By Will Vandervort.
By Will Vandervort
CLEMSON — Will No. 8 Clemson be watching Thursday night’s Atlantic Coast Conference battle between No. 6 Florida State and Virginia Tech with strong interest? Of course it will. Is it hoping the Hokies will pull off the upset so the Tigers can control their own destiny in the Atlantic Division race? Of course it is.
But the biggest question is this; will the outcome affect the Tigers’ frame of mind as they prepare to host Maryland for Homecoming this Saturday in Death Valley?
“We look at it as if we have some great scenarios,” Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd said Tuesday. “First of all, we have to handle our business and control what we can control. That’s why for us what’s going on in Blacksburg doesn’t really bother us too much.”
If Virginia Tech is able to take down the Seminoles in Blacksburg Thursday night, Clemson (8-1, 5-1) will be in prime position to advance to the ACC Championship Game for a third time in four years. The Tigers are already listed as a 27.5-point favorite against the Terps this Saturday and will surely be favored in their ACC finale next week at home against NC State.
“It would be great for us to win out and something of that nature happen, but at the same time, there are still some great things that can happen for us if we win out and if (Florida State) does as well,” Boyd said.
Should the Tigers win out, which means they also beat No. 11 South Carolina on Nov. 24, Clemson would finish the regular season 11-1 and should be ranked somewhere inside the top 10 of the Bowl Championship Standings. What all of that means is this, the Tigers will be eligible for an at-large BCS slot. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean they will go to a BCS game.
Currently, Clemson ranks No. 13 in the BCS, and most of the so-called experts believe the Tigers will land in the Sugar Bowl to play either Georgia or Notre Dame. The Sugar Bowl, if Alabama stays No. 1 in the BCS standings, will get to pick its matchup first due to the SEC Champion playing in the title game and as the highest seed.
“What is going on at Virginia Tech will be an intriguing game, but again we are not putting too much stock into it,” Boyd said. “It’s one of those deals where you kind of look at it, but you know you can’t be too worried about it or focused on it.
“There are so many opportunities for us. We have to control the Maryland game, that’s really all we can control.”
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney says he will take a look at Thursday night’s tussle in Blacksburg, Va., but he agrees with his quarterback, the outcome will not change the way they look or prepare for Maryland or the rest of the season moving forward.
“We don’t control that,” he said. “We really have not gotten emotional about things we don’t control. What we’ve tried to preach to these guys is to focus on things that you can control. Don’t focus on external distractions.
“That’s what our guys are focused on. If Florida State beats Virginia Tech on Thursday night, nothing changes for Clemson. We’ve got a game to win. We’re trying to be the best that we can be. That’s not going to change, regardless of what’s happening Thursday night. If it does, then you’re never going to be consistent like you need to be.”
Few teams have been as consistent as the Tigers the last two years, especially at home. Clemson has won 11 straight games in Death Valley and are going for a record 12th straight win this Saturday.
“I’m excited because we get an opportunity to finish the last three games at home,” Boyd said. “One of the things we pride ourselves on is winning at home. If you want to be an elite team, you have to win at home.
“We want to continue to change the culture and be a dominant team in this league.”
And the Tigers understand they don’t need a Virginia Tech win over Florida State to prove that point, though it would be nice.