This week in “The Smoldering Ruin” we take a look back at the opening home weekend when Furman came to Clemson football. And there is plenty (fortunate and unfortunate) to talk about.
I always try to take a day or 2 after the game to process the weekend before I put pen to paper. I don’t like being a “shock writer” full of bloated hot takes that makes someone seem less interested in the sport they cover and more interested in being the focal point of attention for people after a game.
It really helps me breathe. Because I was hot Saturday, and it wasn’t because of the humidity.
To start with the good that happened, it was, surprisingly enough, DJ Uiagalelei. He started the game Saturday and, for the 1st time since 2020, I feel like we got to see an actually confident DJ. His throws were on point, and he didn’t panic in the pocket. He occasionally took off for a run, and it looked like for the better part of 2 and half quarters that the offense was actually clicking.
But this is where I have to pepper in the negative, and it’s enough pepper to use as a steak rub. The offense sputtered in the mid and late parts of the 2nd half. Drives were killed by some horrible drops from one particular WR that seems to be over thinking himself and another that was killed when a misfired ball ricocheted off a receiver who broke his route off.
Clemson could have won this game easily scoring 42-49, heck maybe in to the 50’s had they not made costly mistakes this week. But the biggest issue for the offense? Clemson’s Defense.
Wait? How does that make sense.
Furman was able to move the ball down field on what seemed like every single drive. The defense did some good things (2 turnovers and a goal line stand,) but ultimately it got picked apart by an FCS opponent they seemed to have underestimated.
As an aside, credit to Furman. I didn’t realize that over the offseason they made a move to another offensive coordinator from Holy Cross and, from what it looks like, seamlessly transitioned from a quasi-flex bone, Air Force option type offense to a completely up tempo spread. Even more credit to not put that much on film. I would know- I was at their first game, and it seemed pretty basic. Honestly, with the play of their QB, if the Paladins are able to make a run in the FCS playoffs, this change offensively should go down as a blueprint for other schools like Wofford, Air Force, Navy and, frankly, Georgia Tech on how to effectively revive your offense to modern times.
But I digress. No one reads into the game that much. People see a box score, and the stats and go ‘Clemson bad brrrrr”.
That’s not me defending the play of the defense either. It was pretty lazy on Saturday, and if you took a listen to the press conference Tuesday you would have heard a much feistier Dabo taking his ire out on his defense. I would HATE to be in those meetings this week.
One final note before I bring this all together, the biggest disappointment this weekend wasn’t on the field. It was the (lack of) attendance and the (lack of) energy in the stands on Saturday.
I can’t make an assessment on every fan’s situation. I’m sure people had weddings, or personal situations, or things they just could not get out of for this week of the season, and they will make it to most every other game this year. Heck, I have a toddler and one more on the way so my time with games this year and next will be pretty limited, so I understand.
But on more than one occasion this past week, I reached out to someone who said, “I just don’t feel like it” when offered a free ticket. These weren’t casual fans; these were people who would consider themselves diehard fans. And it looked like there were more than a few that did the same on Saturday. The energy wasn’t much better. It’s the first time I can truly remember sitting in a game and thinking I have been to Dorman, Byrnes, Chapman, Daniel, and West Oak games with more energy than the absolute librarian performance turned in by Clemson’s fanbase.
Dabo took notice and, for the first time in a while, reminded everyone to get there on Saturday this week (if you can) and get loud.
I can talk about how imperfect the game was all day, but if you are one of the fans who are complaining about what is happening on the field and then just not showing up because you don’t feel like it, are you actually a true fan?
Clemson football could have won last week’s game easily scoring 42-49, had they not made costly mistakes this week. But the biggest issue for the offense? Clemson’s Defense
Let me tie this all together with some historical context. This isn’t the first time Clemson put in a beige performance one week and didn’t grow from it. Wofford 2011. Anyone remember that stink fest? That actually WAS a close game where Clemson’s defense got worked by an FCS team. Troy 2016- the eventual national champions were out played, out physical-ed, out coached, and full of mistakes in a one possession win. Same with Georgia Southern in 2018 where a slow start to the game and a mistake filled 3rd quarter let the Eagles hang around until Clemson put it away. This isn’t even the first time Furman has given Clemson all it could handle. In 2003, The Paladins caught a sleep walking Tiger team coming off a shutout loss to Georgia to come within 11 in a 28-17 game.
Last week I wrote that this team isn’t a finished product. I stand by that. The offense looked legitimately better on Saturday and maybe we got a glimpse of the potential of where this team could end up if everything comes together. Now it’s the defense’s turn. They have heard for an entire offseason and a kickoff game how amazing they are only to be humbled by a team that was waiting to seize their moment.
I have no doubt this defense will get better, and I am starting to believe this offense is getting there too. But as fans, keep being patient, trust the process, and for goodness sakes go to the games (if you can) and be as loud as possible.