Defending champ Clemson hitting its stride with new cast
CLEMSON, S.C. » Clemson right tackle Sean Pollard had no doubt the Tigers would keep up their play and high profile despite the loss of several critical pieces from last season’s national championship puzzle.
The second-ranked Tigers completed perhaps a more dominating month than any in recent memory, dispatching three top15 opponents in four weeks for a third consecutive 5-0 start with many of last year’s stars gone.
“This team’s hungry and ready to get back” to the national title game, Pollard said Monday. “We enjoy being on top and if it doesn’t motivate you to get back, I don’t know what will. There’s a drive on this team that’s special.”
Clemson (5-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) tries to continue its perfect start Saturday against Wake Forest (4-1, 1-1). The Tigers are 22-point favorites and brimming with confidence after dismantling powerful Virginia Tech at home, 3117, last weekend.
They had plenty of questions coming into the season. Quarterback Deshaun Watson, tailback Wayne Gallman and receiver Mike Williams, the focal points of the Tigers’ national title run, all went to the NFL.
Defensive lineman Carlos Watkins, the team’s sacks leader, and linebacker Ben Boulware, its leading tackler, also left, giving Clemson doubters and detractors lots of reasons to discount another championship chase.
Instead, the Tigers appear more versatile and dominant on both sides of the ball this season.
Quarterback Kelly Bryant, while not passing like Watson, has opponents concerned about his running and escapability in leading the offense. Bryant has accounted for nine touchdowns, seven of those on the ground.
Young runners Tavien Feaster and Travis Etienne — Clemson’s “T-n-T Backfield” — have been dynamic and effective in splitting duties for workhorse Gallman the past two years. Feaster stung Tech early last week with his 60-yard TD catch from Bryant.
On defense, Clemson is fourth nationally in fewest points allowed per game and seventh in fewest yards per game.
“We always thought we could do the job,” Clemson cornerback Mark Fields said.
QB Speight out for No. 7 Michigan, O’Korn in vs. Michigan St
ANN ARBOR, MICH. » No. 7 Michigan has lost quarterback Wilton Speight for multiple weeks with an undisclosed injury.
Coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that John O’Korn will start Saturday night when the Wolverines (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) play against Michigan State (3-1, 1-0).
Speight was injured in the first quarter of a Sept. 23 victory at Purdue. Speight left the stadium for Xrays and Harbaugh later referred to it as a “soft tissue” injury.
UTEP brings back Mike Price to be interim coach
EL PASO, TEXAS » UTEP is bringing back former Miners coach Mike Price to be interim coach and replace Sean Kugler, who was fired after an 0-5 start.
Price, 71, coached UTEP from 2004-12 and took the Miners to three bowl games. From 1989-2002, he was coach at Washington State, where he had three 10-win seasons and the led the Cougars to the 1998 Rose Bowl.
Price became Alabama coach in 2003 but never coached a game for the Crimson Tide. He was fired after news reports of a night of partying at a strip club in Pensacola, Florida. He resurfaced at UTEP and went on to be one of the most successful coaches in the history of a program that has not had much. The Miners have played in five bowls since 1967.