Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Sept. 8, 1989, edition 1 / Page 15
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mws favored for '4th' straight ACC title By NEIL AMATO Staff Writer Tradition is on their side: three straight Atlantic Coast Conference titles an .806 winning percentage over the last three seasons, sixth best in the country three consecutive bowl wins Who are they? The Clemson Uni versity football team, of course. The old saying is good things come in threes, but Tiger coach Danny Ford would like to make the good things in fours. Ford, who enters his 11th year as head coach, is gunning for his sixth ACC crown of the decade as well as a seventh straight Top 20 finish. But the Tigers' past confer ence dominance may be grinding to a halt, not because Clemson is any worse, just the other teams are catch ing up. Granted, the Death Valley boys are coming off a fantastic 10-2 sea son including a 13-6 win over Okla homa in the Florida Citrus Bowl. And, yes, Clemson's only defeats (a 10-3 upset at N.C. State and a 24-21 loss at home to powerhouse Florida State on an unforgettable fake punt) were by narrow margins at the hands of excellent squads. But how good can a team be, despite returning seven defensive starters, when they'll also put seven new faces on offense? Rodney Williams and Tracy Johnson are two offensive cogs that will be sorely missed due to gradu ation. Williams, Clemson's all-time leader in passing yardage, was not a 1988: 10-2 (beat Oklahoma in Florida Citrus Bowl), 6-1 ACC, first place. 43 Returning Lettermen, 9 Returning Starters Key Offensive Starters Back: Two-time All-ACC tailback Terry Allen, kicker Chris Gardocki, guard Jeb Flescn, big-play wide out Gary Cooper. T Key Defensive Starters Back: Linebackers Doug Brewster, Levon Kirkland, Ed McDaniel, free safety James Lott. Key Losses: Quarterback Rodney Williams, split end Keith Jennings, fullback Tracy Johnson, All-ACC tackle Jeff Nunamacher, safety Gene Beasley, All-ACC middle guard Mark Drag, All America cornerback Donnell Woolford. Strengths: Good schedule, winning tradition, running backs, Iinebacking corps, team speed, kicking game. Question Marks: Defensive line, overall depth, Can new QB replace the cool, steady hand of .Williams?, Will turnovers become oblem? O 11 Since 1980 on tana Balloons & A Song Poit Helium Tanks Party Supplies Tuxedoed Messengers Gift Wrap A ShPing Nationwide Custom Imprinted Balloons Cakes and Gift Baskets Promotions, Lynches Decorating Service Great new location with plenty of parking Open Mon.-Sat. QkCLH 'XA'X'-C 208 W' MAIN ST. We're only a phone 70OtJJ " CARRBORO COll away! SAME DAY SERVICE Comer o Weaver & Main diagonal from -Town Hall Serving Chapel Hill Area, Durham, RTP & Nationwide via Balkon-in-a-ox pure passer or a superior athlete, but he just seemed to come through in the clutch. Williams threw for 1,144 yards while only tossing four inter ceptions all season. He led the Tigers in total offense in '88 while rushing for six touchdowns. Johnson, a workhorse fullback who scored eight TDs, was better known for his blocking ability. The Kanna polis native. still was a punishing runner used to grind out the tough yardage. Enough with what the Tigers don't have. Let's get to the pluses some thing they still have in many areas besides just personnel: A semi-easy schedule. Except for away contests at Florida State this weekend and a visit to South Caro lina, Clemson has a fall lineup that could thrust them into the national spotlight. Assuming the Tigers can go through the ACC schedule un scathed, the key game will be in Tal lahassee. An excellent home field advan tage. The Tigers boast an .833 win ning percentage in Memorial Stadium over the last three seasons, as well as an all-time mark over 70 percent. Why? Clemson consistently produces good gridiron squads (they haven't had a losing season since 1976) and its players have a crowd worth play ing for, a sea of orange die-hard far natics. This season, the Tigers will play six games in Death Valley, a name synonymous with the postgame condition of visiting teams. In fact, Clemson already has one home vic tory, a 30-0 pasting of defending I AA national champion Furman. A stifling defense. With a unit that returns seven starters, Clemson proved its defensive prowess Satur day against the Paladins. The Tigers held Furman to a mere 58 yards of total offense and only three first downs. Leading the defense are free safety James Lott and linebacker Ed McDaniel. The other Kannapolis resi dent will anchor a secondary that must replace Chicago Bears first-round draft choice Donnell Woolford. Lott, the only three-year starter on the Tiger roster, is a solid hitter as well as a fine special-teamer. McDaniel, a red-shirt sophomore from Batesburg, S.C., was the first frosh in a while to lead the Tigers in tackles. Although his size may be a question mark (5-11, 223 pounds), he'll be a key versus the run. A strong ground game. Even though Clemson lost the consistent Williams, any quarterback can hand the ball off. Currently, who will start at QB is still up in the air, but it's between senior Chris Morocco and sophomore DeChane Cameron. One sure thing is that junior tailback Terry Allen will have the ball in his hands as much as possible. The Commerce, Ga.' native, who was suspended for the Furman game because of a driv ing under the influence charge, will be cashing in plenty this season. The running back who finished second to ex-Tar Heel Kennard Martin for the '88 ACC rushing title needs just 750 yards to become the Tigers' career leader on the ground. Allen has an excellent blocking fullback in front of him in senior Wesley McFadden. Also around to open up some monster holes is right guard Eric Harmon. The 6-1, 269 pounder from Camden, N.J., has started 24 straight games since com- ISVjr! L We Have The Best Of Both: & djireaft CairoDDinia )3flstf oini dmatl Casual SeB&etfein) CASUAL SPECIALS INCLUDE: r Dresses...... $1 7.99 Walking Shorts $15.99 Dress Slacks. ..... $22.99 o Mock Turtlenecks $8.99 CAROLINA SPECIALS INCLUDE: Carolina T-Shirts. .... .$4.99 a Sweats As Low As $1 2.99 133 E.Franklin St 929-0060 Football '89Ttie Daily Tar ing to Clemson. When the Tigers do have to put the ball up, they have an exciting wideout known for the big play. Gary Cooper, a senior from Ambridge, Pa., is first on the all-time Tiger list in terms of yards per reception with a whopping 26. 1 . Against the Paladins, Clemson fared well in the air. Mo rocco went 8 of 14 with 99 yards while Cameron was perfect on all six of his attempts. A fantastic kicking game. Sopho more Chris Gardocki continues a long line of quality booters which include Obed Ariri, Donald Igwebuike and ham ui ' J ! Tip 1 TipjC HeelFriday, September 8, 19897 David Treadwell. Gardocki, who at tended the same high school as Chi cago Bears kicker Kevin Butler, nailed 19 field goals last season, including a 52-yarder against UNC. Gardocki also will handle the punting duties this season after compiling a 42.7 yard average in limited action. Despite several problems surround ing the Tiger program the Allen situation and a preliminary NCAA investigation one thing will be as sure as the orange tiger paws on the South Carolina highways: The Clemson football team will continue its traditional greatness. W g & OS
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 8, 1989, edition 1
15
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