Top 10 OOC Wish List

By: Will Vandervort

With the recent news that Clemson dropped Pittsburgh off of its schedule in 2010 and 2011, only to add Auburn 10 days later, it seemed like a good time to weigh in on who else the Tigers should schedule in the future.

Today on the CUTigers.com Preseason Blog, we take a look at our top 10 wish list of out of conference opponents. Keep in mind, each of these games would be a home-and-home series.

10. Nebraska
- Rematch of the 1981 National Championship game anyone? Nebraska, while not the same kind of national power it was in the 1980's or mid-1990's is still a quality non-conference opponent. For a while it looked like Clemson would face off with the Huskers in the 2005 Champs Sports Bowl but it never happened. Clemson went on to beat Colorado that year and the Huskers were nothing more than an afterthought. Still, Nebraska would be a great home-and-home series in the coming years none the less. For what it's worth, I have Clemson playing Nebraska in this year's Gator Bowl in our 2007 Clemson Football Preview edition of CUTigers The Magazine.

9. Ohio State
- The last time these two teams faced off came in 1978, in the Gator Bowl. One punch later and one of the legendary coaches in college football history, Woody Hayes, found himself out of the job after punching Clemson LB Charlie Bauman. A home-and-home with the Buckeyes, one of college football's top programs under Jim Tressel, would have fans talking for years.

8. Texas A&M
- The Aggies could easily move up this list based on the two games played in 2004 and 2005. Both schools have a strong military background and fan bases that appreciate college football tradition. What's more is the last game played in Death Valley was an absolute thriller won by the Tigers on a 42-yard Jad Dean field goal with just seconds remaining. More Texas A&M, less Louisiana-Monroe.

7. LSU
- LSU, of course, plays in Death Valley, the same name of Clemson's stadium. Both schools use the Tiger as its mascot. Both schools use versions of Tiger Rag as their fight song. Given the similarities, it's only fitting the two decide who's best on the football field. There's no denying LSU has been the better football program overall, but let the bragging rites between these two schools be established on the field going forward. Clemson last faced off with the Tigers in the 1996 Peach Bowl, nearly pulling off the upset against a team that won 10 games that season.

6. UCLA
- At least one team from the West Coast has to be on this list ... why not UCLA? The Bruins offer significant name recognition and tradition. While not the power that USC is (the real one people, not the pretend one), would anybody in their right mind schedule the talent-rich Trojans right now?

5. Oklahoma
- Funny thing is that Clemson and Oklahoma were scheduled to meet on the gridiron in 2008 and 2011 but the series was called off in 2004 due to ACC expansion. The Sooners have one of the top programs in college football history and would be a welcome addition in a home-and-home series. The two schools last met in the 1989 Citrus Bowl- a 13-6 Clemson victory. Boomer Sooner!

4. Michigan
- The Wolverines offer as much tradition as any school in college football. Furthermore, Clemson has never met Michigan on the gridiron. Why not now? A trip to Ann-Arbor, while long, would be a nice change of pace for Clemson fans, especially during the hot month of September. The Big House sounds like a Big Deal to us simple southerners.

3. Alabama
- As close as Alabama is to South Carolina, it's a shame these two schools have only met a handful of times over the years. Alabama, while not as powerful since its last national championship in 1992, is still a worthy opponent. I admit, this program bores me but I put this here under peer pressure from people that frequent this blog.

2. West Virginia
- Former Clemson offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez has turned the Mountaineers into a national power. Could his Indy offense come back and haunt the Tigers? Perhaps, but as things stand right now, we'll never know. There's always the possibility of meeting West Virginia in the Gator Bowl given the current tie ins with the ACC and Big East, but even that possibility feels like a long shot. Angry Rich Rod versus Bible belt Tommy. I like it.

1. Georgia
- Georgia owned Clemson on the gridiron until the 1980's, but the Tigers more than held their own starting with a 13-3 win in 1981 that ultimately paved the way for Clemson's only National Championship in football. The teams squared off again in 1994, 95, 2002 and 2003- all Georgia wins. Considering just 90 miles separates the two schools and the two often square off in recruiting, there's no reason why this shouldn't be a yearly battle on the field. The good news is Clemson and Georgia have already scheduled a home-and-home for 2013 and 2014, but that's too long from now. And again, the Tigers and Bulldogs need to be playing every year.

