Clemson Sunday Football Notes

Sept. 1, 2002

Preliminary examinations indicate that starting cornerbackToure Francis has a torn ACL and probably will be lost for theseason. He will have an MRI on Tuesday to determine the extent ofhis injury. Francis, a native of Columbia, started the Georgia gameand played just 12 snaps on defense before suffering the injurythat shelved him for the rest of the game. There were no otherserious injuries reported on Sunday. Clemson’s top tacklers off thecoach’s film were Eric Sampson (9), John Leake (8), Rodney Thomas(8) and Eric Meekins (8). Khaleed Vaughn had six tackles, includinga sack and a pass broken up. Clemson played 60 players in theGeorgia Game, 16 seniors, 19 juniors, 19 sophomores and sixfreshmen. Only three “first-year” players participated. JustinMiller was the only first-year freshman to play (2 snaps, 1tackle), while Kelvin Morris (16 plays, three tackles, on tacklefor loss, one interception), and Brandon Jamison (six plays, onetackle) were two first year junior college players who participatedin the game. Walk-on center Tommy Sharpe played 22 snaps at centerin the Georgia game. Walk-on wide receiver Tony Elliott, had one catch for20 yards. Toure Francis also started the game at a cornerback andplayed 12 snaps until he was injured. Clemson won the total offenseand the turnover margin at Georgia. It marked just the fourth timesince 1980 that Clemson has won both of those categories, yet lostthe game. Clemson had been 20-3 under Tommy Bowden when winning thetotal offense category prior to the Georgia game. Clemson held a28-21 lead entering the fourth period. Clemson is now 22-3 underTommy Bowden when it holds the lead entering the fourth period.Kevin Youngblood had a career high 6 catches for 66 yards atGeorgia. He had a touchdown reception in the game on a pass fromWillie Simmons. Clemson’s defense allowed Georgia just 203 yards oftotal offense, the lowest output by the Georgia offense sinceSeptember of 2000. Georgia averaged 432 yards of total offense pergame last year. The Bulldogs returned eight starters from lastyear. Georgia scored a touchdown on a 91-yard kickoff return byFred Gibson. It was the first time in his head coaching career thata Tommy Bowden coached team (Tulane or Clemson) had allowed akickoff return or punt return for a touchdown. It was the firstkickoff return for a touchdown against Clemson since 1990 when aDuke player (Leroy Gallman) went 78 yards for a score in DeathValley.