Solving the Clemson Riddle
posted by Scott Hood, Monday, December 10, 2007
First a disclaimer: I didn’t grow up in this state, so I could be accused, I guess, of lacking the necessary “life experience” to comment on the rivalry. However, I have attended most USC-Clemson football games since 1994, numerous basketball games and dozens of baseball games.
Hopefully, that’s enough to be taken seriously.
In my opinion, Clemson’s continuous success over USC boils down to one simple, easy to understand synonym: A.R.E.
Attitude.
Recruiting.
Execution.
I agree with Steve Spurrier on one point – ‘hating’ Clemson isn’t going to get it done. Methodical preparation followed by a disciplined, well-executed, all-out effort on game day is the key to success against the Tigers. And that is what he's striving for.
Spurrier also said something recently that I concur with – attitude is everything. I believe Clemson’s players and fans attack the rivalry with greater intensity, passion, energy and enthusiasm.
In short, their attitude is better.
Why? When it comes to the Clemson-USC rivalry, particularly in football and men’s basketball, the Tigers expect to win while USC hopes to win.
That may seem subtle on the surface, but it’s actually a huge difference.
I’m not saying Clemson ‘wants to win more’ than USC, because I believe both schools want to win any rivalry game very badly. It just seems they approach it from a different psychological perspective.
You don’t need to be a Hall of Fame coach to understand teams that play with confidence of a favorable outcome will typically perform better.
I’ve also noticed something else in my travels to the Upstate – Clemson people seem to take more pride in their school. I reside in Irmo, a suburb of Columbia located about 10 miles northwest of downtown. I see just as many, if not more, Clemson car flags, decals and license plates than USC stuff.
Last week, while at Clemson for the basketball game, I was astounded by how the slogan “Solid Orange – It’s About Pride” has such a major presence inside Littlejohn Coliseum. It’s the same with Doug Kingsmore Stadium, home of the Tigers baseball team.
The slogan is even printed on the credentials they issue to the media.
Help me here, but I don’t recall USC undertaking a marketing campaign in the last decade utilizing the word “pride.” If so, why not?
But, of course, while a positive attitude is terrific, you still need players. I can say unhesitatingly that Clemson has out-recruited USC in both football and basketball over the last several years.
As a result, they have enjoyed the fruits of taking the field or court with better players.
I sense the tide might be turning a bit in football, considering USC’s outstanding 2007 class, but it’s going to take multiple recruiting classes to finally overtake the Tigers in the talent department.
The talent gap was quite noticeable between the two basketball teams when they clashed last week in the Upstate. Clemson’s roster was deeper and more talented than USC’s. The Gamecocks simply couldn’t keep up.
If you follow football recruiting, I don’t need to remind you of USC’s past blunders. They had a chance to sign Gaines Adams, who was coached in high school by former Gamecock QB Steve Taneyhill. But USC didn’t show any interest. As a result, he signed with Clemson and became an All-American defensive end and a top five pick in last April’s NFL Draft.
Unfortunately, there are too many tales like that.
A better attitude and superior players is just two-thirds of the equation, though. You still have to perform on the field of battle.
In football, Clemson has simply executed better in crunch time than USC over the last several years.
Whether it’s the push-off by Rod Gardner, Charlie Whitehurst scampering for a TD after eluding a blitzing Cory Jenkins, the Tigers escaping a first-and-35 situation or, this year, converting a critical fourth-down en route to the game-wining field goal, the Tigers seem to coolly make the plays when they must to beat the Gamecocks.
Conversely, USC had a chance to salt this year’s game away with just over two minutes left but failed to pick up a first down on a critical third-and-4 situation when they ran the ball against Clemson’s soft cover-2 scheme. Even with the Tigers expecting a pass, USC couldn’t pick up the first down. As a result, they had to punt.
That’s called failure to execute.
While the Tigers needed a last-second field goal to win three weeks ago, they dominated statistically and, quite frankly, deserved to win the game more than USC did.
But USC had its chances. They just didn’t come through.
Once they start doing that, you’ll see the Gamecocks beating Clemson on a more regular basis.
