Grisham 'just always wanted to beat Alabama'

CLEMSON — Tyler Grisham can't think of anything sweeter than beating Alabama.

Grisham, a senior receiver at Clemson, has been part of some exhilarating moments during his time with the Tigers. Three straight wins over Florida State have been pretty nice, and so have the two victories at South Carolina.

But for a guy who grew up in Alabama and grew up hating the Crimson Tide, few things could top a win Saturday night in Atlanta's Georgia Dome.

"I've just always wanted to beat Alabama," he said.

The source of Grisham's disdain for all things crimson comes from his Tennessee heritage. He was born in Chattanooga and still has family that lives in the Volunteer State. He moved to Alabama when he was a 3-year-old, but he always loved Tennessee.

And that meant he always hated Alabama, the team that renewed its bitter rivalry with the Volunteers every third Saturday of October.

Grisham, who had 60 catches for 653 yards last season, must have orange in his blood. He began pulling for Clemson early on in high school because he liked the Tigers' style of football. Later, when he

began attending the Tigers' summer football camp, his affinity for the Tigers grew.

The 5-11, 180-pound Grisham chose Clemson over Memphis and Alabama-Birmingham. He played at Spain Park High in Birmingham, a short drive from Tuscaloosa, but the Crimson Tide never noticed him.

When talk of this game began to percolate last year, Grisham didn't believe it would ever happen. But when it became official in January, he began to feel the buzz.

"Right when I found out it was true, it was amazing," he said. "Just because I grew up watching Alabama, a team of great tradition and great players. It really is just a treat to play a great team, a team I grew up watching."

And hating.

Coming Tuesday

Clemson receivers coach Dabo Swinney

Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com and check out the new Clemson blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/tiger_tracks/