After 51-14 Loss, Clemson Coach Says Tigers Beat FSU 5 Out Of 10 Times
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) – Head football coaches are accustomed to trying to fire up a team in the face of any challenge. But, sometimes the attempt to spin for your team comes across as almost delusional.
A good case in point is Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney.
The Tigers welcomed Florida State to Death Valley last Saturday and the game was over as soon as Clemson got off the bus. FSU pounded Clemson for 565 yards of total offense, had 30 first downs, put constant pressure on Clemson QB Tajh Boyd, was 8-12 on third down and forced four turnovers.
In other words, the Seminoles completely dominated Clemson in every facet of the game and it wasn't even close.
But Tuesday, Swinney said that after watching film of the 51-14 loss at the hands of the Seminoles; if the two schools played 10 times, Clemson "would probably win five, they'd probably win five."
Swinney said, according to ESPN, that he wasn't trying to take anything away from the Noles' performance, but said there were a couple of areas where the Seminoles were "a bit ahead" of Clemson and FSU caught the Tigers on a bad night.
But, FSU's domination of Clemson was an average night for the Noles. FSU is averaging 53.2 points per game, and the Seminoles scored 51 against Clemson. The Noles' defense gives up 12.3 points per game and surrendered just 14 to the Tigers.
The Noles are leading the charge for the ACC Championship and are prime players in the race for the BCS National Championship after the throttling of Clemson. The Tigers can still finish with a good season, but any hopes of the BCS and a championship were lost on the field to FSU.
FSU plays North Carolina State this weekend at Doak Campbell Stadium, looking for revenge as NC State upset FSU last year and cost the Noles a shot at the national championship. Then, FSU will begin preps for a top 10 matchup with arch-rival Miami on November 2.
Clemson will be on the road on Saturday against the Maryland Terrapins, who FSU mauled 63-0 earlier this season. Clemson's only remaining ranked opponent is the South Carolina Gamecocks, who are ranked 20th and face a stiff test against fifth-ranked Missouri on Saturday.
