Posted: Sunday, August 30, 2009 11:48 am

Clemson's Death Valley

After banging on each other for four weeks, Middle Tennessee’s football team takes the real stage Saturday in the 2009 season opener, and it will be a special stage.

Rick Stockstill’s Blue Raiders take on Atlantic Coast Conference’s Clemson in Death Valley at 5 p.m., the first of two ACC opponents that sandwich a home game with Memphis in a tough opening slate.

Saturday’s game will be streamed online at ESPN360.com.

Coming off a 5-7 season that saw the Raiders handicapped by ridiculously bad luck with injuries in the offensive line, Middle returns a solid nucleus on both sides of the ball with significant potential on offense.

But, any new season carries all manner of questions, such as how will Clemson’s fortunes change under Dabo Swinney who replaced Tommy Bowden in mid-season. Here are three things to ponder while waiting until that opening kickoff:

1) Dwight Dasher and Offensive Coordinator Tony Franklin’s spread offense. Dasher has great wheels as he demonstrated the first time he took the field for the Raiders (and Memphis will remember that very well) two years ago.
He couldn’t win the starting role last season but did this one and has looked extremely promising throwing the ball in preseason drills to go with his strong running skills.

Joining him in the backfield is fast Phillip Tanner who seemed to be reaching his potential late last season, including a six-TD game.

In senior Desmond Ghee and last year’s freshman flash Malcolm Beyah, he has potential game breakers in addition to steady senior Patrick Honeycutt.

And, experience abounds in the offensive line.

Potential and flashes of brilliance don’t win games.

The success of the Raiders this season will be determined by how many of the potentials prove to be the real deal.

2) Speed kills.

And, Clemson has speed.

C.J. Spiller is a killer.

A dark horse Heisman Trophy candidate (two returning quarterbacks are possibly repeat winners), Spiller has 12 touchdowns of more than 50 yards. He competed well in ACC track last season.

According to the Clemson media guide:
“Candidate for the Heisman Trophy in 2009...one of the top all-around players in the nation; he has been a record-setter at Clemson as a running back, receiver, and kick returner and has even thrown a touchdown pass...already Clemson's all-time leader in career all-purpose yards (4,908); he needs 921 to become the all-time leader in ACC history; he is third among active players nationally in that category...#1 running back in the nation for the 2010 NFL draft by Phil Steele.”

With a rookie starter at quarterback, the Tigers are likely to look to Spiller a lot. Well, they would probably go to Spiller a lot if they had a veteran quarterback.

Compounding the Raiders’ issue with Spiller’s speed will be two newcomers starting at linebacker.

Unfortunately, Spiller isn’t the fastest Tiger on offense. Wide receiver Jacoby Ford is an NCAA track champion in the 60 meters and second in the ACC among returning receivers with 87 catches.

3) They don’t call it Death Valley because they loved Ronald Reagan.

The stadium nestled in a bowl in Clemson is filled each week with 80,000 orange-clad maniacs.

The Tigers have won more than 70 percent of their games there.

Plus, South Carolina’s hot, muggy weather will likely be in full bloom Saturday.

The relatively mild weather we’ve enjoyed this August could even be a handicap for the Raiders in dealing with the temps and humidity they are likely to face with a 5 p.m. kickoff.