Watson keeps promise to his coach to break the streak |
CLEMSON –
Deshaun Watson
Deshaun Watson Prior to signing with Clemson a year ago, Watson was approached by one of the offensive assistant coaches at Georgia’s Gainesville High School who also happens to be a Clemson fan. Lyn Marsh watched Watson grow up, acting as coach, friend and mentor, and hated to demand anything of his star pupil. But he did want to ask one thing. “Right before he signed with Clemson, I asked him to make me a promise,” Marsh told TigerNet following Saturday’s 35-17 win over South Carolina. “I said, ‘You have to promise me that you are going to stop all of this mess.’ And he told me, ‘Coach, doggone I am going to do it.’ And he is the type of kid that if he tells you he is going to do something then he is going to do it come hell or high water.” Watson delivered, taking the field with a torn ACL and a tight brace that kept putting his calf to sleep. Twice during the game he limped off the field in an effort to get feeling back into his injured left leg. Twice more, he limped back out onto the field in an effort to not only will his teammates to the win, but to keep his promise. Watson completed 14 of 19 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He also scored two touchdowns rushing, but finished with just 13 yards on the ground, but it was his mere presence on the field that made the difference for an offense that plays with more confidence when the talented freshman is on the field. Watson said he just wanted to play through the pain. "Coach (Chad) Morris told me beforehand, if I couldn't run the offense, I shouldn't go out there," Watson said. "I knew I was going to feel some pain, but I didn't care. I was just going to help my teammates win. Whatever play coach Morris was going to call, I was going to go out and execute it the best I could." Marsh said watching Watson play through the pain was an emotional experience. “You know, it’s like watching one of your own children play,” he said. “You feel like you are out there with him, running and pushing with him. You have the sweat on your arm and the hot flashes and everything else.” Watson wasn’t the only star on the field Saturday – freshman wide receiver
Artavis ScottArtavis Scott “I just told him how proud I was of him,” Marsh said. “He is just such a high character kid.” A few minutes later, a return text Watson said all that needed to be said. “He said, ‘I told you I was going stop that streak. I promised you. Me and Tay and Wayne got it done.’ He was just reminding me of that promise he made to me.”
Fr. Quarterback
#4 6-3, 204
Gainesville, GA
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kept his promise, a vow that took over a year to fulfill but was realized late Saturday afternoon as the final seconds ticked off the Death Valley scoreboard clock.
Fr. Wide Receiver
#3 5-11, 190
Oldsmar, FL
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and freshman running back
Wayne GallmanWayne Gallman
RS Fr. Running Back
#9 6-1, 209
Loganville, GA
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had career days as well.
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