Victory over Wake Forest boosts Clemson's morale

CLEMSON, S.C. --- Problems? What problems?

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AP / File

Clemson's C.J. Spiller (center) said the Tigers will 'get embarrassed' by eighth-ranked Miami if they aren't fully prepared for Saturday's ACC game.

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After two weeks of turmoil, practice shouting matches and reports of disharmony among coaches, Clemson has endured a positive and peaceful few days, largely because of its 38-3 win over Wake Forest last Saturday.

"It's amazing what a good win will do to your morale," offensive coordinator Billy Napier said.

It was only two weeks earlier when Napier's shouting match with coach Dabo Swinney set Internet critics aflutter about Tiger dissension and both men being in far over their heads. Now, things are quiet with supporters worried about the team's direction after an unlikely loss at Maryland earlier this month pumped for Clemson's trip to No. 8 Miami (5-1, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) on Saturday.

The Tigers (3-3, 2-2) more than doubled up the Demon Deacons in offensive yardage (382 to 178).

"We just really played to our full potential," Clemson receiver Jacoby Ford said.

And it couldn't have come at a better time.

Clemson seemed ready to implode with frustrated players and coaches puzzled when a group with talented playmakers like Ford and tailback C.J. Spiller couldn't produce points.

To some, it looked too much like Tommy Bowden's time as coach when Clemson generally had to climb out of early holes only to come up just short of the ACC title game.

The flashpoint came at a routine practice a few days after the Maryland loss when Swinney jumped on quarterback Kyle Parker and Napier took up for his young passer. The loud exchange -- with Clemson band members nearby after being invited out to watch practice -- was detailed in an anonymous blog.

Swinney, Napier and the players all thought too much was made of the incident. "Football practice," Swinney said last week, "sometimes isn't for the faint of heart."

Now, the Tigers have made their biggest statement yet, Swinney said, that things will be different.

If Clemson slackens even a bit in its preparation for Miami "we'll get embarrassed," Spiller said.

Swinney might have a few ideas on making sure that doesn't happen, although it won't include another coach vs. coach dustup. "But it's early yet," he said.