For Clemson linebacker Sammy Brown, last Saturday night against LSU wasn’t just another top-10 showdown, it was a moment he had dreamed about since childhood.
Brown, who grew up coming to Death Valley games with his brother Max,who is committed to Clemson, couldn’t help but reflect on what it meant to finally play in one of those same electric night environments he once watched as a fan.
“It was incredible,” Brown said. “Regardless of the outcome, that’s the kind of game you dream about as a little kid. That’s the ones where me and Max are out in the front yard saying, ‘Alright, it’s third and 10 and we got to get a stop right here.’ It was just really cool to have the opportunity to play in a game like that.”
Defensive Confidence, but More Work Ahead
While Clemson fell short, the Tigers’ defense showed plenty of promise by holding LSU to just 17 points. Brown said the performance built confidence, but he stressed there’s no reason to be satisfied.
“We played very well, but we’ve got some things that we need to work on,” he noted. “There’s no reason we shouldn’t have won the game.”
One of the biggest takeaways for Sammy Brown was the importance of eliminating penalties and cleaning up the “small things.”
“It all comes back to the really small things, like holding onto a jersey, first play of the game, giving up a big run,” Brown said. “Things like that we just need to really key in on.”
Measured Goals and Standards
Under new defensive coordinator Tom Allen, Clemson has set concrete weekly defensive goals including holding opponents under 3.4 yards per carry and forcing three takeaways per game. Against LSU, the Tigers were just shy on both.
“We were actually 0.1 off our yards per carry goal,” Brown explained. “We have to do five push-ups for every takeaway that we don’t get.”
Though the defense came up just short statistically, Sammy Brown sees the progress in this Clemson defense.
Sammy Brown Building Under New Coaches
Brown praised both Allen and linebackers coach Ben Boulware, citing their focus on details and effort.
“Coach Allen and Coach Bowware are so adamant about the little things and effort,” Brown said. “If we come out here and practice, and we’re focusing on the little things, it’s going to add up. And when you play with high effort, even if you mess up, you can still make a play.”
He also said having Boulware on the sideline made a difference in real-time adjustments.
“He’s played the game, it gives me confidence when he’s making corrections,” Brown said.
The Chess Match
Sammy Brown admitted he enjoys the strategy aspect of football particularly in how LSU shifted into a quick passing game.
“It’s like you’re playing chess with the offense,” Brown said. “You see where you one-up them, and then where they got you. Fix that and correct that. It’s pretty interesting.”
Spotlight on Ronan Hanafin
Brown also highlighted safety Ronan Hanafin, who led the team in tackles with 12 total.
“I could have told you he was going to do that from spring practice,” Brown said. “He’s always making plays, interceptions, you know, punching the ball out. You can just tell from the first day he moved to DB that he was going to be something special.”
Looking Ahead
For Sammy Brown, Saturday night wasn’t just about living out a childhood dream, it was about setting the tone for what comes next. The Tigers’ defense showed flashes of dominance, and with leaders like Brown emphasizing details, effort, and accountability, Clemson believes its best football is still ahead this season.