Top 5 ACC Road Trips

By: Will Vandervort

What is it that makes an ACC road trip so great?

That’s a great question, and one that has many answers.

For today’s blog, I decided to try and wrap my arms around what makes a great road trip during football season in the ACC.

Is it the venue? The restaurants or bars? The fans? How about how well your team typically plays?

To different people a great road trip is a combination of things. For me, it’s about the quality of game itself combined with what else the city has to offer. For the most part, I’ve determined there are good and bad fans just about everywhere so I’ve eliminated that in constructing this list.

Having covered the last 57 consecutive Clemson games, here are my thoughts on the top five road trips for Clemson fans to take in the coming seasons:

#5. MIAMI – I’ll be the first to admit that the Orange Bowl is nothing to get excited about. In fact, it may be the most overrated venue in the history of sports. Sure, I recognize the historical significance of the games played there: Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary pass in 1984, the Super Bowls, the National Championship games. But Miami doesn’t make the list because of the stadium. The Orange Bowl needs a renovation in the worst way and that’s putting it nicely. Miami makes this list because of the city itself. There’s something for everyone- from resorts to fine dining to South Beach. If you can’t find something to do here … well then I don’t know what to tell you.

GRADES: Stadium – D, City – A, Team – B, Atmosphere – C

#4. BOSTON – I’ve said many times that Boston College has no business being in the ACC and I still feel that to this day. It’s too far away. I understand the importance of television markets. I understand academics, but this union of the northeast and the rest of the ACC is nothing short of odd. That being said, I have no problems visiting Boston once every two years as part of Clemson’s Atlantic Division schedule. Fenway Park, the oldest restaurant in America- the Oyster House and everything else the city has to offer is more than the average fan can take in just a weekend trip. The two drawbacks here are the location of the campus and the stadium. Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, which is a 20-25 minute drive from Boston or a quick ride on the “T.” Also, there isn’t much going on near the campus and the stadium is small. Finally, BC pumps in this annoying rhythmic beat throughout the stadium during the game to help generate excitement for the fans. I’d rank this trip much higher if it weren’t for that annoying drum beat. I’m still bitter nine months after the fact.

GRADES: Stadium – C, City – A, Team – B, Atmosphere – C-

#3. ATLANTA – From a Clemson perspective, this is a great trip to make because it’s only two hours away. Bobby Dodd Stadium, while not the largest venue in the conference, has the Atlanta skyline as a backdrop and offers seating that makes you feel you are on top of the action. In addition, Clemson fans are always well represented in the stands because of the close proximity and the rivalry that exists between the two schools. I may be the only person in America that thinks The Varsity is overrated, but you can find plenty of other places to go after the game. Twisted Taco in Midtown, Neighbors in the Highlands, or Fado in Buckhead are three of my favorite establishments.

GRADES: Stadium – B, City – B+, Team – B-, Atmosphere - C

#2. CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – This may surprise some, but Chapel Hill, for a small town, offers plenty to do and is situated in a beautiful part of the country. Franklin St. has several establishments worth visiting, including “Top of the Hill” and “He’s Not Here.” And remember, we’re not talking about basketball. Clemson doesn’t go to Chapel Hill to lose football games. Kenan Stadium is picturesque during the fall, and looks even better after a Clemson victory.

GRADES: Stadium – B, City – A, Team – C, Atmosphere - C+

#1. BLACKSBURG, VA. –The atmosphere at Lane Stadium is outstanding. Within the ACC, only Clemson and Florida State compare. Virginia Tech, of course, has been one of the best teams in the conference since joining the league in 2004 so you know the quality of competition is going to be at an elite level. Furthermore, Blacksburg is a small town that comes alive during the fall, much in the same way Clemson does. And somewhat surprisingly, it’s a short drive from the upstate- less than four hours if you’re willing to book it. Hey, where else can you buy a turkey leg at a football game? Simply put, Virginia Tech is what college football is all about.