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Ever since the South Carolina basketball team was thumped by Clemson nine days ago, a number of USC fans have asked me why the Tigers seem to dominate the rivalry between the two Palmetto State schools.
First a disclaimer: I didn’t grow up in this state, so I could be accused, I guess, of lacking the necessary “life experience” to comment on the rivalry. However, I have attended most USC-Clemson football games since 1994, numerous basketball games and dozens of baseball games.
Hopefully, that’s enough to be taken seriously.
In my opinion, Clemson’s continuous success over USC boils down to one simple, easy to understand synonym: A.R.E.
Attitude.
Recruiting.
Execution.
I agree with Steve Spurrier on one point – ‘hating’ Clemson isn’t going to get it done. Methodical preparation followed by a disciplined, well-executed, all-out effort on game day is the key to success against the Tigers. And that is what he's striving for.
Spurrier also said something recently that I concur with – attitude is everything. I believe Clemson’s players and fans attack the rivalry with greater intensity, passion, energy and enthusiasm.
In short, their attitude is better.
Why? When it comes to the Clemson-USC rivalry, particularly in football and men’s basketball, the Tigers expect to win while USC hopes to win.
That may seem subtle on the surface, but it’s actually a huge difference.
I’m not saying Clemson ‘wants to win more’ than USC, because I believe both schools want to win any rivalry game very badly. It just seems they approach it from a different psychological perspective.
You don’t need to be a Hall of Fame coach to understand teams that play with confidence of a favorable outcome will typically perform better.
I’ve also noticed something else in my travels to the Upstate – Clemson people seem to take more pride in their school. I reside in Irmo, a suburb of Columbia located about 10 miles northwest of downtown. I see just as many, if not more, Clemson car flags, decals and license plates than USC stuff.
Last week, while at Clemson for the basketball game, I was astounded by how the slogan “Solid Orange – It’s About Pride” has such a major presence inside Littlejohn Coliseum. It’s the same with Doug Kingsmore Stadium, home of the Tigers baseball team.
The slogan is even printed on the credentials they issue to the media.
Help me here, but I don’t recall USC undertaking a marketing campaign in the last decade utilizing the word “pride.” If so, why not?
But, of course, while a positive attitude is terrific, you still need players. I can say unhesitatingly that Clemson has out-recruited USC in both football and basketball over the last several years.
As a result, they have enjoyed the fruits of taking the field or court with better players.
I sense the tide might be turning a bit in football, considering USC’s outstanding 2007 class, but it’s going to take multiple recruiting classes to finally overtake the Tigers in the talent department.
The talent gap was quite noticeable between the two basketball teams when they clashed last week in the Upstate. Clemson’s roster was deeper and more talented than USC’s. The Gamecocks simply couldn’t keep up.
If you follow football recruiting, I don’t need to remind you of USC’s past blunders. They had a chance to sign Gaines Adams, who was coached in high school by former Gamecock QB Steve Taneyhill. But USC didn’t show any interest. As a result, he signed with Clemson and became an All-American defensive end and a top five pick in last April’s NFL Draft.
Unfortunately, there are too many tales like that.
A better attitude and superior players is just two-thirds of the equation, though. You still have to perform on the field of battle.
In football, Clemson has simply executed better in crunch time than USC over the last several years.
Whether it’s the push-off by Rod Gardner, Charlie Whitehurst scampering for a TD after eluding a blitzing Cory Jenkins, the Tigers escaping a first-and-35 situation or, this year, converting a critical fourth-down en route to the game-wining field goal, the Tigers seem to coolly make the plays when they must to beat the Gamecocks.
Conversely, USC had a chance to salt this year’s game away with just over two minutes left but failed to pick up a first down on a critical third-and-4 situation when they ran the ball against Clemson’s soft cover-2 scheme. Even with the Tigers expecting a pass, USC couldn’t pick up the first down. As a result, they had to punt.
That’s called failure to execute.
While the Tigers needed a last-second field goal to win three weeks ago, they dominated statistically and, quite frankly, deserved to win the game more than USC did.
But USC had its chances. They just didn’t come through.
Once they start doing that, you’ll see the Gamecocks beating Clemson on a more regular basis.
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.