Howard Speaks Truth to Power After OL’s Success in Upset Win
By: Cameron Burnett November 6, 2023

CLEMSON – Clemson has dealt with a plague of injuries in the 2023 season, and no position may be more affected than offensive line. It would be easy for the Tigers to blame the absences, but they overcame it in their best outing up front against No. 12 Notre Dame.

With Walker Parks and Marcus Tate out while Collin Sadler was banged out, offensive line coach Thomas Austin had to scramble together a unit. Tristan Leigh moved back out to left tackle while Harris Sewell and Trent Howard locked down the guard spots.

“We know what we’vc got in the room. We know what we can do and we know what we’re capable of. Notre Dame obviously is a great team, they played really hard and we knew it would be really good challenge so we just had to go out there and execute today,” Howard said.

Most didn’t give this group a chance, but they didn’t care. It’s a mantra that’s stuck with this team, and especially come to light given the team was 4-4 heading into the week.

“Coach Swinney did a good job of trying to preach inside-out mentality. Nothing starts from the outside-in…that’s what we kind of had to focus on each other today and kind of block out the outside noise,” Howard said.

Clemson blocked out the noise while the offensive line blocked out the Irish front all day in Death Valley. The Tigers rushed 43 times for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Notre Dame came into the game giving up nearly 120 yards on the ground per game. Clemson was over 100 yards in the first half.

Howard’s confidence was evident postgame, and he saw this as an opportunity to prove to everyone that this offensive line can and will overpower their opponents. The Tigers did just that against a well-respected Irish defense, and it’s the kind of momentum that must be built upon.

“Failure and adversity are guaranteed things in life and failure either defines you, it develops you or it destroys you,” Howard said. “I think this team has done a great job of letting failure, if you want to call it, develop this team and grow. It’s been really good to see the character of Clemson.”