The Clemson team could not believe what it was seeing when it came up Highway 76 from Anderson on Saturday. Every home game there is a line of traffic that flows from 1-85 to Clemson as fans embark on Memorial Stadium to see their Tigers play.
But this day was different.
“Those cars were going all the way past Pendleton coming in on the bus out from Anderson, and that was a first for me. That gives me chills thinking about it,” Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “That was cool. That’s when you know you are doing things right, and they are coming to watch our guys perform.”
As if the 12th-ranked Tigers did not need motivation already heading into Saturday’s season opener against Wofford, seeing the line of cars motivated the Tigers even more, especially the defense.
As questions and concerns surround a defense that is replacing nine starters from last year’s top-ranked defense, at least for one Saturday this group erased some of those concerns. Clemson held Wofford’s formidable running game to 123 yards and 2.7 yards per carry in a 49-10 victory.
The Terriers totaled just 213 yards overall and their only touchdown drive came following a botched punt return by Hunter Renfrow that gave them a short field. Eight of their 14 drives ended after gaining 8 yards or less, two more gained no more than 13 yards and one went just 22 yards.
“I really loved our attitude. I like the intensity that we had, the focus, the preparation, we were very detailed. It showed,” Venables said. “Our guys were excited to play. What an incredible atmosphere. Our fans were something special.”
Clemson’s defense responded to its fans by stuffing Wofford the first six times it got the ball. The Terriers managed just 16 total yards and did not convert a first down until the 1:53 mark of the first half.
“I’m really proud of our guys. We have a bunch of guys that played in their first game ever and a number of guys that were first time starters and they really answered the bell. I could not be more proud,” Venables said. “We have some things we have to show more discipline on, but not many.
“There is a lot to build from. That is just one game and what I enjoyed about most of it was just the preparation that goes into playing at a high level, being ready to play. Hopefully, that’s what they take from it more than anything else because now we have to start over and do the same thing, again.”
Clemson will face a gimmicky offense of a different sort next Saturday when it hosts Appalachian State. The Mountaineers run a spread offense that is heavy on the run and the pass. It will be a different test and it will give Venables a better idea of what he has defensively before hitting the road for the first time at Louisville on Sept. 17.
But on Saturday, Clemson’s young defense passed its first test.
“That shows a lot of maturity and a lot of guys, again, feel like they have a lot prove so it is exciting to be a part of,” Venables said.