Clemson coaches steamed over Tigers' poor tackling

Clemson Notes

CLEMSON — Vic Koenning didn't waste any time getting to the locker room after Saturday's win over Louisiana-Monroe.

Before the clock had even expired, Koenning was walking briskly off the field without stopping to mingle or sign autographs.

Undoubtedly, the play of the second-team defense — and poor tackling by everyone — had Clemson's third-year defensive coordinator steamed.

The Tigers allowed the Warhawks to score two fourth-quarter touchdowns to make the final score (49-26) seem closer than the game actually was.

Koenning wasn't available for comment after the game, but his players said he wasn't happy in the locker room after watching the Warhawks carve up his backups.

Louisiana-Monroe moved 68 yards in nine plays to make the score 49-19, then Frank Goodin ran 48 yards for a touchdown with 2:04 left.

Starting defensive tackle Rashaad Jackson said everyone shares the blame for the Tigers' poor tackling. Florida State totaled 256 yards in the opener last week.

"No excuses," Jackson said. "There probably was a letdown, knowing we were capable of more than we did. But it's nothing we can't go back and correct."

Head coach Tommy Bowden said the defense did an "extremely poor job" of tackling.

"We're going to tackle in full pads on Tuesday, maybe Monday," he said.

Dawson's streak continues

Clemson didn't exactly put itself in rare company by falling victim to a big rushing day by Warhawks tailback Calvin Dawson.

The senior totaled 129 rushing yards and surpassed the 100-yard mark for the seventh straight game.

Entering Saturday, the streak was the third-longest nationally behind Georgia Tech's Tashard Choice (eight) and Boise State's Ian Johnson (seven).

"He was as good as any running back I've seen here," said Clemson linebacker Cortney Vincent. "He was picking his spots, reading off his linemen."

Dawson put up similar numbers last season against BCS schools (179 yards against Kentucky, 128 against Arkansas and 118 against Alabama).

Long weekend

Having played two games in six days, Clemson's players will get some much needed rest today — everyone except Mark Buchholz, that is.

The Tigers' starting kicker will be in Blacksburg, Va., playing for Clemson's soccer team in a tournament at Virginia Tech. It'll be the end of a three-games-in-three-days extravaganza by Buchholz, a three-year soccer star who earned a football scholarship this summer.

Buchholz played 107 minutes in Friday night's 2-1 overtime loss to the Hokies in Blacksburg. The university plane got him back to Clemson at 12:30 a.m. Saturday, and he was scheduled to be whisked back to Blacksburg later Saturday evening.

Pilgrim plays at right guard

Senior Brandon Pilgrim shook off an injured elbow to start Saturday's game, playing almost the entire first half.

Pilgrim, who was listed as questionable coming in, started in place of Thomas Austin. Austin sat out the entire game with a sprained ankle suffered against Florida State.

Bobby Hutchinson relieved Pilgrim with 3:36 left in the first half.

Starting right tackle Christian Capote moved to right guard in the fourth quarter, and Cory Lambert took over at right tackle. Chris Hairston relieved Barry Richardson at left tackle in the fourth quarter.

Spiller tops 1,000

Sophomore tailback C.J. Spiller surpassed 1,000 yards rushing in his career and did it with the fewest carries of anyone in Clemson history.

Spiller reached the mark in 142 career carries, breaking the record of 185 carries by Ronald Williams (1990-91).

Spiller had 38 yards rushing but finished with 142 all-purpose yards (87 receiving yards on four catches).

This and that

Tailback James Davis scored his 28th career rushing touchdown with a 16-yard run in the third quarter, moving into a tie with Terry Allen for fourth on the school's career list. Travis Zachery (1998-01) leads with 41 … Bowden coached his 100th game at Clemson on Saturday. The ninth-year coach improved to 62-38 with the Tigers.