'Unlucky' Tigers point to Pack
Clemson saw State's win over Jackets
Tommy Bowden and the Tigers have a new motto: 'Make one more play.'
By CHIP ALEXANDER, Staff Writer
Tommy Bowden is convinced he may have the smartest, most efficient, mistake-free team he has coached at Clemson.
And arguably the unluckiest, given the Tigers' statistics.
That Clemson is 2-3 overall (1-3 ACC) going into Thursday's game at N.C. State is both frustrating and a little galling, Bowden said. Consider that the Tigers:
* Have just three turnovers, all on interceptions and two on passes first tipped by Clemson receivers.
* Have committed an ACC-low 17 penalties for 146 yards.
* Have gone 18-for-18 in the red zone, with nine touchdowns and nine field goals.
"Why are we 2-3?" Bowden said. "Is it penalties? No. Is it turnovers? No. Is it the kids quitting? No. So what is it?"
Bowden then answered his own question: "We've got to make one more play. That's now our motto: Make one more play."
Sounds a little like N.C. State coach Chuck Amato about a week ago, doesn't it?
The Pack (2-2, 1-2) was making a habit of coming up just short in ACC games, dropping six in a row before its 17-14 victory at Georgia Tech last Thursday. But the Pack made that "one play" it needed most as cornerback Marcus Hudson's low hit on Tech receiver Calvin Johnson in the end zone resulted in a game-saving interception by Garland Heath.
"Everybody on the team watched that game last week," said Clemson's Jamaal Fudge, a senior free safety. "We saw how N.C. State won it. If we can just come up with a play like that ...
"It has been very frustrating and our confidence level is a little low. But our spirits are good because we know we're not too far from where we want to be."
Clemson opened the season with close wins over Texas A&M and Maryland. The Tigers then fought Miami through three overtimes before losing 36-30 -- a thriller in Death Valley that ended on Clemson's first turnover of the season, a Charlie Whitehurst pass that was intercepted.
The Tigers did not have a turnover at Boston College but were 0-11 on third-down conversions and lost in overtime, 16-13. Clemson's third loss was more disturbing -- 31-27 at Wake Forest, with two interceptions and a blocked kick -- and has had some of the Tiger faithful howling about Bowden again.
"Have all the games been close? Yes," Bowden said. "So why flinch? It would be crazy to change a whole bunch."
In 2003, the Tigers lost at State 17-15 as the Pack intercepted a late Whitehurst pass. Bowden praised his team's effort after the game but said, "We just needed to play smarter ... [and] with fewer penalties."
Bowden hasn't had to say that this season. Whitehurst has had the three picks but has improved his passing percentage to 66.5 percent from 50.7 percent last year, when he had 17 interceptions. The 17 penalties are the fewest for any five-game stretch in Clemson's football history.
"It's obvious we're close," Bowden said. "I will not listen to the naysayers. You can't reinvent the wheel. We just have to make one more play."
BAD BACK: While his name never appeared on NCSU's injury reports before the Georgia Tech game, senior receiver Tramain Hall was hampered by back problems, Amato said.
"He had a bad back all of last week, which nobody knew," Amato said. "We did. He was fine for the game but he didn't practice as much as he could have."
Hall, the Pack's leading receiver going into the game, started and played 32 snaps but did not have a catch.
NEW LOOK: Maybe it was the late-game dramatics at Georgia Tech, but Amato was not questioned by the media after the game about not wearing his trademark sunglasses and bright-red football shoes.
Asked this week, Amato smiled and said, "Too late. You had your chance. Why do you worry about what I wear?"
Amato said equipment manager Eddie Gardner gave him waterproof shoes that were white and trimmed with red. He didn't mention going without the shades.
The Pack is 1-0 with the new look, and Amato was asked if he superstitious.
"I could be," he said. "You'll find out Thursday."
Clemson saw State's win over Jackets
Tommy Bowden and the Tigers have a new motto: 'Make one more play.'
By CHIP ALEXANDER, Staff Writer
Tommy Bowden is convinced he may have the smartest, most efficient, mistake-free team he has coached at Clemson.
And arguably the unluckiest, given the Tigers' statistics.
That Clemson is 2-3 overall (1-3 ACC) going into Thursday's game at N.C. State is both frustrating and a little galling, Bowden said. Consider that the Tigers:
* Have just three turnovers, all on interceptions and two on passes first tipped by Clemson receivers.
* Have committed an ACC-low 17 penalties for 146 yards.
* Have gone 18-for-18 in the red zone, with nine touchdowns and nine field goals.
"Why are we 2-3?" Bowden said. "Is it penalties? No. Is it turnovers? No. Is it the kids quitting? No. So what is it?"
Bowden then answered his own question: "We've got to make one more play. That's now our motto: Make one more play."
Sounds a little like N.C. State coach Chuck Amato about a week ago, doesn't it?
The Pack (2-2, 1-2) was making a habit of coming up just short in ACC games, dropping six in a row before its 17-14 victory at Georgia Tech last Thursday. But the Pack made that "one play" it needed most as cornerback Marcus Hudson's low hit on Tech receiver Calvin Johnson in the end zone resulted in a game-saving interception by Garland Heath.
"Everybody on the team watched that game last week," said Clemson's Jamaal Fudge, a senior free safety. "We saw how N.C. State won it. If we can just come up with a play like that ...
"It has been very frustrating and our confidence level is a little low. But our spirits are good because we know we're not too far from where we want to be."
Clemson opened the season with close wins over Texas A&M and Maryland. The Tigers then fought Miami through three overtimes before losing 36-30 -- a thriller in Death Valley that ended on Clemson's first turnover of the season, a Charlie Whitehurst pass that was intercepted.
The Tigers did not have a turnover at Boston College but were 0-11 on third-down conversions and lost in overtime, 16-13. Clemson's third loss was more disturbing -- 31-27 at Wake Forest, with two interceptions and a blocked kick -- and has had some of the Tiger faithful howling about Bowden again.
"Have all the games been close? Yes," Bowden said. "So why flinch? It would be crazy to change a whole bunch."
In 2003, the Tigers lost at State 17-15 as the Pack intercepted a late Whitehurst pass. Bowden praised his team's effort after the game but said, "We just needed to play smarter ... [and] with fewer penalties."
Bowden hasn't had to say that this season. Whitehurst has had the three picks but has improved his passing percentage to 66.5 percent from 50.7 percent last year, when he had 17 interceptions. The 17 penalties are the fewest for any five-game stretch in Clemson's football history.
"It's obvious we're close," Bowden said. "I will not listen to the naysayers. You can't reinvent the wheel. We just have to make one more play."
BAD BACK: While his name never appeared on NCSU's injury reports before the Georgia Tech game, senior receiver Tramain Hall was hampered by back problems, Amato said.
"He had a bad back all of last week, which nobody knew," Amato said. "We did. He was fine for the game but he didn't practice as much as he could have."
Hall, the Pack's leading receiver going into the game, started and played 32 snaps but did not have a catch.
NEW LOOK: Maybe it was the late-game dramatics at Georgia Tech, but Amato was not questioned by the media after the game about not wearing his trademark sunglasses and bright-red football shoes.
Asked this week, Amato smiled and said, "Too late. You had your chance. Why do you worry about what I wear?"
Amato said equipment manager Eddie Gardner gave him waterproof shoes that were white and trimmed with red. He didn't mention going without the shades.
The Pack is 1-0 with the new look, and Amato was asked if he superstitious.
"I could be," he said. "You'll find out Thursday."
