Tigers get chance for a home coronation against Cavaliers

CLEMSON — Late Saturday afternoon, the framework for a party took place in the bowels of Carter-Finley Stadium.

Clemson had just polished off N.C. State 43-23 for its fifth straight win, a victory that left it one win or a Boston College loss away from an ACC Atlantic Division title and its first ever ACC title game.

The Eagles had just kicked off against Virginia, so by the time the Tigers’ plane landed back in South Carolina, a celebration could be imminent.

“We might just pull the buses over and start dancing on I-85,” coach Dabo Swinney quipped. “…I’ll be dancing a jig on I-85.”

That jig has to wait. Virginia battled the Eagles hard, but Boston College held on for a 14-10 win.

That result, however, seems somehow appropriate. Instead of an I-85 party, Clemson gets a chance at a party in front of 80,000 fans in Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. home game against the hapless Cavaliers, losers of four straight.

And Swinney gets one more week to show just how much his positive philosophy has rejuvenated a program that walked on eggshells in situations just like this.

Under Tommy Bowden, there was reason for concern. Under Swinney’s watch, it has been replaced by a calm, assured nature, and a mentality that the job is never done until it’s done.

“We haven’t done a dadgum thing other than play some good football, put a good little run together,” Swinney said Saturday. “When they start sizing us up for the rings, we can start patting ourselves on the back and say, ‘Great year.’ We haven’t done anything yet.”

Nothing except win five straight games, jump to No. 18 in the Associated Press poll and win back a fan base on the verge of mutiny following an inexplicable 24-21 loss to Maryland that dropped the Tigers to 2-3.

It’s easy to understand fans’ anger, and how many thought Swinney was an extension of Bowden’s regime, but looking back, it just doesn’t seem fair.

Clemson has lost three games by a grand total of 10 points this year. Two of them came to two of the nation’s top seven teams (TCU and Georgia Tech) by a grand total of seven points. The Horned Frogs and Yellow Jackets are a combined 21-1, with the only loss Tech’s defeat to Miami.

Now we all know that ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a wonderful Christmas.

But outside of that Bowdenesque loss at Maryland, the Tigers have played at a high level every week.

C.J. Spiller has established himself as a legit Heisman Trophy candidate. Kyle Parker has overcome freshman growing pains to become an offensive leader — during the winning streak, Clemson is averaging 42 points per game.

And thanks to Virginia, they get a chance to show their fans just how far they’ve come.

“What a great opportunity for our seniors to prepare to play their last home game in Death Valley and play for a division title, to be able to go to Tampa,” Swinney said. “That’s where we are.”

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