2014: The Year of Redemption
Just two years ago, Clemson football entered the season with a real chance at winning the ACC and there were even talks about competing in the first ever College Football Playoff.
Dabo Swinney was, without a doubt, changing. While he still was the emotion-filled guy we knew and loved, he began to give a more “business-like” approach in how he carried himself and such.
The Tigers decided to start Cole Stoudt in the first game of the season against the Georgia Bulldogs and the offense just couldn’t move the ball at any constant rate. The best drive of the game, as a matter of fact, took place when true-freshman Deshaun Watson completed a bullet to Charone Peake in the end zone.
Unfortunately, Clemson could not get the job done down in Athens and, after a 73-7 beatdown of SC State, were set up to take on the No. 1 ranked Florida State Seminoles down in Tallahassee.
This was the game full of “should’ve beens,” but “never was.” The Tigers found their starting quarterback in the game, but an early incompletion from Stoudt and a late fumble from C.J. Davidson allowed FSU to get out of there with a 23-17 overtime victory over Clemson.
The Tigers responded and went on a six-game win streak before Deshaun Watson went down with his second injury of the season against Georgia Tech, but this is where the redemption happened.
If there was one criticism of Dabo Swinney over his tenure at Clemson, it was his inability to beat in-state rival South Carolina.
In steps freshmen Artavis Scott and Wayne Gallman. In steps one-legged Deshaun Watson.
Clemson then went on to the Russell Athletic Bowl in a game that, just like the past two bowl games, they were expected to lose. Watson had surgery on his torn-ACL and was out for the game, but Cole Stoudt continued the theme of redemption among Clemson football.
He played an excellent game and led the Tigers to a 40-6 beatdown of the Oklahoma Sooners.
Finally, Clemson had beaten South Carolina. After a five year drought, Tiger fans finally had braggin rights again and the rivalry was finally trending back in the right direction.
This set up the best season for Clemson football since 1981.
Next: 2015: National Championship participants