If Clemson coaches decide to start Bobby Hutchinson this week at Florida State it will be a generally pragmatic decision, but don't discount the emotional influence.
Based on Hutchinson's performance at center in the Boston College game, offensive line coach Brad Scott believes he probably deserves to start in front of friends and family in the Florida panhandle.
A senior, Hutchinson originally volunteered to coach this season because he didn't anticipate playing much, but injuries pressed him into duty and he has started two games, the only starts of his career.
Scott said that by sliding Thomas Austin to left guard with Mason Cloy at right guard and inserting Hutchinson at center, the Tigers were able to offset BC's two big tackles.
Austin was named ACC offensive lineman of the week and Scott said Cloy was nearly as good.
Hutchinson was solid, Scott said, though a holding call late in the game cost them a big gain into BC territory. His greatest asset is his knowledge of the offense and the blocking schemes. He's also a technically sound snapper.
"Hutch did fine,"
Scott said. "He managed that game like I thought he could do and would do."
Hutchinson's sacrifice earlier this season earned his teammates' and coaches' respect. He intends to go into coaching, and he credits Dabo Swinney's friendship for inspiring him.
"He's like a father to me, he's always been there for me,"
Hutchinson said. "The talks, no matter what the situation is, he's been there for me."
Swinney, the Tigers' interim head coach, recruited Hutchinson.
"He's been a huge confidence booster in me, believing in me, especially in high school being recruited,"
Hutchinson said. "Grades were nowhere as good as they should be to get in and he stood by me side-by-side and believed in me."
Scott said he's not locked into anything. Other than leaving Austin at center, where he started the first seven games, and inserting redshirt freshman David Smith at left guard, Scott said he doesn't have many other options at the moment.
Hutchinson played much of last year's game with FSU at guard.
Chances are he'll use everybody ó including guard Wilson Norris ó at one time or another. Florida State's defensive tackles are also substantial, though much quicker than BC's.
"We'll see how it shakes out this week,"
Scott said, but hinted he's leaning toward Hutchinson at center.
"He's from down that way, and it would be a big game for him,"
Scott said. "I told him he's got to keep his poise. I'll be interested to see how all that works out."
• It might seem corny, Mason Cloy admitted, but the "all in"
mantra seems to have been embraced by the Tigers.
"I guess it might be a little corny,"
he said. "I don't think anybody thinks of it in that way. I think we all just kind of look at it for what it is."
"We have to put everything out there, we have to be all in to beat teams like Boston College and like this week, Florida State,"
he said. "That's just what it's going to take."
• Linebacker De'Andre McDaniel said he's found 25 tickets for Saturday's game. Asked how big this is, playing at home for the first time. "I want to be able to run my mouth when I go back home,"
he said.
• Swinney said quarterback Willy Korn had his best practice Tuesday since injuring his right shoulder throwing short and intermediate routes. The starting punter could be determined in today's practice, Swinney said.
