Higgins: Clemson will be in bad mood
By Jeff Hartsell
Clemson's 34-10 loss to Alabama put a big dent in the Tigers' national reputation and brought derision upon ACC football.
But from the perspective of The Citadel coach Kevin Higgins, whose Bulldogs will be the opponent in Clemson's rebound game Saturday at Memorial Stadium, that outcome changes little.
Clemson, despite all of its issues, is still pretty darn good.
"All you have to do is turn on the film and you can see that we will have all sorts of problems against them," said Higgins, who held his weekly news conference Tuesday. "They have so much team speed, it's incredible. We know how good they are, and the fact that Alabama beat them convincingly does not change anything from our perspective. They are still a Top 10 team and we will have our hands full."
Actually, the Tigers fell completely out of The Associated Press poll released Tuesday. But Higgins' point remains; he contends that Alabama's win had more to with the Crimson Tide than any deficiencies on Clemson's part.
"Watching that game, it was incredible how good Alabama is," Higgins said. "Their guys up front were very impressive, and you have to give a lot of credit to Alabama — they are a very good football team. It was like watching an NFL defensive line against Clemson. They were just so much bigger and stronger and dominated the whole show.
"At the same time, Clemson did not play the kind of game they are capable of playing."
With the vaunted duo of James Davis and C.J. Spiller combining for 11 touches and 20 yards rushing, Higgins expects Clemson offensive coordinator Rob Spence to give the Bulldogs a full dose of the two running backs.
"If I were Tommy Bowden, with those two backs who did not get many yards, that would be a priority,"
Higgins said. "To make sure to get the ball in their hands and see if we can get them 100 yards each. Stopping them will be a challenge for us.
"We've got to get a eighth and ninth guy in the box to try to stop them. And if we don't get in the proper gap and either one of them hits that gap, he will hit his head on the goal post. We wouldn't catch them in two-hand touch."
The Bulldogs' new 3-4 defensive scheme is designed to help get more speed on the field. But there is FCS speed and FBS speed, and Higgins said Clemson's is more like NFL speed. "They are faster than some of the NFL teams we had to prepare for," said Higgins, a former assistant with the Detroit Lions, "and they have the best secondary we've faced in my four years here."
The Bulldogs will rotate freshman backs Asheton Jordan and Terrell Dallas on the scout team this week in an effort to duplicate Clemson's speed for the first-team defense. "That's just so our guys will have a chance to see someone who's half as fast as their guys," Higgins said.
During Higgins' tenure, the Bulldogs have played FBS teams Florida State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin. Their best result was last year against the seventh-ranked Badgers, when the halftime score was 21-21 before Wisconsin pulled away, 45-31.
But none of those teams was coming off a nationally televised humiliation.
"They will be in a bad mood," Higgins said of the Tigers. "We know that going in."
Notes
--Nose guard Terrence Reese, held out Saturday against Webber International with a knee injury, is questionable for the Clemson game. "We're hoping," Higgins said. "His knee is doing better, but he's certainly not 100 percent. We'll know more Thursday and Friday." ... Cornerback Tillman Millhouse injured his right shoulder against Webber International, but it is not a separation. "We're not sure of his status. It will be based on whether he can practice this week, Higgins said." ... Higgins said he plans to use running backs Jordan, Cody Wilson and Rickey Anderson against Clemson, then reevaluate the pecking order at the position.
E-mail this story
Printer-friendly versionComments
Bulldog92 (anonymous) says...
If Clemson is in a bad mood we better look out they may score a touchdown. For a team that is supposed to be the class of the ACC this year they are pathetic. Clemson will win this game, but with their easy schedule this year the will probaly lose at least 4 more times.
Fire Bowden now.
September 3, 2008 at 7:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
I hope CU forgot how to read this week. Thay's over-much praise for a team that was humiliated.
September 3, 2008 at 7:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
elcid81 (anonymous) says...
Give them hell Dogs. We all know that Clemson will try and run up the score and get the stats up for their "Laverne and Shirley" running duo. They will dance and taunt the Dogs at every opportunity because that's their style. I just hope that at the end of the day the bulldogs are healthy and the score is in our favor. The Bulldog nation will always be proud of you. Go Dogs!!!!
September 3, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fantasy5 (anonymous) says...
elcid sounds like a delapidated SC fan who graduated from the Citadel. Clemson should win, but I doubt there will be any taunting seeing as "el cid" shouldn't be any kind of competition. Clemson will always be the "class" of SC...
September 3, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sbs920 (anonymous) says...
poor little fantasy-5 (aka rosy palms)
still pouting of that embarrassing Alabama Slama butt kicking you little tiggers took on Sat Nite!
Just remember you can't spell clemson without "lemon"
Go squeeze on that awhile. . . LOL!
Pucker up little pussy. . . MeeeeOoooW !
September 3, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
elcid81 (anonymous) says...
fantasy5 - Part correct and part wrong - I am a Cid grad, but also a long time season ticket holder for Clemson football. I have tickets for this weekend, but will not attend as I do not like larger schools teeing off on lesser opponents. I am an old fan of football, therefore I blast the taunting by any player regardless of school. If only I were coach.... I guess that is why I am a career soldier serving miles from my home (Charleston). If it matters, my son is a Clemson grad (Clemson had the only Architecture program in the state). Peace to you all this week. God bless Charleston and my fellow uniformed folks.
September 3, 2008 at 12:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fantasy5 (anonymous) says...
You sure do use "they" a lot for a Clemson fan elcid, but thats just something I noticed peculiar. My best to you though as a I respect all those in the uniformed services.
sbs, there was no pout in that comment. In fact, I've already posted many a comment about my disappointment from this past weekends game. are you really talking though? You have ZERO room to talk little man!
September 3, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mrcitadel2008 (anonymous) says...
Fantasy5,
Did a Citadel Cadet steal your girlfriend or take your job??
I ask because your attitude typifies a male that lacked the physical and mental ability to accomplish the rigors of the Citadel. I would be anxious to see if you would stroll up to a Citadel Tailgate this weekend running that yammer of yours. We may not have a winning ball program, but we do have pride. Also, all of our football players can count to 10 and go to class. Why don't you leave all the big talk to the real men and go make smart*ss comments about things you have some idea about.
P.S. I'm a die hard Clemson fan but it's days like today that make me proud to be a bulldog.
Give em hell dogs.
September 3, 2008 at 4:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
algorelost (anonymous) says...
These guys saw the clemson loss coming:
September 3, 2008 at 11:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JRob (anonymous) says...
Fantasy, Why shouldn't he use "they" if he doesn't play for Clemson? I'm assuming you don't either. Mr. Citadel sounds like an obnoxious Citadel candidate. Yeah, we all want to be you, buddy.
September 3, 2008 at 11:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by signing up!
Full terms and conditions can be read here.
Thank you for your interest in this story. The comment thread for this article has been closed.
- Most Commented
- Most Emailed
- S.C. losing port traffic to other states
- Out with old ...
- Water — 'The smell is gone'
- Cart gives Buddy new lease on life
- Schools plan to update visitor-security system
- Man, 17, killed in motorcycle wreck
- GenPhar site 'red-tagged'
- Off campus
- Historic manor house used by Girl Scouts is among buildings that might be torn down to make way for future
- New drug may hold promise for lupus sufferers
