Clemson Tigers Need to End Season on a Positive Note

After defeating Georgia Tech on homecoming, the Clemson Tigers were considered the best team in the Atlantic Coast Conference and a sure bet for the ACC's BCS bowl selection. The Tiger's final four games of the season told another story; dropping three of their last four, including being dominated by a Virginia Tech on a Thursday night at Lane Stadium, losing on a field goal as time expired to Maryland, and losing to instate rival South Carolina. It looked before the season that this was the year the Tiger's would regain their spot as an ACC powerhouse, instead Clemson will now face Kentucky in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee.

Since the regular season ending lose to South Carolina, there has been nothing but signs of trouble for the Tiger faithful. Head Coach Tommy Bowden, at one point rumored to be headed for the Alabama coaching vacancy, has lost his cool and taken shots at Steve Spurrier and the Southeastern Conference through the media when he was not offered a contract extension while finishing the season with eight wins and four loses. Clemson's star running back James Davis has complained about being phased out of the offense that ranked in the top five in the nation in rushing offense. While Davis was hampered with injuries over the last few games of the season, he saw his rushing production decrease and believed it was a result of fewer carries. After sitting down with Coach Bowden and offensive coordinator Rob Spence, Davis is once again happy with his role in the Clemson offense.

Perhaps one of the most underrated and underutilized players on the Clemson roster is transferring. Demerick Chancellor, a forth string, red shirt freshmen running back out of Florida, believes he has a better chance at seeing the field at another university. With superstar back James Davis and the emergence of freshman all American C.J. Spiller receiving the vast majority of the carries, Chancellor did not want to see his career end like fan favorite Reggie Merriweather.

As if these troubles were not enough for a team preparing for a bowl, Clemson's 2007 recruiting class, once thought to be one of the top in the nation, has lost some of its luster. The number two quarterback in the nation, Will Korn, has had a sub par senior season and dreadful performance in the North Carolina/South Carolina Shrine Bowl. Clemson also seems to be losing the in state recruiting war with South Carolina and their head coach Steve Spurrier.

With one game left in the 2006 campaign the Tigers desperately need to end the season on a positive note. While the Tiger faithful are in despair after losing to Carolina and quite unpleased about attending the Music City Bowl, a win against the Wildcats would propel the Tigers into the spring and restore the faith in Tiger Town.