Peach Bowl smack-talk dials it up a notch

This is interesting. At pregame press conferences Tuesday in Atlanta, there were verbal jabs both overt and subtle flying back and forth between Clemson and Tennessee. Kevin Burnett, a junior starting linebacker for the Vols, generated the kind of bulletin-board material coaches dream of:

''Clemson has been doing a lot of talking, and I think they are going to be in for a shock when they see what kind of team they're going to play,'' Burnett fumed. ''I know we're going to play a very (ticked) off football game.''

Burnett, one of the Vols' team captains, didn't stop there.

''I don't think they really believe they can win,'' Burnett said. ''They are talking themselves up and maybe they are talking themselves into a win. As of right now, I don't think they believe they can win.''

He also called out Clemson linebacker Leroy Hill, an All-America candidate, after Hill said he'd never heard of Burnett (more on Burnett's comments here):

''They have another linebacker that came out of high school with us, Kevin Simon,'' said Hill, when asked about Burnett. ''I've heard more about him. We'll just have to go into the game and see who plays better.''

Responded Burnett: ''Who is that guy? Who is he? You tell him to put on some pads and we can go out in the middle of the Falcons' stadium. We can hit, run, jump � whatever you want to do.''

There's a lot more. Just read the whole thing. And for more subtler smack-talking about recruiting, read this.

TALL ORDER FOR DEFENSE: The defensive squad played a huge role in Clemson's three-game win streak to close out the season. They'll really have to step it up against No. 6 Tennessee.

OFFENSIVE LINE MAKES IT HAPPEN: It was a question mark going into the season, and it struggled at times early on, but the Tigers' O-line has managed to get the job done.

NEW FACILITIES FASTER? Clemson is considering a joint venture with a private company to build the West End Zone project. If it comes to fruition, it could be construted two or three years sooner than previous plans.

That's awesome. I hope it comes to pass. We needed these facilities five years ago.

CLEMSON'S 'RUDY': The State has a nice profile of Tommy Sharpe, Clemson's undersized yet overperforming center who gained fame early in the season for puking on the football during the Georgia game, which resulted in a fumble. Sharpe caught a lot of grief for that, including from me. Sorry, Tommy.

WASHINGTON COMES AROUND: The State also has a good story on defensive tackle Donnell Washington, a player who came to Clemson with great credentials but only recently has begun to play to his potential.

RECRUITING EDGE? A Peach Bowl victory could help Clemson gain some ground in the recruiting wars against teams in the SEC. Right now, Tennessee has many more star recruits than Clemson does.

THAT POLLACK PLAY: Tennessee, still whining about not going to a better bowl, can't shake the nightmare play instigated by Georgia's David Pollack at the end of the first half of the Vols' 41-14 loss to the Dawgs.

Pollack killed us, too. So what? Boo-frickin'-hoo. Get ready for Friday's game.

NOTEBOOKS: Here and here.

NEW ACC BOWLS? Expansion could make it possible.

Vols' secondary will test the Tigers

Tennessee's tough defensive backs will provide a challenge for Clemson's tall, speedy receivers, according to the Anderson Independent-Mail. (More here.) Tennessee's pass defense ranks second in the SEC and 15th nationally.

PRACTICE PROBLEMS: Monday was not a good day for the Tigers on the practice field in Atlanta. (More here and here.)

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: Clemson's players say preparations for this year's bowl game are much more focused than they were for last year's Tangerine Bowl fiasco.

HANG IT UP: Columnist Ron Morris of The State examines how a player-imposed cellphone ban helped the Tigers stay focused when difficulties arose during the season.

COACHES UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a nice story on the struggles faced this season by Clemson coach Tommy Bowden and Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer.

CURRIE AIMS TO DODGE VOLS AGAIN: All-star receiver Airese Currie could have signed with Tennessee, but decided to go to Clemson. Thank goodness.

ALABAMA WAS THE TURNING POINT: A five-overtime, 51-43 victory over the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa was when Tennessee's defense really grew up.

