dduncan4163
Have at it Hoss
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2006
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Watching some of his games tonight reminded me once again how much of a leader he was. I never understood why so many fans dislike him they way that they do.
The kid was a road warrior and never got rattled. I find myself missing him more and more as the years go by.
2001 Florida, 2001 Mich, 2003 Miami, 2003 Bama, are some examples. He didn't always put up big numbers but he always had control of the huddle and never once got rattled. The Kid was smoother than Exlax on a July TN Night.
His sophomore season of 2001 was especially impressive. The Vols won at Arkansas (13-3) in a driving rainstorm; at Alabama (35-24) behind a dominating fourth quarter; at Notre Dame (28-18) with a second-half surge; at Kentucky (38-35) after twice rallying from 21 points; and, finally, at Florida (34-32) in a game for the ages. "I loved being out there competing with my guys in somebody else's backyard," Clausen said. "It was an `us-versus-the-world' mentality and it was a lot of fun."
Clausen finished 3-1 against Alabama and won twice in Gainesville.
"Alabama was a great rivalry game and as I got older, I understood it more," he said. "I learned what Tennessee-Alabama meant, and it definitely was a great experience playing in that game every single year.
"And that Florida game in 2001, it was unbelievable - back-and-forth, back-and-forth the whole game and a crazy atmosphere. It was great for us to get that win."
Clausen says butterflies before and during a game were never a factor for him.
"When I played, I never really got that nervous," he said. "I was just out there playing with my guys and was a pretty intense and vocal player. Now back here in California, I'm way more nervous watching on TV. It's kind of funny."
Love him or hate him you have to admit he was Ice Cold and a Road Warrior.
The kid was a road warrior and never got rattled. I find myself missing him more and more as the years go by.
2001 Florida, 2001 Mich, 2003 Miami, 2003 Bama, are some examples. He didn't always put up big numbers but he always had control of the huddle and never once got rattled. The Kid was smoother than Exlax on a July TN Night.
His sophomore season of 2001 was especially impressive. The Vols won at Arkansas (13-3) in a driving rainstorm; at Alabama (35-24) behind a dominating fourth quarter; at Notre Dame (28-18) with a second-half surge; at Kentucky (38-35) after twice rallying from 21 points; and, finally, at Florida (34-32) in a game for the ages. "I loved being out there competing with my guys in somebody else's backyard," Clausen said. "It was an `us-versus-the-world' mentality and it was a lot of fun."
Clausen finished 3-1 against Alabama and won twice in Gainesville.
"Alabama was a great rivalry game and as I got older, I understood it more," he said. "I learned what Tennessee-Alabama meant, and it definitely was a great experience playing in that game every single year.
"And that Florida game in 2001, it was unbelievable - back-and-forth, back-and-forth the whole game and a crazy atmosphere. It was great for us to get that win."
Clausen says butterflies before and during a game were never a factor for him.
"When I played, I never really got that nervous," he said. "I was just out there playing with my guys and was a pretty intense and vocal player. Now back here in California, I'm way more nervous watching on TV. It's kind of funny."
Love him or hate him you have to admit he was Ice Cold and a Road Warrior.