Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston also tried to downplay the advantages the Tigers have playing at home, saying, “All the noise stuff, the way we communicate on the field and the way we do things, I don’t really think that’s going to be a big factor. From the momentum standpoint, if the crowd gets into it and their players start getting amped up, that will probably be a big factor in the game, but the noise I don’t think has nothing to do with our offense.”
Winston has never experienced Death Valley, nor an atmosphere anywhere close to the one he will be a part of Saturday, so he can only assume what awaits him and his teammates.
His counterpart, Tajh Boyd, already knows.
“Clemson is different from any stadium I’ve ever played at because the fans truly are a factor,” Boyd said. “A lot of teams like to call their field the 12th man and this and that, but Clemson really does have an influence. If you look at that redshirt sophomore year, when we won those three games in a row — Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech — the Auburn game, I really, truly believe the interception came because it was so loud. It was crazy. The defense feeds off of that. The offense feeds off of that. It’s a ridiculous place to play in.
“The Florida State game [in 2011], whoever sacked Clint Trickett that year, the place just went into an uproar. Same way with the Georgia game this year. It’s live every game, but you get one of those real huge teams coming in here and it’s a ridiculous place to play at.”
For the record, it was Rennie Moore who had the key sack on Trickett on fourth down late in the game, with the Seminoles trying to drive for the winning score.
There was plenty to play for in that game. Both teams were in the Top 25, with ACC title hopes hanging in the balance. This game, though, means so much more. It just might be the best home atmosphere any Clemson player has experienced.
“Our fans, the environment they create, it’s very, very loud, and then we’ve got good players that have really bought into taking a lot of pride in playing here at home,” Swinney said. “If you’re going to be a consistent program, you have to be consistent at home. Our guys have done a great job of that over the last few years.”
Indeed, home-field advantage could be the difference in the game.
University of Georgia reporter David Ching and ACC reporter Heather Dinich contributed to this report.
From espn.go.com
