Remember “Thunder and Lightning,” Clemson fans?
Well you can call this pair “Rumble and Flash.”
Jamie Harper (“Rumble”) and Andre Ellington (“Flash”) did their best James Davis (“Thunder”) and C.J. Spiller (“Lightning”) impersonations on Saturday, racking up a combined 225 rushing yards in the Tigers’ season-opening 35-10 win over North Texas in Death Valley. Davis and Spiller combined for more than 5,000 rushing yards during the three years they played together in Tigertown (2006-08), making them the most successful running back tandem in school history. Spiller – a first round NFL draft pick – graduated last season as the ACC’s career leader in all-purpose yards and Clemson’s all-time touchdown leader.
Still, Tiger fans who were anxious about how their new backfield would perform didn’t have to wait long for their answer.
Ellington – the smaller, faster of the two running backs – took his first hand-off of the 2010 season 60 yards for a touchdown. Meanwhile Harper, a “load” at 6′ 0″ 230 pounds, put the first defender who tried to touch him on his back – part of a bruising performance that took much of the “Mean” out of the “Mean Green.”
Ellington finished with 122 yards on 12 carries, while Harper recorded 103 yards on 9 carries.
In addition to “Rumble and Flash,” Clemson got another solid effort from sophomore quarterback Kyle Parker – who is playing in his final season before he leaves the Tigers to play professional baseball.
The only athlete to ever throw for 20 touchdown passes and hit 20 home runs in the same year, Parker completed 9 of 17 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns against North Texas. He was also picked off once.
Clemson’s defense – considered to be the strength of the team heading into coach Dabo Swinney’s second full season at the helm – had a less impressive outing.
The Tigers gave up a whopping 469 yards to North Texas, although they did pick off two passes from “Mean Green” quarterback Nathan Tune. They also held North Texas to just 10 points.
For most of the first half, the visitors from Denton, Texas (located 40 miles northwest of Dallas) managed to keep the game much closer than Clemson fans were expecting. In fact a 13-yard touchdown pass from Tune to wide receiver Darius Carey put the “Mean Green” within a touchdown at the 1:13 mark of the second quarter.
However, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Carey after his touchdown set the Tigers up with great field position – and three plays later the Tigers were in the end zone to push the lead back to 14 points.
Clemson has a final tune-up next Saturday at home against Presbyterian College before the Tigers travel to the Plains of Auburn for a showdown against the No. 22 Auburn Tigers.
Tough ACC matchups against Miami of Florida and North Carolina follow …
WEB EXTRA
Clemson-North Texas Pics
Clemson-North Texas Official Stats
Pic: Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina
By allie September 4, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Rumble and Flash????? Okay I guess it is not that gay BUT CLOSE.
By Nymphradora September 4, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Harry, I don’t you to stay away from Nikki!!!
By defecting immediately September 4, 2010 at 10:48 pm
THANK YOU!!!! you’re the only media outlet in the Midlands that would put a favorable spin on Clemson’s win today. The truth is it wasn’t the best they’ve ever looked, but they did pull out a win. I appreciate your willingness to give props to Clemson!
By Skidmarks September 6, 2010 at 8:58 am
Orange-colored glasses and blinders. CU played one of the worst teams in the country and couldn’t control the time of possession.
By everyone minus 1 September 6, 2010 at 10:09 am
wait until Duke wears the all blue uniforms…and 7600 crazies pack the stadium…….
another big day in ACC football. Yawn
By CNSYD September 6, 2010 at 10:28 am
Skidmarks, Thank you for clearing things up. I was always under the impression that it was points scored that determined the outcome of a football game. Now you tell me it is time of possession. I guess Ellington screwed up on his 60 yard TD run. Didn’t he realize that he that his team would have to give the ball to the other team and thereby cut down his team’s time of possession? He should have slowed down and let UNT catch him.
By CNSYD September 6, 2010 at 1:15 pm
everyone minus 1, Duke. Isn’t that the school that has a lifetime winning record in football against the mighty gamecocks? OK, I agree that is not special as MOST schools have a lifetime winning record against gamecock football.
By Steve V September 6, 2010 at 3:59 pm
ah yes….the abortion that is Clemson football. Starting out with powerhouses North Texas and Presbyterian. I hope they can make it through without any injuries. Its not like they ever have to worry about suspensions. Its ok to choke women and push them down stairs…as long as they lead the country in interceptions.
