CLEMSON — In one week, the wait will finally be over.
It will officially be college football season in Clemson or Baton Rouge at least. The Clemson Tigers take on the 11th-ranked Bayou Bengals next Saturday at Tiger Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., and it will be televised by ESPN.
I know some of you are excited about the new season, and I know some of you are indifferent to it. I understand both sides.
However, it’s football, nonetheless, and that always gets me ready to roll. I understand, for a lot of you reading this, that you are not as excited about next week’s game because you do not think Clemson stands a chance against LSU.
And maybe you are right? But if you were wrong. What then?
Does your mind change about the entire season?
I know LSU is supposed to be good this year. I know that they have won 88 percent of their home night games since 2000.
What does any of that have to do with next week, though?
Clemson was supposed to be good last year. Do you remember when everyone had Clemson as the preseason No. 4 team? Some had them winning the national championship.
How did that work out for them?
See my point.
LSU has 40 new players on its roster, plus a new head coach, offensive coordinator and offensive coaches. Let that information sink in for a moment.
Clemson will be their first game playing together as a team. Let that sink in.
Yes, Clemson has some new players, as well, but not 40. Yes, Clemson has some new coaches, but not an entirely new offensive staff.
LSU also has some distractions going on off the field. Have you been reading the news coming out of Baton Rouge? It’s like every second there seems to be another story about another lawsuit?
I have not seen a story about the current players or practice in about a week.
Pro players want to come back to LSU and take the roster spot or the starting spot from a guy who has been the starter since mat drills this past February.
That seems like a good morality boost for a team that has 40 new players and has not built a stable relationship just yet. There is no better way to tell your current players you do not care about them than bringing in some other guy that has not even participated in any workouts or practices since the off-season conditioning began.
This is likely why Clemson can win the game next Saturday.
Let LSU be distracted. Let them be worried about playing time and trusting a head coach that is willing to lie to them in order to get the best players. Yeah, that sounds like a guy a player can get behind.
As for the Xs and Os, it is simple. Offensively, Clemson needs to keep things simple on offense, no matter who the quarterback is. Quick reads and get the ball out of his hands fast. Get the ball to his wide receivers and playmakers. Stay on schedule and ahead of the sticks.
The No. 1 thing – ball security. At all costs, take care of the football.
On the defensive side of the ball, just do not allow any big plays. That’s how Lane Kiffin’s offense works. When it is working well, his offense is getting big plays.
The defense, besides getting off the field and forcing turnovers, needs to make LSU work for every yard. With so many new people on their team, making them go on long drives is probably the best way to stop it.
So, that’s why Clemson can win. Will it happen? I guess we will find out in seven days.