Friday Clemson Bowl Practice Audio 12.30.11

From Clemson SID:

HOLLYWOOD, FL – This time last year Clemson was in Charlotte, NC practicing in 30 degree weather with two inches of snow on the ground as they prepared for the Meineke Car Care Bowl. A year later, the Tigers are in sunny Miami, FL with temperatures hovering around 80 degrees as they prep for the Discover Orange Bowl against No. 23 West Virginia next Wednesday at Sun Life Stadium.

“What a difference a year can make,” Clemson offensive tackle Landon Walkersaid.

What a difference indeed. Clemson, ranked No. 14 in the latest Associated Press poll, opened the season with eight straight victories and then won its first ACC Championship in 20 years by dismantling Virginia Tech 38-10 in the ACC Championship game earlier this month. With the win, the Tigers advanced to the Discover Orange Bowl for their first appearance in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and their first in the Orange Bowl since 1982.

“It’s a totally different experience,” Walker said. “It’s awesome to be here and realize the accomplishments we have achieved at Clemson this year. We are enjoying the benefits of it right now.”

This week has been even more special for Walker, whose father Gary was a part of that 1982 Orange Bowl team that wrapped up the program’s only National Championship with a 22-15 victory over Nebraska.

“It does not have the national championship implications on it that they were playing for back then, but at the same time, it’s a big deal,” Walker said. “A BCS game is a big deal and to be able to represent Clemson and do the same thing my dad got to do 30 years ago is special.

“Honestly, I’m sure there are not a lot of people that could imagine getting to do the same thing as their dad, so it is very honorable to be able to do the same thing he did at Clemson, and be able to go out like that. I’m sure we (the 2011 team) will be talked about around Clemson for a long time, and hopefully we can win the game and go out on a high note like that.”

Through the years, Walker has heard many stories from his father’s Orange Bowl experience, some he could share and some he could not, but the biggest thing that stuck out to him in all of those stories was how focused that team was and how they went down to that game to prove to everyone they were the best team in the country.

“They had such a good team, it was easy for them to be focused on what they were trying to do,” he said. “We have a lot of young guys that have never experienced a bowl game, much less Miami and the Orange Bowl here. For us, it might be a little bit harder to keep guys focused, but as captains you have to lead this week.

“Even though it is the last week of the season, and it’s the last week this team will be together, it is probably the most difficult week. We have to really take advantage of our time together.”

That’s where Walker’s experience at the Orange Bowl differs from his father’s. His father was freshman guard on the offensive line and played the role of a reserve in 1982. Walker is a four-year starter and the Orange Bowl will be his 49th start, which is already a school record. His 3,065 career-snaps are second in school history and he is 32 shy from breaking Kyle Young’srecord for snaps in a career.

With all that experience, Walker is looked up to as one of the leaders on the 2011 team, which is why he addressed the team about the importance of this game to him and the rest of the senior class before the team departed from Clemson on Dec. 22.

“It is special to me because of my dad, and winning this game means a lot to me,” he said. “Being in Miami and enjoying Miami is fun and all, but the game is going to be an emotional one for me as I’m sure it will be for the rest of the seniors, and we want to go out with a win.”

 AUDIO: Head Coach Dabo Swinney

AUDIO: Linebacker Corrico Hawkins

AUDIO: Defensive Back Coty Sensabaugh

AUDIO: Tight End Brandon Ford

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS