Thoughts from Clemson 43, N.C. State 23

Got home a little while ago from Raleigh, N.C., where Clemson ripped N.C. State 43-23 to move within one win or Boston College defeat of clinching its first ACC Atlantic Division title (the Tigers can finish the job by beating hapless Virginia at home Saturday).
I really, really think this was a big win for the Tigers. Not necessarily for the caliber of opponent – the Wolfpack is 4-5 and couldn’t stop a pack of caffeinated four-year-olds, much less C.J. Spiller and Co. – but because Clemson was motivated and came out very strong.
In years past, this would have been a prime “letdown alert” game – on the road, at noon, following a key win (last week’s emotional 40-24 win over Florida State).
Clemson didn’t let it happen, going up 17-0 and cruising home.
“I told (the team) before the game, ‘Championship teams take care of business,’” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “You’ve got business out on the field, get clocked in, like our sign says at practice. You get clocked in, you go to work and you seize opportunities. That’s what championship teams do.”
Swinney was proud, but knows the Tigers have work left. Clemson hasn’t won an ACC title since 1991, stretch that, in his words, has left Clemson “wandering in the desert.
“We’re real happy but we’re not satisfied,” Swinney said. “We’re a confident team but we’re a very humble team. Because we haven’t done anything yet. We’re in position, we’re right where you want to be, but we’ve got to finish. Bottom line. We don’t finish the right way, nobody cares.”
Just an outstanding all-around effort. Start with the defense against N.C. State’s Russell Wilson.
Wilson completed just 12 of 32 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns against an interception; he averaged 346 yards and four scores the past two weeks.
Just another solid effort against a top-25 passer; Clemson improved to 4-1 against them this year.
“We did a good job getting in Wilson’s face,” linebacker Brandon Maye said. “For the most part he had a rough day.”
And what more can you say about C.J. Spiller. Really! State kicked away from him all day and keyed on him, and all Spiller did was score three different ways – throwing a touchdown pass to Xavier Dye, running a 16-yard score in and burning yet another defense on a wheel route for a 34-yard touchdown (becoming the first player in Clemson history to score throwing, running and catching in the same day).
He had 172 all-purpose yards and three scores, and kept his name solidly in the Heisman Trophy race. He also set Clemson’s single-season all-purpose yards record with 1,952.
“Just another ho-hum day for him,” Swinney said facetiously.
Spiller downplayed how the day affected his Heisman hopes, but his teammates were happy to advocate for him.
“He’s doing it all,” senior tight end Michael Palmer said. “To say that he shouldn’t be in the Heisman (race), you’re crazy. I think with the toe injury (he’s fighting), he’s doing one heck of a job for us.”
I’m just stunned that the wheel route keeps working. Defenses see it, but they can’t stop it.
“I thought (the defender) probably over-ran it,” Spiller said. “Jacoby Ford and Xavier Dye did a great job eating up the safety and the corner. I told Kyle (Parker), just put it out there.”
It marked the third time in four games he and Parker have hooked up on that exact play.
“It’s a tough play to defend when you’ve got a guy that fast coming out of the backfield,” Parker said. “If you’re keying on it every time we’ll hurt you in so many ways. Whenever we can sneak that in there, we can catch them off-balance.”
Oh, by the way, Parker was pretty good too.
He put together his most efficient road effort of the year, completing 12 of 18 passes for 183 yards, two touchdowns, and just as important, no turnovers.
“I completed a lot of passes, my line protected well for the most part and we didn’t turn the ball over, didn’t give them any help and helped our defense,” he said. “It was really good and efficient.”
Palmer, again: “For him to be a freshman and do what he’s doing it’s really special,” Palmer said. “He’s really big for our team right now. To have a quarterback go out and perform the way he’s performing, it’s special that he’s a freshman. It’s more of what you expect out of a senior. He’s doing a great job.”
Clemson’s offense all-around was special, with 454 yards of total offense (254 rushing, 200 passing). The Tigers completed 60 percent of their third downs, with four of them going for 16 yards or more (the big blow being a 47-yard pass to Jacoby Ford).
“It was probably as complete, efficient an offensive performance as we’ve had all year,” Swinney said.
Sure, there were issues – Spencer Benton missed two more extra points, and left guard Thomas Austin sprained his foot, and there were 79 yards in penalties (one of State’s scoring drives was extended twice by Maye penalties on third down), but overall, there just wasn’t much to complain about.
It is a sign that this team is dialed in and ready for something special. Look out, Virginia.
“It’s about how we play, how we prepare, and this team has really bought into that,” Swinney said. “What a great opportunity for our seniors to prepare to play their last home game in Death Valley and play for a division title, to be able to go to Tampa. That’s where we are. That’s where you want to be, that’s our goal at Clemson. We’ve been working toward our second goal all season. Now it’s right within our reach.”