All-In [49613]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 30357
Joined: 12/10/98
|
Sunday sermon: Marching in the trees
Sep 16, 2012, 10:05 AM
|
| View Original Thread |
|
|
|
As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly. The LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army."
Sons of Clemson, many times we have marched into the lair of the Seminole and come away empty.
A couple of times, we've come out victorious. More than a couple of times we've staggered out cleanly scalped.
But never ... NEVER ... have we marched in to face an FSU team as afraid of us as this team is.
Why? Because they know we can beat them. In their place. With the eyes of the world on them.
I'll pause a second while you let that sink in ... or while you roll your eyes, check the orange Kool-Ade or do any of those other snide things folks do when their expectations are challenged.
I will tell you this, stone sober on a Sunday morning ... if you expect Clemson to go down to Tally and lose, your expectations will be challenged.
Because Clemson will win.
Not cover the spread. Win.
How can I say that? First off, it's easy to believe in this team ... far easier than a lot of purported Sons of Clemson seem to think. You look at play against Furman and figure that same team will travel to Tally to die in the swamps.
These same folks watched us dance around with Troy and figured we'd die in the mountains of Blacksburg.
If anyone should be worried about dying this weekend, it's the guys who've had all week to ponder what this game means. The same guys who folded like a cheap teepee against Oklahoma under remarkably similar circumstances.
The guys who are going to "Pull an FSU" next weekend.
You know the old saw about the immoveable object and the irresistible force? That's what we're looking at Saturday. FSU's defense is stout, no doubt, and it's fast. It comes hard and heavy.
Obviously our defense is fast, but stout wouldn't be the first word I'd use to praise it. Still, for all the abuse heaped on our D so far this year, I've seen it stiffen when called. And it will be called this weekend.
But on offense: I don't care how fast FSU thinks they are, we're faster. You don't have to move an object if you can get around or behind it.
Still, this game will be won, not on the field, but in the mind. And in the mind, we have a clear advantage.
Why? Because FSU knows that they are just a couple of lousy plays by Clemson ... in Tally ... from being 0-3 against us. They KNOW we've won 5 of the last 7 and they KNOW that they are one bad play, one missed assignment, one errant thought from seeing Sammy or Nuk or Ellington scooting down the sidelines and all their vaunted speed can't help them.
If FSU manages to break a long play ... and frankly, I expect them to have a few ... for a score, so what? Clemson will keep coming back.
An underdog Tiger is a deadly Tiger. An as the game draws nearer, I expect the enormity of the game ... the head games, the press, the "marching in the tops of the balsam trees" ... to weigh upon them.
We have absolutely nothing to lose in this contest. The expectation, the onus, is all on the Noles. The pressure weighs on them, and it's been proven in the past that they cannot bear the weight.
And that weight will snap the Noles at some point Saturday.
You may disagree, which is fine. Gideon went into battle with 300, but they were 300 who believed. If you believe, join us for the battle.
Join us for the victory.
And listen for the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees.
It is coming.
|
|
50
