Weekend Review

The Battle For The Palmetto State
To be honest, battle implies at least two people or more fighting to the finish and this more like a bully on the playground (can you talk about bullying anymore...anyway) who demanded your lunch money (and took your lunch money for the last two years) and you emptied your pockets as he was walking up and gave him an extra five. 

The Good
1. That we didn't get beat any worse
2. Andre Ellington

The Bad
1. The offense
1b. The defense
1c. RED ZONE (you can't beat anyone if you can't score in the red zone...taking FGs and giving up touchdowns...that math never works)
1d. Losing to freaking SC (they were/are the better team)


Summary
Just read last weeks post it all still applies.  Last week I mentioned we were on a road to 9-5 and we are now one exit closer and I actually think we are still accelerating.  I am beginning to believe Sandra Bullock has taken over for Dabo and she can't slow down because there's a bomb on board.  We got out manned across the board, couldn't make the necessary plays (Sammy dropping an apparent TD early in the game - after 11 games, we finally found out he was human), made Shaw look like a Heisman candidate (along with every other QB we have faced - except BC and UNC), and too many 3 and outs.  I mentioned it early on and I think it has become a factor, when The Chad's offense is clicking it puts up points but when it is off (because of your inability to execute or their defense being superior) the defense is stressed (and our D is not anywhere near good enough to be stressed) because of the quick 3 and outs - pretty sure Clemson had a three play series that last less than a minute (like 38 seconds).  We have a bunch of problems and they won't be fixed in a week (just like they weren't fixed in the prior 14 days).  Congrats to the Gamecocks, I hope you get the Cotton Bowl invite because the house of Jerry is super nice - definitely worth a road trip.

Clemson vs Virginia Tech
ACC Championship Game
Title Belt Game (click for game info)
My only comment on this game is that we have a chance.  If we can get them into a Ric Flair Figure 4


or hit them like 45 year old George Foreman (a punchers chance). 


The key to Va Tech is playing them early in the year.  The key to Clemson is play them late in the year.  We have three goals still in reach - win ten game, win the ACC, win the freaking Belt back.  You don't get a shot at holding the belt two times in year very often.  This is important.  They have to show up ready to play and regain some respect.  How much character do they have?  We will find out Saturday evening.  I hope we leave Charlotte with the ACC championship, Title Belt and 10 wins.  It would be a salvage to a disappointing 4 game stretch.