Back to the drawing board, obviously. That was the longest game I've ever had to sit through in a press box, and re-watching it was even harder! It was the worst loss in Dabo's career and the worst loss for Clemson since 2000 at FSU when Heisman winner Chris Weinke destroyed the Tigers. I never expected a team coached by Dabo to look completely inept on both sides of the ball like they did at LSU. The only positives I could take away from the game is that Hauser made a 49-yard field goal--which gave Clemson its only lead of the game--and Jack Smith had 10 punts for 404 yards.
That being said, literally everything is still on the table for this team. They still have enough talent to win the ACC and make the playoff, so they have to flush the opener and start a new season against Georgia Southern in Death Valley on Saturday night. The next closest loss for Dabo was in 2013 when Jameis Winston and eventual champion FSU blew the Tigers out in Death Valley. They finished No.8 that season with 11 wins, so don't completely write Clemson off because of one disastrous opener on the road. Unfortunately, as I told you was likely right after the LSU game, DT Markus Strong, the Oklahoma transfer, is done for the season. Otherwise, the Tigers should be in good shape for Georgia Southern. I am expecting to see both CV and Tait Reynolds get significant playing time at quarterback, assuming one of them didn't have a spectacularly bad week of practice.
Ironically, the Tigers will face QB Max Johnson once again. He is at his fourth stop after beginning his career at LSU. He transferred to Texas A&M, and the Tigers played against him last year at UNC. He was born in Athens, so I guess he has come full circle. He is the son of a coach and former NFL QB, and he has seen a whole lot of football, so he gives Georgia Southern a chance. Regardless of the final score, I'm just hoping to see some signs of life from the Tigers and a glimpse that they are as talented as I thought they were a couple of weeks ago.
Kickoff is at 7:30 on ACCN, and the late, great Terry Don Phillips will be honored during the game!
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