GRADES: Stadium – A, City – C, Team – A, Atmosphere - A

2007 ACC RBs Preview

By: Will Vandervort

Unlike quarterback, the ACC figures to be fairly deep at running back entering the 2007 season.

Led by Clemson’s James Davis and C.J. Spiller, several other teams offer both talent and depth, including Virginia Tech, N.C. State, Maryland, and Georgia Tech.

Miami also has enough young talent that could change these rankings dramatically before the end of the season. Also, don’t sleep on Florida State under first-year coordinator Jimbo Fisher.

Here’s a look at the preseason running backs rankings in the ACC:

1. CLEMSON: JR. James Davis (5-11, 205), SO. C.J. Spiller (5-11, 190)
Simply put, Davis and Spiller offer the Tigers one of the top offensive backfields in the country. Davis has excellent power, vision and a nose for the end zone while Spiller provides the home run threat on the ground and through the air. Only Arkansas offers a more lethal combination. Read yesterday’s blog for more detailed information on these two.

2. VIRGINIA TECH: SR. Brandon Ore (5-11, 202)
Ore finished second in the league in rushing last season (94.8/game), trailing only Georgia Tech’s Tashard Choice, due in part to an ankle injury that kept him out of the regular season finale. Featuring a good combination of speed and power, Ore figures to be the focal point of an offense that returns nearly everybody from a year ago. If he has the kind of season many expect, Virginia Tech will win the ACC and maybe even more.

3. N.C. STATE: JR. Andre Brown (6-0, 232), JR. Toney Baker (5-10, 225)
After a disappointing season that saw the Pack drop to 3-9 overall, change is in store in Raleigh in 2007. With new coach Tom O’Brien, not to mention a lack of talent at quarterback, State figures to focus on the ground game this year and rightfully so. Brown and Baker could start at any other school in the ACC- save Clemson. It’s hard to believe this tandem averaged approximately 12 carries apiece last year. No wonder why Chuck Amato was fired. You can bet O’Brien won’t let that happen in 2007.

4. GEORGIA TECH: SR. Tashard Choice (6-1, 205)
Quick, without doing a google search, tell me who led the ACC in rushing in 2006? No it wasn’t James Davis. It wasn’t even Brandon Ore. It was Tashard Choice, who averaged 105.2 yards per game while leading the Jackets to the Coastal Division championship figures to be a key member of an offense that should change with Calvin Johnson moving on to the NFL. Choice averaged 5.0 yards per carry and went over 100 yards in nine of his last 10 games a year ago. Yes, the argument could be made he belongs higher on this list, but the three teams above him offer more pure talent and/or depth.

5. MARYLAND: SR. Keon Lattimore (5-11, 223), SR. Lance Ball (5-9, 233)
Both seniors, Ball and Lattimore offer the Terps another solid one-two punch for Ralph Friedgen. With Josh Allen moving on and serious questions at quarterback, it’s reasonable to assume the Terps will go as far as their running backs will take them in 2007. The two combined for over 1,600 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

6. MIAMI: SO. Javarris James (6-0, 210)
James nearly set a freshman record for rushing yards last year at the “U” with 802 in 10 starts. True freshman Graig Cooper could also figure in the mix here after an impressive spring, despite injuring his hand before the spring game. Miami could move near the top of this list based on talent alone, but new coach Randy Shannon needs to prove he can turn this program around before that happens.

7. FLORIDA STATE: JR. Antone Smith (5-9, 188)
Smith rushed for 456 yards and five touchdowns last season but will see an increased role in 2007 with the departure of Lorenzo Booker. Under the direction of a new offensive coordinator in Jimbo Fisher, Smith could be the Seminoles first 1,000 yard rusher since Warrick Dunn in 1996. No, that’s not a misprint, that’s just how lost Florida State’s offense has been in recent years. A more physical offensive line should also make the difference up front. Like Miami, the ‘Noles could easily move up this list during the season.

