CLEMSON — In four years at Clemson, Wader Woodaz has never been as despondent as he was after the Tigers’ 46-45 loss to Duke on Saturday.
The offense did its part, racking up 560 yards of offense, with Cade Klubnik throwing for a career-high 385 yards. However, just like in the loss to SMU, it was the Clemson defense that faltered against the Blue Devils, as Darian Mensah sliced up the Tigers’ secondary.
Mensah had seven passing plays that went for 15 yards or more, including 77 and 43-yard touchdown strikes, plus another 56-yard completion that helped set up the game winning score with under a minute remaining.
Several of those big plays were due to busts on the backend, and Woodaz was as transparent as he’s ever been when asked about some of the issues plaguing this team on the defensive side of the ball.
“We beat ourselves really,” the senior linebacker said after the loss. “We had three or four big play busts that resulted in touchdowns. But give credit to them, they obviously did their homework.”
“All you can do is go back to work. You got two options, you can either curl up in a shell and be a….. Or get to work.”
With four more games left, not only in the regular season, but quite possibly in Woodaz’s college career, he just wants to find a way to go out on a high note. Not for himself, but for the program and everything that it represents.
“It is so much bigger than the individual,” he said. “We represent all of you guys here. We represent the University. We represent our last names. So, going and playing for that.”
After collecting four tackles in the loss, Woodaz now has 53 on the season, which is second most on the team, just behind Sammy Brown’s 60. But with the Tigers now just 3-5 on the season and only 2-4 in ACC play, Woodaz’s disappointment has hit a new low.
“If you see the work we put in, it is not like we don’t practice or that we don’t care,” Woodaz said. “It is just so frustrating when you dedicate and give everything you have to get a goal, and you don’t get it. It makes me sick. I could literally throw up because of what everybody has put in.”
And he’s doing his best not to let his frustrations boil over.
“It is damn near impossible,” Woodaz said. “You think I want to go to class? I got to show my face on campus after talking to the media.”
At the same time, Woodaz will be right back a practice on Monday, trying to help the defense turn the page to Florida State, which visits Clemson next weekend. With all but one of their preseason goals now unattainable, Woodaz says he is now playing for pride. Both personal pride and school pride.
“That PAW right there,” Woodaz said, motioning to a Tiger Paw. “My last name and the people I have gone through the fire with. It is not just going to go to waste. I am not going to just give up and quit.”
Photo by Bart Boatwright