For three weeks I’ve been talking about how this is the week we learn the Clemson is a pretender.
Now, three weeks later, I’m here to say Clemson is for real.
The eighth-ranked Tigers (5-0) faced their first big road test of the season at Virginia Tech Saturday and passed with flying colors.
In fact, I think it was Virginia Tech that was exposed. But that shouldn’t take away from what Clemson has accomplished.
The Tigers just survived a three-week stretch as tough as any in the country with games against Auburn, Florida State and then the Hokies.
Raise your hand if you really thought Clemson would run the table to this point back in July? OK, Dabo put down your hand and get back to be a cheerleader.
Normally we could count on Clemson to show off its inability to put together back-to-back consistent performances. With Tajh Boyd running the show at quarterback, it makes even the most negative person believe the Tigers are in for something special this season.
Boyd has thrown for 1,459 yards, 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Even more impressive is how accurate he has been, completing an impressive 61.3 percent of his passes.
There seems to be a confidence exuding from Clemson this fall that has never been there before — even when the Tigers appeared to be loaded with talent.
Clemson should catch a break the next two weeks with games against Boston College and Maryland, but then the Tigers must figure out a way to keep playing at the level they have shown the past few weeks.
Is Clemson ready for a spot in the BCS Championship? Probably not. But the Tigers could make for a pretty respectable ACC representative in January in the Orange Bowl.
This clearly isn’t following the ACC script of Virginia Tech and Florida State both going undefeated and playing in the championship game.
But we all know you can’t plan for a championship in July before you’ve played a game.
The big question now is what’s Rich Rodriguez going to do as we all know he was just waiting for Dabo to finish with six wins and then take over at Clemson.
For now, Clemson is for real and the rest of the ACC better take notice.
