CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Steve Spurrier may have found a way to do what Dabo Swinney has been unable to, and light a fire under the Clemson Tigers.
Even Spurrier’s comments, though, weren’t enough to liven up a conference title game tradition: mundane press conferences.
Swinney and Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer each took their turn in front of the microphone Friday in Charlotte, N.C. spending 20 minutes alternating between praise for the other team and praise for the host city.
“Points are at a premium when you play Virginia Tech, because they’re a tough team to score against,” Swinney said of the Hokies.
Beamer said that Clemson was a sound team, adding, “I think this has the makings of a fantastic football game.”
Swinney offered little that resembled his fiery comments from Thursday, when he took a shot at South Carolina coach Spurrier.
Gamecocks radio announcer Todd Ellis wrapped up his call of Saturday’s rivalry game by saying: “As coach Spurrier says, we may not be LSU or Alabama, but we ain’t Clemson folks.”
After Thursday’s practice in Clemson, Swinney offered up some choice comments about the Ol’ Balll Coach.
“I think he’s exactly right — they’re not Clemson and they never will be,” he said. “You’re looking at the best era in the history of South Carolina football right now. They just had their second 10-win season. They won a championship in 1969 and the 2010 SEC East. And this rivalry — there’s a lot of rivalries out there, but this is more of a domination — and that’s the fact. My kids’ grandkids won’t live long enough to ever see this really become a rivalry.”
The Tigers’ coach knows he’ll need to draw every ounce of motivation he can out of his players to counteract recent trends.
After a 23-3 victory in Blacksburg on Oct. 1, Clemson and Virginia Tech have gone in opposite directions.
The Hokies haven’t lost, and by finishing the season with one loss would help secure Beamer’s reputation as Mr. November in the college football world.
The Tigers, however, have lost three of their last four, with the victory coming 31-28 against Wake Forest.
Clemson senior Landon Walker has been watching tape of the Hokies this week, and has seen why they’re favored by 7 points tonight.
“Every game they’ve played their offense has gotten better,” he said. Of his own team he said that being the underdog “makes it a lot easier to get motivated and play.”
Both teams have clung to the “chip on our shoulder” mentality this year. Virginia Tech’s players have said they feel disrespected nationally, and Clemson will take its motivation from not being favored Saturday night.
It’s an odd approach for two teams that are the toast of the conference, but as Swinney knows, you take your inspiration however you can get it.
Read about Virginia Tech at VTeffect.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.