8. BOSTON COLLEGE: SR. L.V. Whitworth (5-11, 216), SR Andre Callendar (5-11, 204)
It seems ridiculous to suggest two backs that combined for over 1,400 yards last season are in the middle of the pack in the conference, but it’s true. While not possessing the same talent as Clemson’s Spiller and Davis or State’s Brown and Baker, Whitworth and Callendar are dependable and get the job done for a ball control offense led by the league’s top quarterback, Matt Ryan. Neither offers breakaway speed, but playing behind an offensive line that typically sends one or two players to the NFL every year, they don’t have to.

9. WAKE FOREST: SR. Micah Andrews (5-10, 212)
While Andrews is coming off a knee injury that forced him to miss most of the 2006 season, but he figures to be back at full strength for the first time this fall. Wake’s returning rusher from a year ago, Kevin Harris will compete for playing time alongside freshman Josh Adams. Under Jim Grobe, the Deacons figure out ways to run the football, but with ACC Freshman of the Year Riley Skinner running the show at quarterback, that could be changing.

10. VIRGINIA: JR. Cedric Peerman (5-10, 205)
Peerman played in all 12 games last season as a backup tailback and kick returner but figures to see the bulk of the time this year. Redshirt freshman Keith Payne is also battling for playing time and offers tremendous size (6-3, 243) to go along with decent speed. Al Groh and company have enough returning starters to feel better about themselves this year, I’m just not sure that feeling will last through the course of the season.

11. DUKE: SR. Justin Boyle (6-1, 215), SR., JR. Re’quan Boyette (5-10, 210)
Boyle leads a trio of backs returning for the Blue Devils, but Duke is still Duke. Even with 11 starters returning on offense and former Notre Dame QB coach Peter Vaas calling the plays this season, the Blue Devil ground game doesn’t exactly scare you. Having nine of their top 10 offensive linemen return from a year ago should help.

12. NORTH CAROLINA: SO. Richie Rich (5-9, 190), RF. Anthony Elzy (5-10, 210)
After losing last year’s leading rusher in Ronnie McGill, the Tar Heels will likely go with sophomore Richie Rich, a former three-star selection by Scout.com, as their starter under first-year coach Butch Davis, but nothing is set in stone. Redshirt freshman Anthony Elzy could take over the top spot, as could true freshman Ryan Houston. Too many questions exist here to warrant moving the Heels out of last place in the conference.

Davis or Spiller?

By: Will Vandervort

You could make the argument no team in the country has a better one-two returning punch at running back this year than Clemson.

Okay, okay. Arkansas is better. Darren McFadden looks like the new millennium version of Eric Dickerson and Felix Jones can run circles around just about anybody.

Let us say then that junior James Davis and sophomore C.J. Spiller give the Tigers more talent in the offensive backfield at any point in the last 20 years.

The key in 2007, however, rests in how they are used.

In a slight shift in philosophy and in an effort to put his best players on the field more, Tommy Bowden said this spring that Davis and Spiller will be used on the field at the same time more often than at any point last year.

How that changes the flow of the offense or who gets the ball more remains to be seen, but it seems likely that Bowden and offensive coordinator Rob Spence will let Davis and Spiller carry this team as far as they can.

And if you think about it, that makes sense.

As the team breaks in two new quarterbacks in Cullen Harper and Willy Korn, not to mention four new (relatively) starters on the offensive line, shouldn’t you put the ball in the hands of your top playmakers? Shouldn’t that give your team the best opportunity for success?

Absolutely.

With that in mind, here’s a look at expectations for Clemson’s “Thunder and Lightning,” “Shake and Bake,” or “Superman and Flash” (which is their favorite nickname by the way) backfield in 2007:

JAMES DAVIS: I remember visiting Douglass high school in February 2005 to visit with James and his head coach. Walking through the halls that morning, it was clear James was the big man on campus. In fact, nearly everyone that passed us on the way to the football field stopped him to offer some sort of commentary.

“James, make sure you call me this weekend,” said a girl.

“JD, you my boy, make sure you hit ‘em hard up there at Clemson,” said one of his teammates, who also ended up signing with a Division I-A school to play college football.

In all, we probably passed 30 students in the period of five minutes, and only one or two failed to stop James for a conversation or sneak in a word as he passed them by. It shouldn’t surprise you to know that Davis met each one with the same calmness and respect you’ve seen him display on the football field the last two seasons.

