ATLANTA — Clemson linebacker Wade Woodaz did not hold back the truth in the 12th-ranked Tigers’ stunning 24-21 loss to Georgia Tech Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
“We are what we put on tape,” he said after Tech’s Aidan Birr drilled a 55-yard field goal as time expired to send Clemson to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the ACC.
“We are a 1-2 football team. We have to learn from it. That is all we can do.”
Once a preseason top 4 team and a “no doubt” national championship contender, the Tigers are starring at what can be a disappointing season that has no ACC Championship or College Football Playoff anywhere in their future.
“It should not matter what the expectations are for us. We have to go out there and play like Clemson,” receiver Bryant Wesco, Jr., said. “I think we are going to still play like Clemson, whether that is being the team that finishes every game…that is what Clemson is and that is what we have not been.
“But that is what we are going to continue to strive for. The standard is still the same no matter what the expectations are.”
The Tigers have not come close to that standard this season. For a third straight week, they got off to a slow start offensively and were playing catchup in the second half.
And like in the loss to LSU to start the season, they found themselves looking for answers instead of enjoying a victory.
“It’s attention to detail. I don’t think it is a lack of effort or a lack of heart,” Woodaz said. “Again, what did we do wrong today? We were making small mental mistakes, and they capitalized on that, so attention to detail.”
Those details are the lowering of the shoulder to protect the football. Those details are not dropping a third-down pass that could have extended a potential scoring drive. Those details are closing tackles and not allowing the opponent to get extra yards and extend game-winning drives. Those details are not getting a call in late that leads to an explosive play.
“These guys are resilient. No one gave up until the last play,” Wesco said. “Even when we were down (13 points) we all came back. Last week, against Troy, we were down (16 points). We came back. You see that, and each game has been close.
“Just one or two plays and we are 3-0, so that is what we have to worry about, just being us, being finishers. Once we get those one or two things down, we are going to be one of the best teams in the nation.”
But right now, the Tigers are 1-2, and that is what they have put on tape.