By Will Vandervort
CLEMSON — Daniel Rodriguez had never met the guys that came to his and the other wounded’s aid when more than 300 Taliban forces assaulted the American Combat Outpost Keating on October 9, 2009, near the town of Kamdesh in eastern Afghanistan.
Though it was a brief meeting, Rodriguez finally got to shake their hands during No. 13 Clemson’s 38-17 victory over Virginia Tech. Clemson, as part of Military Appreciation Day, recognized U.S. Air Force Captains Michal Polidor and Justin Kulish at the end of the third quarter, and Rodriguez came over from the sideline during the timeout between quarters and said, “Thank You.”
“I didn’t know who they were. I heard they were coming, but it was great to meet them,” Rodriguez said.
Though they had never met before Saturday their lives are forever linked. Capt. Polidor spent eight hours flying over the battlefield that day in 2009 in an F-15, while dropping bombs on enemy targets and directing fire on more than 200 Taliban insurgents. His actions, coupled with the heroism of those on the ground, saved countless lives and demonstrated the teamwork that personifies the military.
Capt. Polidor was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions. Rodriguez was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his actions that day.
“They would drop bombs for me, but sometimes they were a little too close,” Rodriguez joked.
The day as whole was special for Clemson’s wide receiver. The war hero led the Tigers down the Hill prior to the game as part of the festivities.
“The crowd chanting USA, that meant a lot,” Rodriguez said. “I’m proud of being an American and being at Clemson and so are the $83,000 fans that were here. This school is so pro US and so pro military. It is a great environment being down here.
“I love this state.”
The streak is still alive. Clemson has now won 11 consecutive games at Memorial Stadium, which ties the school record. Clemson went 7-0 at home in 2011 and is 4-0 at home this season. The last time Clemson won 11 straight at Memorial Stadium was in 1991.The streak started on October 21, 1989 with a 31-10 over NC State and ended with a 20-20 tie against Virginia on October 12, 1991.
Stingy “D”! Clemson held Virginia Tech to just seven points in the second half. That is the fifth time this season that the Clemson defense has allowed seven points or fewer in the second half of a game.
Happy returns. Meeks’ 74-yard interception return is the longest interception return by a Clemson player since 2006 when Jock McKissic returned an interception return 83 yards for a touchdown against South Carolina.
Touchdown machine. DeAndre Hopkins scored his ninth touchdown of the season in the third quarter. Hopkins has now scored a touchdown in four straight games and six of the seven games this season. He finished the game with three catches for 68 receiving yards.