Drinking the Kool-Aid

Okay, count me in. I'm drinking the Orange Kool-Aid and really starting to believe this could be the year.

I've been around long enough to know to not get my hopes up too soon for my Tigers. Clemson has been on the door step of becoming an elite football program over the past few years. However,  I can now say that looking at the full body of work to this point, I truly believe this team is ready to knock down that door and deserving of that "elite" title.

Hey, after yesterday's 58-0 win at Miami ( the Canes' worst loss in program history) I think it's more than fair to say that the Tigers are a serious contender for running the table this year. They've improved each week and look to be just as stout on defense as last year's squad which lost 9 starters and was the #1 defense in the country. They have passed all of the tests to this point and it doesn't take a Clemson fan to look at the remaining five games and see the Tigers should win each of them.

I've always dreamed of seeing my Tigers recognized as a national power and winning another national championship but always knew deep down we just weren't quite at that level yet. Things have changed though and I think this team and coaching staff has what it takes to make this a very special year in Tigertown. There is just something different about this group. You can just sense that this team is on the brink of a very special season.

Say what you want about the schedule but Clemson has taken care of business and made strides each week. People are already downplaying the win at South Beach but lets be real. Teams don't just go on the road and beat historically relevant Power-5 schools like Miami on the road like that. 58-0? Are you kidding me? And to be honest it could have been much worse than that, with a 42-0 lead at halftime most of the first-team guys were already done for the day as the teams hit the locker room. Miami has struggled this year but it was more of Clemson being that good rather than the Canes being that bad.


Clemson is playing like a ticked off team on a mission. They are looking solid in all phases of the game and playing really, really good football. The Tigers haven't exactly received the respect they deserve thus far and they are showing the entire nation how they feel about it and using that disrespect as fuel to play even more motivated and at a higher level. With a #3 ranking heading to next weekend I'll still expect several experts and others to have us on upset alert...for like the fifth straight week. (Rolls eyes)

The Tigers are ranked 4th in total defense after Saturday's shutout which saw Clemson hold the Canes to 93 yards of total offense in the second half including a total of 53 yards rushing on the day. We had guys like Van Smith--who wasn't even listed on the 2 deep- depth chart--knocking people's heads off and bringing down an interception. Smith had 6 tackles, a tackle for loss and a interception in "garbage time" Saturday against some of the Canes first-team players.

Guys flying to the ball and laying the wood like the Clemson of the old days, its really fun to see these boys play right now. The Tigers success has all started up front. They have dominated in the trenches on both sides of the ball leading the way to an dangerous offense that has proven it can beat you through the air or on the ground. Deshaun Watson is finding his groove after a so-so start to the season and with weapons like Wayne Gallman, Artavis Scott, Jordan Leggett, Charone Peake, and Ray Ray McCloud among several others in his arsneal...there are literally home run threats all over the field for Clemson

Obviously Clemson has to win out but looking at the rest of the schedule, the Tigers will be the favorite in the remaining five games as well as the ACC Championship (assuming they make it there---REGARDLESS of who the Coastal Division winner is) Anything can happen and nothing is promised but the Tigers have also proven they don't lose to unranked teams anymore. It is a pretty favorable path from here on out if you are the Tigers.

The FSU showdown lost a little luster with their Michigan State/Auburn-ish finish against Georgia Tech but looking back at that game as well as the Noles' game against Miami compared to Clemson's games against those same opponents, the Tigers at home are a clear favorite against FSU. Never mind the fact that Clemson is simply due for a win over the Noles after losing the last three including last year's heart breaker in Tallahassee....a game where the Tigers seemed to just gift wrap the game for the Noles if you go back and watch the film.

I'm drinking the orange kool-aid but also know how to stay realistic. That being said, why not Clemson? They've played as good as anyone. Strength of schedule hurts but have you seen Ohio State's cupcake menu? They don't even play a real game until they meet Michigan State Nov. 21 and then the regular-season finale against Michigan at the Big House. Even more concerning, they haven't exactly been that impressive so far this year and still shuffling through quarterbacks through week 8. Make no mistake they are still a great team (I think?) but they haven't really played like it so far.

Utah's blowout loss to USC throws them out of the playoff conversation completely and Baylor and TCU,  square off on Nov. 27 at TCU. That leaves no time for recovery for the loser with the game being so late in the season and in theory means Clemson would move that much closer to that top four. With Baylor QB Seth Russell possibly done for the season with a broken bone in his neck, that changes things drastically for the Bears so you never know how that will turn out. We should know more about his condition Monday afternoon.

The stage is set for the Tigers to run the table and win it all this year. They just have to stay healthy and focused. I would love to see Clemson take on Alabama or a rematch of the 2014 Orange Bowl and face Ohio State again. A 2013 rematch of the Chic-Fil-A Bowl against LSU would also be intriguing. While the experts and other "haters" continue to put the Tigers on upset alert each week, they continue to win and play solid football. Works for me, though. Clemson's offense showed out against Boston College racking up 400 yards passing over the nations top defense and still dropped in the polls. That didn't sit well with the Tigers and it showed yesterday.

I feel bad for anyone who gets in the Tigers way at this point. While they will get every one's absolute best shot from here on out, there aren't many teams in the country that can beat Clemson when they are at their best. Furthermore, outside of FSU, Clemson has played its toughest games already as far as the regular season is concerned. The scary part? Even after yesterday I still don't think we've seen the Tigers play their best. Yesterday was one of the most dominating performances I've witnessed but there were still points left on the field and some things to clean up heading to the next game.

As far as I'm concerned, Clemson has been in the playoffs since week 1 and now just has to keep winning. I'm trying to not get ahead of myself too much ( did I mention I already have tickets to the ACC Championship?) but it is hard to not be excited about what Dabo Swinney is doing with this program right now.

