Nebraska to win final game

Nebraska rolls into 2009 with the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl contest against the Clemson Tigers. The New Year’s Day game is set for a noon kickoff and will be televised nationally by CBS.

The Huskers and Tigers have met once before in the 1982 Orange Bowl won by Clemson 22-15.

Clemson is coached by Dabo Swinney, who leads the 7-5 Tigers into the game after taking over midway through the season when Tommy Bowden was relieved of his coaching duties. The Tigers, a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, are known for strong defensive play and an inconsistent offense.

The Tiger attack is led by quarterback Cullen Harper (6-feet-4, 225 pounds, Senior). Harper completes 63.2 percent of his passes (204 of 323) with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The Tigers average 218.8 yards per game through the air. Harper is not much of a threat running the ball. His long run on the season is only 13 yards with two rushing touchdowns this season. He has lost 110 yards rushing in 2008.

The offense has two fine running backs. James Davis (5-11, 215, Sr.) and C. J. Spiller (5-11, 195, Jr.) are the best pair of running backs that Nebraska has seen since the Oklahoma game. Davis averages 60 yards per game with 11 touchdowns, while Spiller averages 55 yards per contest with seven scores on the ground this season. As a team Clemson averages 120.5 yards rushing per game.

The receivers for the Tigers don’t have as much depth as the group that Nebraska possesses. Still Clemson has the ability to surprise through the passing game. Aaron Kelly (6-5, 190, Sr.) paces Clemson with 61 receptions on the year. He has 648 yards receiving this season with three scores.

Wide receiver Jacoby Ford (5-10, 185, Jr.) is second on the team with 50 catches for 598 yards and three touchdowns. Tyler Grisham has 36 grabs for 366 yards and one touchdown. Spiller has 30 catches out of the backfield as well. This is a good group that doesn’t have the big-play ability of the Nebraska receivers.

The offensive line is a youthful group for the Tigers. A pair of freshman start on the right side for Clemson. The leader up front is senior center Bobby Hutchinson (6-3, 320). From tackle to tackle, Clemson averages 6-4 and 313 pounds per man. Left tackle Chris Hairston (6-6, 320, So.) needs to play well for the Clemson offense to keep Harper protected from the Husker pass rush. Clemson has allowed 29 sacks on the year and only picked up 14 for the season.

Defensively, the Tigers have been a stingy unit. The 4-3 scheme has allowed an average of 127 yards rushing and 167 yards passing per game this season. The defensive leader is weakside linebacker Kavell Conner (6-1, 225, Jr.), who paces the team with 114 total tackles on the season. Up front nose guard Dorell Scott (6-3, 310, Sr.) is a talented run stopper. Two players are stars in the Clemson secondary. Safety Michael Hamlin (6-3, 205, Sr.) is second on the team with 102 stops. He also leads the team with six interceptions. The Husker offense always needs to know where Hamlin is on the field at all times. Cornerback Chris Chancellor (5-10, 165, Jr.) is small, but has great quickness. He has four interceptions in 2008. The defense overall is the best part of the Clemson football team.

Special teams is an area where Clemson does not have a major weakness. Kicker Mark Buchholz (6-0, 215, Sr.) is 15 of 20 on field goals (75 percent). He is very accurate from 40 yards or closer. Punter Jimmy Maners (6-0, 190, Sr.) averages just over 40 yards per punt on the season. Spiller and Ford have the speed and quickness to make things happen returning both kickoffs and punts. This is an area that Nebraska will need to keep Clemson in check.

The Tigers have underachieved throughout the season. The running game has plenty of talent, but overall the team has not performed up to expectations. The defense is solid, but has not been tested by a team with the diverse offense of the Huskers or the rest of the Big 12 Conference. Bo Pelini will have his team ready to play. Joe Ganz and the rest of the senior class will go out on a high note with a 31-23 Nebraska win over Clemson.

Jim Dolezal is a local Husker football fanatic as well as a part-time sports writer for the Telegram. He will analyze the Huskers’ opposition from a hometown perspective throughout the season.