Simply put, I could write all day just how good of a running back James Davis is, but if you’re reading this blog, you know that already.

He’s fast yet patient. He’s smooth but tenacious. He’s quiet yet powerful.

Furthermore, his stats have been exactly what you thought they’d be after his first two seasons at Clemson:

2005: 165 carries, 879 yards and nine touchdowns as a true freshman.

2006: 203 carries, 1187 yards and 17 touchdowns as a sophomore.

I guess you could say that James Davis is just about everything you’d want in a starting running back.

But he’s no C.J. Spiller.

C.J. SPILLER: Spiller is everything Davis isn’t. While Davis has power, Spiller has pure speed. While Davis elects to plow through a defender, C.J. Spiller simply makes the defender miss.

The two backs are the perfect combination of thunder and lightning.

However the difference in Spiller is he is equally as big of a threat receiving as he is on the ground. Last year he caught 19 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns, including jaw-dropping touchdowns on routine swing passes against Boston College and Georgia Tech.

Make no mistake, once he reaches the second and third levels of a defense, the race to the endzone is on.

The comparisons to Reggie Bush? All valid.

The talk of being the next Warrick Dunn? Yep- except he's bigger.

C.J. Spiller has moves that would make Bo Jackson on Tecmo Bowl insanely jealous.

The key for Spiller this season, however, is to take what the defense gives him. As he worked his way into more playing time last year, it was clear he became more comfortable with hitting the hole as it opened rather than waiting too long by making an extra move behind the line of scrimmage.

As talented as Davis is, Spiller has the potential to be even better. In fact, in our 2007 Clemson Football Preview edition of CUTigers The Magazine, I have Spiller projected as this year’s offensive MVP.

Assuming he stays healthy and continues to develop that sense in a zone blocking scheme, Spiller is in store for a monster season.

RAY RAY MCELRATHBEY: After making the move from cornerback this spring, Ray Ray figures to play a small role on offense considering he's playing behind Davis and Spiller. However during spring practice in his first major scrimmage on offense, McElrathbey showed the flashes of speed and athleticism that allowed him to ranked as a four-star prospect coming out of high school, rushing for over 62 yards on just six carries. He also showed good running back instincts, even though he admitted to being rusty after playing defense his first two years in college. Bottom line- he’s a good running back that will surprise you when he sees the field this season, but will likely play a minimal role unless Davis or Spiller goes down with an injury.

PAUL MACKO: This gritty walk-on, who was awarded a scholarship last season, figures to see spot duty in 2007 behind Davis, Spiller and McElrathbey. He’s not the fastest back. He’s not the toughest back. But he does show heart and he’s not afraid to run through the line of scrimmage full speed when given the opportunity.

PARTING SHOT: Davis has proven he can put a team on his back and carry that team to victory. While he doesn’t have the pure breakaway speed of Spiller, if he touches the ball 20 times in a game, chances are he’s going over 100 yards and putting a couple of touchdowns on the board. Meanwhile Spiller doesn’t need that many touches to put up big numbers and he, unlike Davis, is a huge threat through the air. The problem lies in figuring out ways to make sure they touch the football a combined 35-40 times a game, while also not being predictable in doing it. Looking back to last season, it’s hard to put your finger on what went wrong the last five games. As dominating as the Tigers were in a 7-1 start, they were equally as disappointing in a 1-4 finish. Was it poor quarterback play? Did the offensive line not play as well after Roman Fry went down? Was it because of better competition? Did the offense become too predictable? Was it because Davis had a shoulder injury? The Clemson coaching staff has been working on finding the answers to these questions this offseason to make sure last season’s collapse doesn’t happen again.

REMINDER: It’s running backs week on our morning show RUSH HOUR on 104.9 FM The Drive, the flagship station for Clemson sports. All week long we will be looking at the running back situation at Clemson (Monday), the ACC (Tuesday), South Carolina (Wednesday), the SEC (Thursday) as well as the national scene (Friday). Tune from 6 to 9 AM on 104.9 FM in the upstate or on the world wide web at http://www.wccpfm.com.