To all my fellow Tiger fans I just want to say I hope you are embracing the moment. This is shaping up to be a very special year in Clemson and as a life-long fan I must say it truly is a great time to be a Tiger fan. I've seen some of the best and worst of this program in my 23 years of life and it is absolutely thrilling to see how far we've come in just a few years under Coach Swinney. The best is yet to come but don't forget to enjoy the here and now in the meantime. Oh, and pass the sugar.

Its Back: Weekly Pick 'Em

It is somehow already week five and we have a few tasty appetizers on the weekend slate leading up to the main course which will feature #6 Notre Dame and #12 Clemson in rain-soaked Death Valley. SportsCenter on the Road will be there, ESPN's CollegeGameday will be there...yours truly will be there. It should be quite a good time in good ole Clemson South Cakalaky. Lets to pickin'!

Texas @ #4 TCU

I feel for Charlie Strong and the Longhorns. I really want him to do well but it just hasn't looked so great so far. After coming up just one point short against California, last week it looked as if Texas was going to pull the upset over Oklahoma State. All they had to do was execute a punt and have their defense get on last stop. However, that simple punt turned into disaster and set up the Cowboys in prime field position and they went on to kick the field goal and pick up the narrow victory. TCU just barely escaped defeat to the hands of Texas Tech themselves in a "Defense Optional" game with the Red Raiders. A tipped pass on 4th down in the back of the end zone fell into the hands of Aaron Green with :23 seconds left in the game. I want with everything in me for Texas to pull the shocker Saturday but its just not going to happen. Or will it? Its been a strange season so far.....

The Pick: TCU

Texas Tech vs #5 Baylor

I"ll keep this one short and sweet. If you are looking for a good defensive game, don't even bother watching a single snap of this one. As I write this, the over/under is set at 88 and I''d honestly be surprised if there is anything less than 100 scored between these two explosive offenses. Anyways, I went with TTU last week to knock of TCU and they let me down. So naturally I'm mad at them and picking again the Red Raiders this week. Also I'm still slightly salty about the beat down former TTU QB and current head coach Kliff Kingsbury laid on my Tigers back in the 2002 Tangerine Bowl. 

The Pick: Baylor

#11 Florida State @ Wake Forest

Wake Forest might be the most underrated trip/stadium in the ACC. I had an absolute blast up there last year for a Thursday nighter. However can't say much about the actual team. Really haven't seen either of these two play yet but in this case, it doesn't really matter. FSU gets it done. Next?

The Pick: Florida State

#3 Ole Miss @ #25 Florida 

I still haven't figured out Ole Miss has done it but in the meantime I'm happy for Swag Kelly....(that's Rebel QB Chad Kelly to most of you) However, as good as he has been and has the potential to be...I think Kelly is still the same guy and I"m just waiting for him to show the rest of the nation why Clemson let him go in the first place. As for the game, I think the Gators ride the momentum and find a way to get it done in the Swamp Saturday. Florida is 4-0 and cracked the top 25 after knocking off the Vols for the 11th straight game last weekend. The Gators have a solid defense and I think they use that as fuel for the big upset in Gainesville. 

The Pick: Florida 

#8 Georgia vs #13 Alabama

Before Alabama fans fire Nick Saban they should probably wait until after Saturday. I get it, Alabama overall hasn't been your typical Alabama team in the (very) recent past. They were exposed against Ole Miss as Chad Kelly tore the Bama defense and secondary to shreds two weeks ago. Alabama doesn't really have a reliable and proven quarterback. While UGA's Greyson Lambert looked great in the second half against Vandy and destroyed South Carolina and Southern University lets not forget that many of those were high-percentage, short throws and they weren't exactly against the best defenses in the world. Bama will be tougher...or at least one would think. The game is in Athens which is obviously a big advantage but I think the Dawgs might be better off if Alabama was still undefeated. Saban and company are literally playing for their season so they will not back down easy and will give UGA everything they have. I just don't think it will be enough. Nick Chubb is a bad, bad dude and Sony Michel ain't too shabby, either. Chubb will likely break Hershel Walker's record for consecutive 100 yard games this weekend. Pretty good company to be part of.

The Pick: Georgia 

And finally.....

#6 Notre Dame @ #12 Clemson

So many story lines in this one. These two teams haven't played since 1979 (a 16-10 Clemson win in South Bend. Before that? A top 15 showdown in Death Valley between Joe Montana and Steve Fuller. That game was won by the Irish, 21-17. Notre Dame's Deshone Kizer will have his hands full as will Clemson's Deshaun Watson. ND has a solid linebacking corp although I think Clemson's defense is a little bit better overall. If the Tigers can get the running game going and find someone (likely Wayne Gallman) getting nice chunks of yards early, I like Clemson's chances. Outside of special teams, the battle up front between Clemson's offensive line and ND's defensive line will decide it. Ammon Lakip is back in the line up after his suspension for a summer DUI/cocaine possession charge.

You can't forget to factor in the crowd noise and Kizer's first real road test. It will be a wet and cool game in Death Valley which could mean the chance for a big night on the ground for both teams. I can count on one hand the number of times I've gone on the record to pick against my Tigers. The last time was in 2013 when the Tigers went to Columbia to face the Gamecocks. Before then? it was LSU in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. If this game were played on the road or at a neutral site I might feel different but I think with it being a primetime home game in Death Valley....along with all the trash talk from ND players this week, the boys in Orange get it done and protect the home field...which might flow right into Lake Hartwell by the time the final whistle blows if the models for Hurricane Joaquin are correct. 

The Pick: Clemson