AJC > Blog > Archives > 2006 > October > 19
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Return to Death Valley Days
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Back when Enemy Watch was a cubbie, she was occasionally assigned to the Tiger Beat, P.O. Box Death Valley, Clemson, S.C., CSA.
And what a terrific introduction to the college game, Southern-style. Just two hours up the road from the ATL, excellent fried chicken and other home-style chow in the press box, and a gracious, inviting host in legendary Clemson SID Bob Bradley, now departed but forever charming with his delicious denunciation of the in-state rivals from Columbia as, merely, “The Chickens.”
They were hardly glory years, this period when first Ken Hatfield and then Tommy West tried to follow Danny Ford, and produced mostly mediocrity instead.
If only the ACC could be just as mediocre, instead of a league currently populated by some really bad teams (Thursday’s UNC-UVa extravaganza oughta be a doozy of dread) and reeling from a vicious, ugly brawl involving Miami that not even a super-strength dose of Boraxo can scrub away. Saturday’s Clemson-Tech contest promises to offer a badly needed departure from all that. Promises, promises?
Indeed, the miserly ACC is rated as No. 6 in this Power Grid, so fingers are crossed Saturday’s tilt won’t become another competitive blackout.
The Yellow Jackets have triumphed in the intimidating Death Valley environs before, most recently with Calvin Johnson turning in the first highlight reel moment of his career with an awesome game-winning TD catch that still gives him goose bumps. “I can’t even explain it,” he said this week.
This will be the first time that ESPN’s College Game Day will haul its Twenty Mule Team of Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso to Death Valley. The show’s 13 years old, illustrating how long Clemson’s been out of the non-Bowden Bowl national spotlight.
Even Oprah took time out from batting her eye lashes at Barack Obama to give the Tigers some love. On Wednesday, the Queen of Mawkish Melodrama taped a segment Wednesday with a Clemson player who is caring for his younger brother.
As for the game itself, it’s routinely been stamped as the ACC’s Most Competitive Series. That’s the meme that will be worn out by Saturday. Get used to hearing it. But the numbers don’t lie. And neither do some thrilling finishes over the years.
Hotlanta’s own Clemson RB James Davis can’t wait to play against his hometown team.
A Clemson blogger gives five reasons why the Jackets should be very nervous, if not afraid.
This handicapper thinks the Tigers will prevail.
Could there be a rematch in Jax?
In the Dawg-eat-Dog world, it doesn’t matter whether Saturday’s yawnfest in Athens will be a good game to the winner. UGA’s got the Gators after this, after an ACC-worthy loss to Vanderbilt.
Mississippi State is coming off a win, but against Jacksonville State. Coach Sylvester Croom isn’t dispensing much sympathy for the state of Mark Richt’s troops: “They don’t know the meaning of struggle.”
You’re more than struggling when a defensive back is your best scoring threat.
On top of all that, it’s been tough for a Mississippi State community dealing with the shooting death in Atlanta of former player Darren Williams in an apparent robbery attempt.
One last set of predix: UGA wins, Tech gets edged out.
