Etienne's "bounce back" sparks historic night

Clemson running back Travis Etienne staked his case to be in the conversation for the nation's top individual prize, the Heisman Trophy, with his performance in Thursday's 52-14 win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

CLEMSON— Clemson running back Travis Etienne staked his case to be in the conversation for the nation's top individual prize, the Heisman Trophy, with his performance in Thursday's 52-14 win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Etienne recorded a career-high 205 rushing yards on 12 carries with three touchdowns, and his three rushing touchdowns tied his career high, set in three games in 2018.

Etienne’s 205 rushing yards also surpassed his previous career high of 203 yards, set against Syracuse on Sept. 29, 2018. The 200-yard rushing day was the second of Etienne’s career, tying a school record shared by Ray Yauger, Terrence Flagler, Raymond Priester and Andre Ellington.

He became the first 200-yard rusher allowed by Georgia Tech since Sept. 29, 2012, when Middle Tennessee State’s Benny Cunningham rushed for 217 yards, and for his career, the performance marked Etienne’s 12th multi-touchdown game and his ninth 100-yard rushing game.

However his biggest run of the night may have set the tone for the Tigers— as Etienne scored on a career-long 90-yard run in the first quarter, tying the longest run in school history with Banks McFadden (1939 vs. Presbyterian College) and Buck George (1951 at Furman). The run was the longest in the history of Memorial Stadium.

However that historic run was preceded by one of the cardinal sins for a running back—fumbling the ball.

“Most definitely (I wanted to make it up to the team)…. [I] hate when it happens because it’s all what you can control," Etienne said. "You never want to fumble as a running back… Everyone was like “You owe me, you owe me,” so I was just trying to get it back for them.”

And "get it back" he did, as two offensive plays later he made history in Death Valley. 

For the coaches, it was not his run that was indicative of how much the junior has matured from being an explosive, yet unpredicatable, freshman. Instead it was his ability to "bounce back from the adversity that showed how much he has matured."

"That's what he's supposed to do," co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said. "You know early on...Travis will tell you when you talk to him that he was probably trying to do too much. You know, just just pressing a little bit, stressed early on. A little counter play going back to the field and then bounce it outside results in at TFL (tackle for loss). Everybody's fussing at the offensive line, but really that was on him making improper read and the guy did a good job of getting his shoulder on the ball. 

"That gives me an opportunity to coaching so so this is why you got transition here drill work. This is why I teach you how to carry the ball. This way I tell you to get your pads down, so that you can protect that football. So I am really proud of him bouncing back...he's the guy that we're gonna go to and so in situation like that you got go on to the next play and don't let it don't let a bad play beat you twice."

Etienne’s 90-yard run was Clemson’s longest play since a since a 91-yard pass from Tajh Boyd to Sammy Watkins against Virginia in 2013. And on the 90-yard touchdown, Etienne eclipsed the 2,500-yard career rushing mark, becoming only the 11th player in school history to reach 2,500 career rushing yard.

For fellow offensive coordinator Jeff Scott, the most impressive thing that he saw Thursday night was Etienne taking a major step forward in being a mature player.

“[He’s] just taking the next step...his maturity," Scott said. "He’s always been a strong runner. I think for him the biggest step has been in pass protection. And that’s another thing I should say, no sacks today, especially with all the different things up front. A lot of unknowns. To be able to come out with no sacks, that includes the running backs, offensive line and tight ends. 

"Travis has worked hard. He’s a humble guy, very hard-working. [He] doesn’t listen to any of the outside noise or anything like that. It was great to be able to see him back and have some explosive runs.”