By Mikey September 6, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Bitter little kitty
By CNSYD September 6, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Steve V, assuming you believe in the justice system, please tell me where a Clemson football player was tried and convicted of choking a woman and pushing her down the stairs. Failing that, can you find where there is even an arrest record for same on the SC Judical web site? You are undoubtedly familiar with PTI as USC east football players have used it many times. Further it is interesting that Mr. Richardson announced his departure from USC east from his lawyer’s office. You know, the lawyer whose phone number is on speed dial of USC east football players. BTW, I assume you classify Troy, USM and Furman as powerhouses.
By CNSYD September 6, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Mikey, bitter? about what? how does 65-38-4 make one bitter? how does higher opening game attendance than the gamechickens make one bitter? please explain.
By Jeffy September 6, 2010 at 5:43 pm
CNSYD must work in the Obama press shop as a hobby. He is the master of spin. And he is a very sad and angry clemtucky fan. Hey, if I were a tater, I’d be mad too. Watch out for Wake…the are loaded this year.
By everyone minus 1 September 7, 2010 at 9:42 am
CNSYD…its a basketball conference. Own it.
By Steve V September 7, 2010 at 10:49 am
CNSYD, do you not find it freakin AMAZING that Clemson never has players in trouble? Whats going on in them there hills? (other than animal love). Don’t preach to me about the judicial system. Its the same one that set OJ free. I wonder how many IPTAY members paid that girl to drop the charges against McDaniel. Probably the same ones who bought Spiller’s baby mama a house. And I would take Southern Miss and Troy over North Texas. But I see North Texas turned out to be tougher than Clemson thought. Good win over a quality opponent. I guess this will be the first of 45 straight BCS championships for Clemson. I’d say Furman and Presybterian are a wash. At least they are keeping the $$ in state. And always with 65-38-4. We get it. Clemson has owned Carolina in the past. Its what have you done for me lately? You must be a Clemson football fan, and not a Clemson University fan. I see Carolina soccer shut Clemson out…again. Carolina sent Clemson home from the CWS…again. Clemson does have the better b-ball team. But Carolina does own the all time record there.
By CNSYD September 7, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Steve V, As a chicken fan you have to be very familiar with PTI. After you complete the court specified program, your record is expunged. No trial therefore no conviction. I know you would like to convict people based on hearsay from people like Korncoot, but that is not how it works. And how is it that no Clemson player ever gets in trouble. Since your local rag, The State, chooses to focus only on the chickens, how would you know? Several players are no longer part of the team due to their off the field problems. Being the honest, upright person you claim to be, I am SURE you have PROOF of monies paid to McDaniel’s girlfriend and the purchase of a house for Spiller’s girlfriend. Where is this house? House purchases can easily be traced through public records. You have this information, I am sure or else you would not make allegations you could not back up.
By CNSYD September 7, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Jeffy, sad and angry? No. I thank God every day that I am not a chicken fan and/or USC east grad. In particular I am thinkful I have never lived anywhere near that hell hole called Richland County.
By Steve V September 8, 2010 at 2:05 pm
CNSYD,
The reason it never makes the State rag, is because it never happens. Those little Barney Fife’s you have in Tiglettown make sure of that. And you can’t be that naive to think that trails can’t be covered. It was so obvious with Reggie Bush right? Took them 5 years to get him. Spiller was all about moving back to Florida to be close to his daughter. He all of a sudden changes his mind and stays? Really? You believe that? You believe in scientology as well?
By CNSYD September 8, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Steve V, WOW I didn’t know you were such a close friend of Spiller. I didn’t realize you were with him all the time and he told you and you alone of all his thoughts and plans. So I guess you KNOW exactly what went on. Spiller was probably the first college student, athlete or not, who ever got “homesick”. Interesting that once you are asked for PROOF of your allegations about a house you attempt to shift to non specific charges. I guess if Spiller had gone to USC east he could have gotten a suite at the Whitney for peanuts. IRT your allegations of police coverups, again where is your PROOF? Which law enforcement agency is it that covers things up? Is it county, school, city and/or state? So to understand your position, law enforcement covers up any Clemson violation but law enforcement is overly aggressive in going after USC east athletes. That right? I know you have PROOF, right?