; Football '88Friday, September 9, 19883
will
fie
sams-
led ; Tigers
ore (again) to be
at top of faCC lieap
By BRENDAN MATHEWS
Staff Writer
Is there any doubt Clemson will
win the ACC?
The Tigers are on an entirely
different level than the rest of the
conference. While most of the ACC
is hoping for a winning record,
Clemson has a legitimate shot at a
national title. UNC is starting over,
N.C. State is rebuilding, and Mary
land is comatose.
Meanwhile, the Tigers just keep
getting stronger.
How do they do it? Well, start with
the fact that football is a religion in
South Carolina, add in coach Danny
Ford's ability to consistently recruit
the nation's top high school players,
and finish off with a schedule that
this year keeps them home in Death
Valley for their toughest games
(Florida State, South Carolina). It's
easy to see why Clemson will be
heading for its second straight New
Year's Day bowl game.
Last year's 35-10 dismantling of
Penn State in the Florida Citrus Bowl
proved to the country that the Tigers
were more than just the big fish in
the Atlantic Coast pond. Senior
quarterback Rodney Williams
silenced the "they can run, but how
about putting it in the air" critics by
dissecting the Nittany Lions' secon
dary for 214 yards. When it was all
over, Clemson had run up 499 total
yards and stood primed to carry that
momentum over to the 8 season.
But the Tigers aren't perfect, as last
year's 30-28 loss to N.C. State and
their season-ender with South Carol
ina proved. Against the Gamecocks,
they played like, welL a typical ACC
team. Final score: South Carolina 20,
Clemson 7.
That's all history, though. This
year, Clemson's traditionally rock
solid defense will once again carry
them through the fall.
- The line took a beating with the
graduation of Ail-American Michael
Dean Perry and All-ACC choice
Tony Stephens. With the team's
leading tackier, outside linebacker
James. Earle, joining Perry and
Stephens in line for a diploma, things
looked bleak for the defense.
But wait, this is Clemson, where
restocking defensive lines are no
problem.
Monster senior Raymond Chavous
will step in to pick up where Perry
left off. Chavous, a veteran of three
bowl games, will continue to do what
he does best stop the drive up the
middle with his 6-foot-5, 280-pound
frame. The rest of the line will be
anchored by seniors Richard McCol
lough and J.C. Harper, and junior
Otis Moore.
The dominant man in the defensive
front is senior end Jesse Hatcher, who
came on . strong late last year with
seven sacks. The other end, sopho
more John Johnson, will be a threat
to opposing quarterbacks all season
long. A freshman AU-American in
7, Johnson runs the 40 in 4.55.
The weakness of the defense will
be at linebacker, where no top
prospects have emerged. "We have a
little bit of depth along the defensive
line," Ford said. "Our problem will
be at linebacker, where we don't have
many players coming back. Henry
Carter is passing up his fifth year,
his redshirt year, so we have to
depend on some young people like
(Doug) Brewster."
As a freshman, Brewster racked up
38 tackles in the last four games of
the season. Joining him will be
Dorian Mariable, the defensive MVP
of the Citrus Bowl. Although he
started only three games, Mariable
led all linebackers with 61 tackles.
Without a doubt, the star of the
Clemson defense will be senior
cornerback Donnell Woolford, a
first-team AU-American last year. In
man-to-man coverage last season,
only seven passes made it by him. In
addition, he led the team in punt
returns, passes broken up and
interceptions.
As if Woolford wasn't enough, the
other three starters from last year's
secondary . which broke up a
Clemson-record 42 passes are all
back. Junior James Lott, at the other
corner, is joined by seniors Gene
Beasley (strong safety) and Richard
Smith (free safety).
Not to be outdone by the defense,
Clemson's offense also showcases
power, speed and potential Ail
Americans. "'
Williams returns for his fourth year
at the helm of the Tiger offense. He
can't throw like Vinny Testaverde,
and he can't run like Jamelle Holie
way, but that doesnt seem to bother
Ford.
"WeVe got a quarterback that only
knows how to win," said Ford,
summing up the Williams mystique.
"He's not very flashy, but he usually
wins." .
Williams , has always been an
option quarterback, and there are no
signs that's going to change. His
passing has been, and will continue
to be, inconsistent, although Willi
ams' performance in the Citrus Bowl
showed what he is capable of.
But why go to the air when you've
got a running game as potent as the
Tigers? The ground attack features
the 87 ACC Rookie of the Year,
tailback Terry Allen, who rolled to
973 yards and eight touchdowns.
Junior tailback Wesley McFadden
led the ACC with 5.7 yards per carry
en route to picking up 781 yards for
the season. McFadden's 226-yard
explosion against Virginia Tech last
year helped earn him an all-
conference honorable mention. ,
Always a believer that too much
. is never enough, Ford also has Joe
Henderson in reserve at tailback. The
junior scored five touchdowns and
gained 386 yards in limited playing
time last year.
Clemson also has a potent weapon
in fullback Tracy Johnson. His nine
touchdown season and three dives
across the line in the Citrus Bowl
sparked the Tigers.
. The Clemson offensive line is one
of the most experienced in the
conference, returning four of last
year's starters and one from the 6
roster.
Leading the way will be All-ACC
senior tackle Mark Nunamacher,
whose 6-2, 300-pound frame poses a
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INVITE YOUR PARENTS They've alreadv received an V
TO CHAPEL HILL FOR invitation from the University, "
PARENTS' WEEKEND fmm The Parents Council; and the
SEPTEAfBER 23-25 Development Office. Now let you r
parents know you'd enjoy having .
them here on campus for. Parents' v
Weekend September 23-25. They will really enjoy sharing the
experience for just a weekend.
It's a weekend jam packed with LOTS OF FREEDOM.
activity. But it's the kind of . LOTS OF TOGETHERNESS.
program that recognizes how
much is enough It lets you sieep in on Saturday and have the
necessary privacy and freedom you need just to be you. There are .
programs parents will especially like and activities you'll enjoy
together. It's your choice. Pep, rally, football game, banquet, Bar-B-Q,
faculty lectures, campus tours, exhibits, demonstrations and more.
Hieylll 1
ove yoii for it.
A chance to shovv off your parents, have them meet your friends,
and learn about your world of Chapel Hill. Let them know you want
them to come to Parents' Weekend.
Do it! Invite them to share the weekend with you.
17 T im i
myjL,mrent
A T
S TO
September 23-24-25
Be a part of it!
For more information, call or stop by the
Dean of Students Office, 966-4041.
Advance registration and reservations are recommended.
(cena
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