West Virginia hadn’t scored this much since the family reunion!
The Internet knowledge repository Wikipedia describes the China syndrome as, “a nuclear reactor operations accident characterized by the severe meltdown of the core components of the reactor, which then burn through the containment vessel and the housing building, then notionally through the crust and body of the Earth until reaching the other side.”
That would seem an appropriate analogy to what happened to the Clemson football team in the Orange Bowl on Wednesday night, as “meltdown” doesn’t seem rise to the level of athletic catastrophe personified by the Tigers.
Through the year, Clemson fell behind to opponents and had to make desperate, exciting, unbelievable comebacks. The gutsy performance against Maryland has already passed into fan folklore. But the Orange Bowl, a 70-33 obliteration by Big East co-champs West Virginia, goes down in football history for all time. Just follow the toe-tagged Tiger.
Respect must be paid to WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen, who has a reputation for living up to the his Viking ancestry — namely behaving like one in West Virginia casinos. He let loose the Mountaineer offense like a raging horde from Scandinavia, laying waste to Clemson’s hopes of BCS glory.
Searching cyberspace today, I predictably saw my fellow Tiger fans were trying to find the good news wherever it lies. No one did it better than my fellow freshman — from Clemson and the General Assembly — former classmate and Rep. Dan Cooper, who said on Facebook, “Another character building lesson, nobody got killed so they must be stronger, right?? Wow, that was brutal. We’ve been there before too, it’s just been a while. 42 freshmen/redshirts returning with this game burned into their brains, a defining moment. September will hold the answers, I suppose. But at least we held them to less than 100! Proud of what they did this year, 10-4 is way better than 6-7 and they have those ACC rings too.”
Sometimes all you can do is laugh — R.J. Sacbuoy quipped, “Last time a Tiger got beat that bad, his wife ended up getting $300 million.” My personal favorite was, “The last time West Virginia scored that big was at a family reunion!” And my pal Polly Thompson got right to it: “Sorry Bubba, but the best joke is the team itself.” Rich stuff — and I asked for and deserved every bit of it!
So there’s my painful, shameful blog, Paul Abrams! It is written. Football season’s over. It’s time for time for this Tiger to lick his wounds and hope for the best from the boys next year. Hope springs eternal, somewhere from the depths of Lake Hartwell. Feel free to comment, even if it’s at my expense!
by J.L. Mann Cromer, Jr, an Attorney licensed to practice in South Carolina, California & The District of Columbia. He received his BA in 1985 from Clemson University and his JD in 1988 from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
with Wes Wolfe. He’s written for 11 publications in five states, and is the proprietor of The Five Points Flood.
EXTRA BUBBA:
Because it’s always better to laugh, than the alternative.
Gotta admit I stole that joke from someone else. But thanks for the mention!
lucky for Clemson that this game had the lowest tv ratings in BCS history, so not that many people watched the ACC champs get worked by the Big East
Being acc champs in football is like winning worlds tallest midget contest. Bobby dodd called from the great beyond and he wants his trophy back.
Bless your heart! It DOES get better — I hope. As a Tar Heel fan, we’ve gotten used to it. But I’m sure the Tigers will come back next year. It WILL get better!
the goal of any team is to score more than the cheerleaders.
Motivator………….Our new defensive coach next year will be Jerry Sandusky…. if you guys don’t learn to tackle, you will be sent to the showers.
They replaced the name plate on Dabo’s new trophy, it now reads Bubba Dudd award.
on the way back from the game Dabo decided to take the team to six flags over Georgia. On approach the sign on the road read Six Flags Left………….. Dabo’s response “Dang we just can’t win”
A ventriloquist at Waffle House was trying to cheer up the team at their post game meal.
He’s doing his usual stupid Redneck jokes when a Clemson Linebacker stood up and said “I’ve heard just about enough of your smart ass redneck jokes; we ain’t all stupid in Clemson.” Flustered, the ventriloquist begins to apologize, when the Clemson linebacker pipes up: “You stay out of this mister, I’m talking to the smart ass little fella on your knee!”
Now I might have to re-write this sucker to irk this Rembrandt in! 5***** for the brummeister!
Sakerlina fans piling on. Isn’t there a penalty for that? Oh yeah, that comes next month.
History is History Daybo…. And you made a hell of a good one for the books there. Maybe this will teach you to keep your mouth shut in the future, but I doubt that, and you are right there is only one football program in South Carolina and it’s in Columbia.
And Dodd wants his trophy back!
Imagine……if you will,,,,, a town of Mountaineer Fans, with burning couches…. then imagine a SC Tiger girl, right dab in the middle of them… Well you get the picture! That would be me.. It’s is Brutal! I can take it! Oh, and family reunions are quit interesting.. ours (my Husbands) is the 2dn Sunday in August.. Come on up
It is a great day in SC!!!
WVU hoodie -daughter wearing to school today $25.00
Burning that old couch in the warehouse–$1 in gasoline.
seeing Dabo lose that smirk & having as much fun as Gamecock alumni can with this –priceless
This is as much fun as texting my closest Clemson friends -”threepeat!” at the end of the Carolina -Clemson game
Bless their little hearts at Clemson…
Poor Clemson Tigers…I just knew they were going to get those cool rings again. The world will keep turning and there will be more great football next fall.
