Monday, Dec. 12, 2011

Tigers and Gamecocks ready to go bowling

Jeff Zell

 

It’s happy bowling for all major college football parties involved in the Palmetto State.

A week after Clemson was blown away at Williams-Brice Stadium, the Fighting Dabos flipped the switch and sent Virginia Tech in a tailspin. Three third quarter touchdowns left any doubt of the outcome of the ACC Championship Game, 38-to-10 in the end, as Clemson claimed a spot in the Orange Bowl.

It’s a first BCS bowl game for Clemson, so they’re certainly happy.

The Gamecocks trounced the Tigers for a third straight year — they’re ecstatic.

Both state school teams have won 10 games in the same season for the first time in forever. And some of that credit, certainly not all of it, can go to the football talent that calls the Palmetto State home. There are more than 40 players on the South Carolina roster who played their high school football in state. On Clemson there are more than 50.

Lots of walk-ons certainly—but there’s also key playmakers.

The last three South Carolina’s Mr. Football now play with the 10-2 Gamecocks. Clemson’s homegrown talent, Andre Ellington, Jaron Brown and Malliciah Goodman are a few key components of the ACC Championship.

And having grown up in Texas and having a career that has allowed me to see prep football in the Midwest — South Carolina prep football can hold its own.

Bowls at first glance

Clemson faces West Virginia in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 4 By default because of facing any team from the Big East, the Tigers will be favored to win. But which Clemson team will show up; the one who beat the Hokies twice or the inept team who played with no heart against N.C. State?

I think with confidence running high from the ACC Championship victory and offensive coordinator Chad Morris secured until at least next year, Clemson will have a big day. All starters but tight end Dwayne Allen will be back next year making the Jan. 4 bowl game big for building momentum.

South Carolina faces Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 2. It’s the best bowl game Steve Spurrier has been to in his seven years in Columbia. In four bowl game appearances, the Head Ball Coach is just 1-3.

The maturity of QB Connor Shaw will be reason alone to watch this game. Was it just a great game plan against an average defense when Shaw put up big numbers against Clemson or is the game starting to slow down for Shaw?

Whose state is it?

Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney stuck his foot in his mouth when he ranted about a mis-quote from Steve Spurrier.

“I’ve got lot of respect for their program, but South Carolina is not Clemson,” Swinney told reporters on Thursday. “There’s a lot of differences. This is a place that’s won a national title, 17 conference championships, two division titles. Heck, we’ve won more bowl games than they’ve even been to.”

Seeing a coach tell it like it is and show passion and pride for his school is refreshing. And it just might be getting under Dabo’s skin that Spurrier doesn’t consider the game against Clemson the Gamecock’s biggest of the season.

Jeff Zell is sports director for WBTW News 13. You can reach him at jzell@wbtw.com.