GAME PREVIEW: CLEMSON
BY JORDAN WELLS
N
otre Dame lost at least one
player to a season-ending in-
jury in each of its first three
games, a staggering rate of un-
fortunate attrition that surely will turn
back around in its favor at some point.
The opponent they face this week might
be facing even more personnel turnover
than the Irish.
The Clemson Tigers lost five players
that were expected to make major con-
tributions before the start of September,
and additional losses have occurred
during the season.
In the Sept. 17 contest at Louisville
alone, both starting fifth-year senior
right tackle Joe Gore and his freshman
backup Jake Fruhmorgen left the game
with injuries — in the first quarter.
Gore eventually returned to game ac-
tion, and head coach Dabo Swinney
said he expects Fruhmorgen back for
the Notre Dame contest. Still, that was
just one example of the constant turn-
over Clemson's experienced since the
spring.
Although the Tigers scuffled to a
20-17 win over the Cardinals in their
first real test of the season — they beat
Wofford 49-10 and Appalachian State
41-10 in their first two games — expec-
tations remain high in Clemson, but the
vibe around town is not as confident as
it was before the season.
"I think the mood probably is a little
WOUNDED
ANIMAL
Despite personnel losses,
the Tigers are off to a 3-0 start
Sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson threw
for 641 yards and seven touchdowns while helping
Clemson to wins in its first three contests.
PHOTO COURTESY CLEMSON
