There's warm and fuzzies that fans get when their team does something great on the football field.
And then there are the warm and fuzzies we all get when we see examples of simple love and humanity.
The latter took place yesterday as Clemson Football rolled out the red carpet for the ClemsonLIFE program.
They also rolled out the checkbook, as Dabo Swinney's All-In Foundation stroked one for $35,000.
This kind of thing never gets old. And yeah, it's an open week. But Notre Dame is coming to town next week, as you might have heard. Major props to Swinney for taking a large block out of his schedule to do something like this:
A few Thursday links:
-- Jeremy Johnson ain't the only problem on The Plains. Not exactly killing it on the other side of the ball with Coach Boom.
On the same play, cornerback Blake Countess got knocked to the ground by Fournette, who trotted in for a 40-yard score.
Countess, who had four tackles and was among some of the starters still playing late in the game, said he is "moving on" from the play. The graduate transfer from Michigan felt players were "absolutely" giving their all despite the lopsided outcome.
Pro Football Focus counted 11 missed tackles by Auburn of Fournette, who had 19 carries for 228 yards and three touchdowns in less than three quarters of play on offense. PFF cited Auburn with 20 missed tackles against LSU.
"A lot of it is want to," Muschamp said. "You got to want to stick your face in the fan and tackle. That team out-physicaled out on Saturday. Frustrating, disappointing, embarrassing, whatever you want to call it."
Muschamp said will be changes in personnel after a third straight game allowing 400 yards.
-- Speaking of LSU and Fournette, here is an exclusive look at the Iso play the Bayou Bengals have planned for this week's game at Syracuse:
-- This Syracuse writer attempts to explain how the Orange will pose some resistance to the raging bull wearing No. 7.
This is kind of judgment day for the Syracuse defensive front. It has mostly been terrific over the last two seasons, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see SU load up the box with as many as nine defenders to stop Fournette. That was part of the strategy a couple years ago against Boston College’s Heisman finalist, Andre Williams, and it worked.
Of course, for as good as Williams is, Fournette is on a different level. Here’s the problem I foresee: It’s not just Fournette that can hurt you, and Syracuse does not have the quality depth just yet to hold up against that group and offensive line for 60 minutes.
Oh, and on the other side of the ball Syracuse has a backup quarterback against a raging defense.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, Syracuse is used to this. It played four quarterbacks last year en route to a 3-9 season, and if past is prologue, history suggests Syracuse does not have the quarterback depth to knock off a top-10 opponent.
Most believe Austin Wilson, who has a very strong arm but has struggled to read coverages, and walk-on Zack Mahoney, a smart, serviceable player with no overwhelming attribute, could see the field against LSU (note: Mahoney is expected to start).
But enough of those meaningless details. Syracuse is 3-0. Have you heard?
-- Suspended Florida cornerback Jalen Tabor exercises his inalienable right to free speech:
-- In Chicago, they examine Notre Dame's long list of injuries ... including one suffered during a celebration.
Talk about luck of the Irish...
Drue Tranquill didn't act like he'd been there before, which landed him — awkwardly, unexpectedly and, for Notre Dame, unfortunately — where he'd been before.
For the second year in a row, the sophomore safety's season came to a crashing halt Saturday with a torn ACL.
Tranquill crumpled in agony near the end zone, gripping his right knee after celebrating a pass breakup with teammate Joe Schmidt late in the second quarter of the Irish's 30-22 victory against Georgia Tech.
When he came back to earth after bouncing off Schmidt, Tranquill, who missed the final two games of last season after tearing his left ACL, quickly realized what had happened.
"I hardly ever celebrate after plays, but that was a really great play and he was really excited," a somber Schmidt said. "So I got really excited. Things happen. You can't tell people to stop celebrating on plays."
And Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly hasn't.
"I haven't said a word to them about it," he said. "They all knew it happened. They all heard about it, saw it. ... We have guys crying in the locker room because they lost one of their players. I don't need to remind them about safety and how important it is."
-- Finally, a Tiny Desk concert from Gina Chavez:
LW