CONSIDERING CLAUSEN: The Knoxville News-Sentinel has a long piece on Tennessee senior quarterback Casey Clausen, who has compiled an excellent record without winning a championship.

VOLS' WORKOUTS: Stories are here and here.

This Clemson is not like previous Peach Bowl Tigers

For one thing, the receivers are much faster, and the offense is more diverse. Tennessee seems to recognize this.

I've been to four Peach Bowls, including three in a row from 1996 to 1999, and I feel more confident about this year's outing than any of those.

TRANSFER TALKS: Former Tennessee receiver Michael Collins now plays at Clemson, and he shares his views on the game.

LEAKE GETS HONOR: Clemson linebacker John Leake will play in the East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 10.

MILESTONE LOOMS: Clemson quarterback Charlie Whitehurst is poised to join Phillip Rivers as the only ACC quarterbacks to throw for 5,000 yards in their first two seasons.

TOO MANY QBs? Clemson will have six signal-callers on the squad when fall practice begins in 2004.

I'm back -- and I'm stunned

I return from a nice holiday trip to the Carolinas to discover that Bart Wright hasn't just jumped on the Clemson bandwagon; he's pretty much driving the damn thing now.

Wow. Isn't a plague of locusts next?

FAITH AND FOOTBALL: The State weighs in with its Tommy Bowden profile.

THE PUNCH: The State also has a nice story on Charlie Bauman, the Clemson noseguard who made college football history for getting slugged by thuggish Ohio State coaching legend Woody Hayes at the end of the 1978 Gator Bowl.

I'll post more on Monday. Must rest now.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

Regular posting will resume in a couple of days. In the meantime, ESPN will be airing a Peach Bowl preview show at 2 p.m. today. Check it out, and have a wonderful holiday.

Tigers take it easy before heading to Atlanta

Clemson's coaches and players will take a short break before reconvening in Atlanta on Friday to begin final preparations for the Peach Bowl. (More here.)

GAME PREVIEW: Sports Illustrated has a short Peach Bowl preview posted on its Web site. Check it out.

WOLFPACK ROLLS: N.C. State demolished Kansas 59-26 Monday night in the Tangerine Bowl. Quarterback Phillip Rivers threw for a career-high 475 yards and five touchdowns in the win. Thank God he's gone after this season.

(UPDATED at 2:01 p.m.)

For Hill, Peach Bowl could be the capper

Clemson linebacker Leroy Hill, who has had an All-American-caliber season, hopes to put an exclamation point on his year with a win in the Peach Bowl.

PEACH BOWL MEMORIES: The official Clemson site has posted video highlights from the 1993 Peach Bowl, a 14-13 victory against Kentucky. Check it out.

God and goalposts top Bowden's agenda

The Anderson Independent-Mail has a nice story on coach Tommy Bowden's faith and how it helped him get through a difficult, yet ultimately rewarding, football season.

LOVETT KNOWS THE VOLS: Clemson defensive coordinator John Lovett, who has worked at a couple of schools in the SEC, is familiar with Tennessee.

PLENTY OF TICKETS...NOW: The Peach Bowl will be able to accommodate all the Clemson fans who wanted to go to the game.

NOTEBOOK: Clemson will study game film of Tennessee today.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The State revisits stories it has written about four South Carolina athletes who have overcome tremendous personal obstacles. One of the stories includes a visit with former Clemson running back Javis Austin, blinded by a suicide attempt, who just graduated from college. Another is about former Clemson golfer John Engler, who was severely injured in a car crash that killed a West Columbia couple.

GOOD SESSIONS: Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer says he was pleased with his team's effort in pre-Christmas workouts for the Peach Bowl.

LEAK GETS HIS SHOT: Tennessee backup quarterback C.J. Leak, who faced Clemson a time or two when he was at Wake Forest, hopes he can secure an extra year of eligibility so he can be Tennessee's starting signal-caller next season.

Stockstill's hiring is the talk of the town

Everybody's got something to say about South Carolina hiring former Clemson assistant coach Rick Stockstill. (More here and here.)