Forget the Gipper, cue up Gaines

CLEMSON — Even at the halfway point of the college football season, Clemson's game tonight at Wake Forest has that make-or-break feel for the Tigers. But a players-only meeting last week and head coach Tommy Bowden praising his veteran leadership means nothing without some follow-up smiles in the end zone.

Wake Forest also offers football scholarships, you know.

Jim Grobe's Demon Deacons are led — often on the field as well as off — by a veteran group including 13 redshirt seniors, 19 redshirt juniors and a grad student.

The Clemson vacuum had an extra week after the puzzling 20-17 home loss to Maryland to fill with clutter and chatter.

Meanwhile, outside Tommy World, Wake Forest is pretty mad about losing to an academy chartered to produce buoyant officers and gentlemen.

"I would think we would be fairly focused and they would be fairly focused and the one that executes the best will win," Bowden said. "I don't know if they'll be any more focused than us."

Clemson talk and leadership divided by Wake Forest talk and leadership equals third-and-5.

At least the veteran Tigers seem to get it.

Tough enough?

"I think action is what means a lot," senior running back James Davis said when asked to describe his definition of leadership. "I'm a guy of action. I go out and do what I have to do on the field. Then when I do something, guys know I mean it when I say it."

Senior wide receiver Aaron Kelly agreed.

"Leadership is more about your action," he said. "Anybody can get up and talk, but it doesn't mean anything if you do nothing to back it up."

What about heart?

Think Clemson had enough against Alabama?

In the second half against Maryland?

"When you talk about toughness, someone is questioning your manhood pretty much," Kelly said. "I think our team responds to challenges."

Thorough toughness, that's a goal.

"I think we're playing pretty tough," Davis said. "I think we were tough at the beginning of that (Maryland) game. We just have to continue being tough and we just have to finish the game strong and don't hold up on anybody. That's the main thing."

'Braveheart' stuff

How many "Win one for the Gipper" speeches went irrelevant after the target audience stormed out of the locker room and got clobbered?

Or we can probably assume the coaches of the 1928 Army team didn't just take naps during halftime that fateful day against Notre Dame.

People who rise to the occasion and make good plays (and good play calls) typically trump words and intent.

Some teams like to inspire themselves with film clips, such as the ultimate "Braveheart" part in which Mel Gibson's William Wallace asks his doubting rag-tag force if they might regret missing "one chance, just one chance" to change history on the battlefield.

Great scene.

But non-Scottish college football teams should show the highlight of Gaines Adams forcing a Wake Forest fumble on a field goal attempt in 2006. The Deacons were trying to extend a 17-3 lead early in the fourth quarter when Adams, a senior defensive end on his way to joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the fourth overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft, returned the fumble for a Clemson touchdown on the way to the Tigers' 27-17 victory.

With enough action tonight, Clemson players and coaches can start talking about the need to execute against Georgia Tech.

Reach Gene Sapakoff at gsapakoff@postandcourier.com or 937-5593.