The game of football can be a cruel mistress. Ask the Clemson Tigers. They know.
Clemson Football has suffered more than its share of unfortunate bad luck and misfortune over the past two and a half seasons. Now, the Miami Hurricanes know what that feels like, and going into Saturday’s game, one must wonder how much mental fortitude they have left in the tank.
More so, can the Tigers take advantage of a team that has hit rock bottom in the pit of demoralization?
Miami is coming into Saturday night’s game on the heels of consecutive losses. If their disastrous defeat to Georgia Tech two weeks ago was a gut punch, the shellacking in the second half handed down by North Carolina was a haymaker that put the Hurricanes on the deck.
It is fight or flight for the ‘Canes, and Clemson hopes Miami will be running for the hills, or more fittingly, the Everglades, when the Tigers roll into Hard Rock Stadium.
Two weeks ago, in prime time, the Hurricanes appeared to have a hard-fought win against upstart Georgia Tech all but secured with just over 30 seconds to play and possession of the ball. All Miami needed to do was go into victory formation and take one knee. The Yellow Jackets could not have stopped the clock. Incredibly, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal did not relay that to quarterback Tyler Van Dyke who handed the ball to his running back, who subsequently had it knocked free by a Tech defender.
The Yellow Jackets recovered with 26 seconds to play. Four plays and 65 yards later, they were in the end-zone with one second on the clock as Hurricane fans hurled trash onto the field in incredulous frustration. It was not just the loss, but the way in which the game was lost, that can mentally defeat a team.
Then, last week, Miami had to play powerful North Carolina with a chance to regain momentum. Early on, it seemed as if the Hurricanes might right the ship. Then Drake Maye took over. The Tar Heels’ Heisman hopeful signal-caller picked apart the Hurricanes’ secondary in the second half as UNC pulled away for a 41-31 win.
Insult to injury and salt in an already open wound.
So, can Clemson take advantage? Some in the national media have predicted the Hurricanes to come out firing, playing for pride, and take down the Tigers. I am not sure I see it that way. There is a lot to be said about the advantages of momentum. Miami is not stuck in neutral; they are screaming backwards in reverse.
Despite the Tigers’ lackluster offensive performance two weeks ago against Wake Forest, the offense had been showing positive signs of breaking out in an explosive way. If quarterback Cade Klubnik gets back on track, and the run game flourishes with Will Shipley and Phil Mafah, I am not certain that Miami will have enough left between the ears, or in the muscles, to put up a four-quarter fight. I absolutely believe they will come out fired up, and it might be close for a half, but how long can they keep the bout going before they are put on the ropes?
The Clemson defense comes at teams in waves. It is arguably the best unit in the country, and if not, certainly top five. The Hurricanes scored 23 points against Georgia Tech. Nothing about that performance gives me any confidence they will do better against a Clemson defense that is light-years superior to the Yellow Jackets. Simply, I do not think Miami will score 23 points. Maybe I am wrong, but if the Tigers have had one constant this season, it has been the ability to severely limit teams offensively.
That has a good chance to continue.
This, of course, is all speculative. Both teams must go out there and play the game on Saturday. Miami can be a tough place to play for visiting teams, and the Hurricanes are not devoid of talent. They have plenty of it. But so does Clemson, and the Tigers’ roster is as potent as anybody Miami has played or will play this year.
Clemson is also riding a far bigger wave of confidence.
You can never underestimate a wounded warrior. It would behoove Clemson not to take the Hurricanes lightly. I have no doubt that will not be the case. I see the Tigers ready to roll after a much-needed bye week, and meanwhile, Miami has not had time to mentally and physically recover from one of the roughest two-week stretches in program history.
If Clemson comes out and plays sound, mistake-free football, expect category-five destruction in South Beach.