I am torn. I do like seeing South Carolina teams win. Having said that, Dabo so totally deserved to go down in flames! His arrogance after the USC loss (threepeat!!!!) was totally unnecessary and quite frankly, TACKY. Not to mention the preponderance (a big USC Grad word) of truely ugly comments about USC’s win from Clemson fans (Bubba not included) made me really want to see the Tigers fail. I am sorry for the players who gave their all during the season, but let’s start the chant now: BYE BYE BYE DABO
Ok, you may have to become a GAMECOCK!
West Virginia had the Tigers’ number in a number of ways. The Tigers were outplayed, particularly in the 2nd quarter after the fumble. NO EXCUSES
Poor Bubba! I am so sorry! I love my Clemson fan friends, but like Chief used to say, “Orange makes me mad!” I have to say, wearing your orange corduroy overalls to tutor the USC football players with me was priceless. I miss those days!
It’s definate. Clemson just announced that startin next year they will be the Possums instead of the Tigers. Reason for the change: “They play dead at home and get killed on the road.”
What do they call safe sex at Clemson? Hanging warning signs on the animals that kick.
Why do Clemson football players like smart women? Opposites attract.
It’s been reported that they found a skeleton on the Clemson campus.
It was the 1967 hide and seek champion.
Did you hear that the President’s mansion at Clemson burned down?
Almost took out the whole trailer park.
Why is Clemson replacing the astroturf in their Stadium with cardboard?
The team looks better on paper.
Invited to a wedding reception by a relative, a Clemson grad and his son travel to the big city for the first time. After eating a lot of salty food, the father is thirsty and continually sends his son for water. After the last trip the kid comes back empty-handed. The father asks, “So where’s my water, boy?”
“Couldn’t get any this trip, Pa. Some guy’s sitting on the well.”
What is the difference between the Clemson fans and Rice Crispies?
Rice Crispies know what to do in a bowl.
I blame Nikki Haley and Michele Obama.
VERY, VERY funny!!!!
Hang in there Bubba- Have to wait until my Hogs play tonight before I start messing with football karma by telling jokes.
DABO – Means Damn – Another – Blow – Out . I will give credit where its due. Bubba you are the best tater fan I know. With whats been said most tater fans are ready to fight. I can explain this. You went to Clemson right, you also went to USC . While at USC you saw how to lose with class in those days. As with anything, no one stays on top forever. Spring practice is just a few months away and the taters can go back to playing each other where they are sure to win. You take care Bubba.
This is the only one of their football games I have ever watched, where the halftime act (“Train”) even scored three touchdowns against Clemson. This from a Citadel fan, and I KNOW bad football games!
Never in my worst nightmare did I dream the “sorry team would show up for this game. Do they not mentallly get ready for a gib game. Makes you wonder about the coaching.
Bubba, my heart bleeds blue and gold for you, my friend.
Paula–I hope that means you are a WVU fan like me. WVU and WV get trashed so much, I was glad to see some good news coming our way.
Man…these are tame! You should have read the blogs during the game!
One SC resident complained that Clemson “embarrassed our state,” to which I replied……”No way Clemson could embarrass SC…..because SC is GAMECOCK COUNTRY!!!!”
Some people were surprised that the Big East could beat the ACC. I’m not. Doesn’t ACC stand for “Almost Competitive Conference?”
“Rumor” has it that they are looking to trade Dabo (or get best offer) for a gym teacher from High School, Jr. High, Elementary School or preschool. I hear they may also consider Camp Counselors, Academic Advisors and possibly janitors for trade. Only stipulation is that the replacement must also cut and fertilize the field between practices. Knowledge of English not required!
I hear they are changing the words behind the acronym, “BCS” to “Boy….Clemson Sucks!”
I hear the Ohio State fans are really happy with the way Clemson played. FINALLY, they’ll be able to get some people to forget that it was THEIR coach who punched the Clemson player who made the interception that cost OSU the game! Once again…..Clemson makes history!
Why is Clemson like marijuana?
They both get smoked in bowls!
Love that one Bob
As a native West Virginian and WVU grad, I was delighted to see WVU have a fantastic Orange Bowl debut. Face it Clemson fans, you were outplayed. No need to trash your opponent. Just work on a better defense for next year. Happy New Year.
Crossing the state line into WV is a speed limit sign that says “70″–just beneath it is a piece a cardboard reading “Clemson-33″
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Although I am a Gamecock fan I was pulling for Clemson to win when the game started. Then with the turn of events I just wanted to see how many times WV could score. I couldn’t help but to keep thinking of the Brittney song…Ooops I did it again.
At least the weather’s nice in Tigertown today – low 33, high 70!
Bubba, As much as I have tried, I just can’t pile on. I am 100% Gamecock – always have been and always will be. I have been going to Carolina games since 1969 and as such, have felt that same pain more than most. Therefore, I shall not add to the pain felt by the Tigers.
I honestly can’t believe I just typed that!
Another 39 Points and you would have won it
I always pull for Clemson when they’re not playing the Gamecocks. Sorry they lost, but that’s one hilarious headline, Bubba.
Why did Dabo drive not fly back from Miami? He. Could not take another touchdown …
*****5! That’s a NEW one! Good job Roger!
Question: Where is West Virginia?
Answer: In Clemson’s end zone!
SOOOO FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Visit ESPN to view the West Virginia Mountaineers team schedule for the current and previous seasons. … College football coaching news, hirings, firings, potential openings: Willie Taggart second coach fired this season. Willie Taggart is already out at FSU, and Rutgers is still looking to fill its head-coaching job.