A Walk Down Memory Road
Do yourself a favor and watch a replay of the 2018 National Championship game between Clemson and Alabama. The star power on both sides of the ball will give you a healthy respect for then and now.
Trevor Lawrence led the Tigers to a 31-16 halftime lead but this Alabama team was no joke. Think back to some of the names on that team. Jerry Jeudy (Denver Broncos). Damien Harris (New England Patriots). Josh Jacobs (LA Raiders). Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins). Davonta Smith (Philadelphia Eagles), Irv Smith (Minnesota Viking). Najee Harris (Pittsburgh). Jaylen Waddle (Miami). Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia). That’s just on the Alabama offense. This is not to mention Tagovailoa’s backup quarterback who was used to run the fake field goal in the 3rd, which failed if you remember, Mac Jones (New England).
Clemson countered defensively with similar star power. Christian Wilkins (Miami Dolphins). Clellen Farrell (LA Raiders), Trayvon Mullen {LA Raiders). AJ Terrell (Atlanta Falcons), Isaiah Simmons (Arizona). Tanner Muse (LA Raiders). K’von Wallace (Philadelphia).There were two freshmen that were also very notable for the Tigers on defense, Nolan Turner (Tampa Bay Bucs) and Xavier Thomas (STILL A TIGER).
Lawrence hit college football like a whirlwind but he had a LOT of help. Freshman Justyn Ross (Kansas City). Tee Higgins (Cincinnati). Amari Rodgers (Green Bay). Travis Etienne (Jacksonville). Hunter Renfrow (LA Raiders).
That 2018 National Championship Clemson team had it all. They had an offense led by freshman Trevor Lawrence and a fantastic WR group that would include three NFL WR’s. He had Jeff Scott (USF head coach) on the sidelines and Tony Elliott (UVA head coach) in the booth.
Yes, those were the days when the Tigers excelled on both sides of the ball and let nobody stand in their way. Not even the “best college football ever assembled” in the Alabama Crimson Tide led by the best coach in college football history, Nick Saban. Fans went to games knowing who was going to win. The only question was, by how much.
Can this 2022 Clemson Tigers team recapture that feeling? Coach Dabo Swinney has used the phrase “best version of himself” a LOT during the spring and fall practices. The Tigers take on Georgia Tech September 5th on a Monday night in Atlanta. The talent is there. The coaching staff has new leaders at both coordinator positions. Those new leaders? Both Brandon Streeter (then quarterback coach and passing game coordinator) and Wes Goodwin were there, four years ago, at the National Championship. Will they be again in 2022?
One Comment
VERY nice read!