As thanks are given in this Christmas season, one guy that’s getting plenty from Clemson’s coaching staff is an offensive lineman named Bobby Hutchinson.
He was basically an afterthought when the season began, a senior getting a head start on his coaching career who’d shed his pads and taken on the title of “student coach”. Tommy Bowden kept him on scholarship just in case there were injuries to the offensive line or if some of the young players weren’t able to provide depth.
That Hutchinson saw duty just a couple of weeks into the season tells you all that you need to know.
But what he provided, ironically and unexpectedly, was someone the Tiger offensive coaches could plug into their offensive line to help others move to areas where they excelled. He played guard for a while then moved to center.
He became a regular in the game at Boston College and played significant snaps in a 4-1 November in which Clemson needed each of those wins to land the Gator Bowl birth they’ve received.
This next week is one in which Hutchinson’s likely thinking about his improbable, and almost accidental, senior season. He’s one of 19 Florida natives on the squad so he gets to play his final game in his native state.
And playing in his final game is something he’ll do plenty of. If not for him, Clemson’s final game may have come at the end of November.
Another guy who’s active in the bowl season, and who has been throughout his South Carolina career, is senior wide receiver Kenny McKinley. He’ll close his USC career in the Outback Bowl owning virtually every schools receiving record.
This Christmas season will be much different than any other for McKinley as he recently became the dad of a baby boy. He recently noted how his life immediately changed and how it has a new purpose and how blessed he is.
He’ll compete in his New Year’s Day bowl game with someone else to now play for and certainly hopes his child can one day see his dad playing in the pros.
While Hutchinson and McKinley are on entirely different football paths their 2008 seasons will certainly provide them with unique memories.
And they’ll likely spend a good part of this Christmas time feeling the spirit of this season as much as they ever have.
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