson’s offense is on the field, Taylor Hearn, starting left guard, is the only player that wasn’t a 4 or 5 star recruit out of high school. Hearn was a 3 star and has worked his way to a starting spot. On the flip side of that, only two 3 star players will start for the FSU defense. As you can see, this is a star-studded event. Something you’d expect to wear a black tie to. Well, maybe not, but it’s impressive to say the least. FSU averages 3.64 stars on offense, and Clemson averages 3.73 stars on defense. Can this game get any more even? Many people don’t like the “star” evaluations. They don’t put much stock into it. I tell those people, go fill a team with 2 star players, and I’ll fill a team with 4 and 5 star players and we’ll sit back and watch the outcome. It’s not the X’s and O’s, it’s the Jimmy’s and Joe’s. If my guys are bigger, faster and stronger than yours, 99 times out of 100 I’ll win.

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So what does all of this mean when you have two teams with eerily similar talent? That means that the team who makes the fewest mistakes will win. Clemson had five turnovers against Louisville, and won. Clemson also had four turnovers versus NC State, and won. Both of those games were at home with a wildly electric crowd of 83,000+ on their side. That will not the be the case this week. On the road in front of 82,300 chanting, chopping Seminole fans the margin for error is so very slim. Luckily for Clemson, this is an experienced team. This isn’t a situation that they haven’t been in before. This team is battle tested, and coming off of a bye week, they are relatively healthy and rested.

Look for fireworks early and often. Even though Clemson has played higher ranked, undefeated teams this year already, I am looking for forward to this game more so than the others. It’s truly became one of our biggest, most highly contested rivalry games each year. Coach Swinney is a goal achiever. He has been his whole life. I’m not sure winning in Tallahassee is a goal of his, but he’s never won there before. Why not add that the list of firsts he’s brought to Tiger Town.

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