Clemson didn’t play like an unranked crew for many of the recreation against No. 4 Florida State and will’ve saved its seven-game profitable streak intact against the ACC rival. The Tiger protection held Jordan Travis to extra punts (4) than factors (three) within the second half, and if not for a scoop, and rating, and a missed chipshot discipline purpose, the sport would’ve ended harmlessly.
Instead, the Seminoles stole a win in OT, 31-24, and Dabo Swinney’s crew is 2-2, 0-2 in convention. There’s been an abundance of criticism lobbed on the coach for his apprehension to embrace the switch portal, and although not many packages hold two kickers on scholarship, followers are going to query why there wasn’t a greater second choice than a “guy off the street.”
Jonathan Weitz, the crew’s backup for the previous 4 seasons, bought a cellphone name after starter Robert Gunn struggled to this point this yr, and delayed his transfer to New York for a job in finance to return to the sector.
And you possibly can most likely guess the way it turned out.
In what would’ve been a feel-good ending to the story, the grad pupil who’s a pupil by on-line enrollment solely, pulled a 29-yard try large with 1:45 left in regulation, and the competition went to OT. Travis linked up with Keon Coleman on the second play of the additional interval for a TD, and Clemson responded by going backward on a third-and-one and failing to remain alive on fourth-and-two.
Sophomore quarterback Cade Klubnick performed effectively, however that was classic Clemsoning, and followers at Death Valley undoubtedly had a bit PTSD leaving Memorial Stadium. The errors — a missed safety that led to Florida State’s defensive rating, and Klubnick’s sizzling learn on the debaucherous third down in additional time — weren’t simply on the kicker as Swinney coached scared, as effectively.
The crowd booed after Clemson opted to punt on a number of fourth-and-shorts within the first half, and poor execution on the finish of the sport saved the Tigers from an opportunity for a heave after crossing the 50 on a first-down run, and failing to spike the ball after the momentary clock stoppage.
All of the issues I simply listed at the moment are going to be talked about in rants about Swinney slowly going the best way of evolution. At one level, the printed rolled a graphic evaluating the 2 college’s switch numbers, and it was 17-0, ‘Noles.
That’s past hesitation, and veers into negligence. Mike Norvell has Florida State followers dreaming large as a result of it doesn’t take years to overtake a roster and construct winners.
However, for Clemson, it doesn’t should be this tough. Premier packages don’t must go switch wild however somewhat use the portal opportunistically to bolster deficiencies and depth. Older gamers additionally add maturity by way of expertise and taper the training curve of a roster.
The turnover is loads, and causes added participant politics, but coaches should evolve with the sport. Mike Krzyzewski railed against one-and-dones till he realized Duke was solely going to contend as soon as each 4 years with out it.
That doesn’t fly for followers with lofty expectations, and one to 2 seasons out of the highlight in school soccer could be sufficient to drop a program’s standing a discernible quantity. And, effectively, individuals are noticing, Clemson.
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