photo by Stephen Dawkins

Power attack: Alabama running back Glenn Coffee makes a move on Clemson’s Chris Clemons. Coffee’s 86 yards were a part of the Tide’s rushing attack that rolled up more than 250 yards.

Tide gets physical with Clemson

By Pete Iacobelli | The Associated Press

Originally published 11:20 p.m., August 30, 2008
Updated 11:28 p.m., August 30, 2008

ATLANTA – Nick Saban's plan to bring No. 24 Alabama back to prominence looks way ahead of schedule.

The Crimson Tide had little trouble rolling past Clemson 34-10 at the Georgia Dome on Saturday night, the biggest victory in coach Saban's two seasons at Alabama.

Alabama's defense held Clemson to zero rushing yards and John Parker Wilson threw for two touchdowns as Alabama beat a top-10 opponent for the first time since topping No. 5 Florida in 2005.

Wilson finished 22-of-30 for 180 yards and, with his career total completions now at 500, surpassed Brodie Croyle's old record of 488.

The Crimson Tide defense held the Tigers' heralded "Thunder and Lightning" backfield of James Davis and C.J. Spiller to 20 yards combined.

The Tide ran the ball easily on Clemson's defense, which was ninth in the country a season ago. At one point, Alabama had outgained the Tigers 114-1. By the time, tight end Nick Walker had slipped behind three defenders for a 4-yard TD catch, Alabama was ahead 20-3 midway through the second quarter.

Just for good measure, Jones collected his first college TD pass, a 4-yarder from Wilson that put Alabama up 31-10.

Leigh Tiffin added four field goals, including a 54-yard kick that was Alabama's third longest of all time.

Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper, voted the favorite to win ACC player of the year, was continually pressured and off target throughout.

The Tigers, down 23-3 at the half, got a burst of life when Spiller broke for a 96-yard kickoff return TD to start the second half, then forced the Tide into their first punt of the night a series later.

Clemson, though, could get little going and, for the second time in eight months, left the Georgia Dome with more questions and answers.

The Tigers just can't help but stumble whenever they close in on success.

They lost to a lightly regarded Maryland in 2006 at home, 13-12, when victory would've sent Clemson to the ACC title game.

Then last year, the Tigers were beaten 20-17 by Boston College in a showdown for a spot in the league's championship game.

Clemson concluded the season with a 23-20 overtime loss to Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, missing out on its first 10-victory season since 1991.

This was the year, many thought, that Clemson and embattled coach Tommy Bowden would shake off their reputations for not winning the biggest games. Alabama was where it was supposed to start.

Instead, Bowden again must refocus a team filled with veterans and leaders running out of time.

Clemson's loss also concluded a demoralizing day for the ACC. Earlier, defending league champion Virginia Tech fell to East Carolina, while Virginia was defeated at home by No. 3 Southern Cal 52-7.

For Alabama, it's a win sure to fuel talk of Southeastern Conference success. The Tide don't start down that road for three more games, the opener against SEC Western Division rival Arkansas following home games against Tulane and Western Kentucky.

The Crimson Tide have won 12 straight against Clemson, although the team's hadn't met since 1975 when the late Bear Bryant laid a 56-0 humiliation on the Tigers.

Maybe Alabama and Saban will soon have more in common with the Bear's championship teams.

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