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Good for Bobby Hutchinson
Posted October 2, 2008
I like stories like the one that unfolded in Death Valley last week - but was lost in the carnage of Maryland's 20-17 comeback win that has everyone buzzing about Clemson's season during the Tigers' off week.
What is it? This: Who would’ve thought Bobby Hutchinson would have played in an ACC game this season – much less started one?
But Hutchinson did that last week against Maryland, and by all accounts, played quite well. The fifth-year senior started the season as a student assistant coach with little hopes of playing time, but an injury to Barry Humphries pushed him into the playing rotation, and David Smith’s sprained ankle (which sidelined him against Maryland and will likely do so against Wake Forest), as well as Jamarcus Grant’s shoulder injury, left Hutchinson to make his first career start against the Terrapins.
“It’s been a wild ride, but at the same time I’ve been enjoying it,” he said. “I enjoyed coaching, but I enjoy being with these guys. It’s a great group of offensive linemen that we’ve got here. It feels good being back.”
Hutchinson approached the coaches about becoming a student assistant, because he and they knew they’d look at younger guards like Smith and Mason Cloy. He wants to coach after graduation – high school or college, it’s unclear – but his versatility to play both guard slots or center made him valuable.
“I knew there was a chance, because of my ability to play three different positions,” he said. “That always sits well with the head coach, especially when he knows you can play guard and center, that’s big on (Tommy) Bowden’s list. You never know what’s going to happen in a season, as you can very well figure out.”
He spent the first month of practice as line coach Brad Scott’s student assistant, so returning wasn’t easy.
“It was real tough,” he said. “That first week was probably the toughest thing I’ve been put through. Being out of it for a month. You work so hard at putting work into gaining strength and gaining conditioning level, but at the same time, snap a finger, one day you can lose everything you’ve gained. Especially being out a month, coming back in, playing that week against The Citadel was pretty tough.”
Hutchinson was a highly-touted recruit when he came to Clemson, but has been a career reserve.
So starting against Maryland, was, well, pretty cool.
“It was a great feeling, one of my lifetime goals since high school,” he said. “To be able to start in a Division I school, it worked out, God blessed me, it worked out for the best.”
He admits his conditioning “isn’t where it needs to be”, and he needs to lose about 5 pounds from his current weight of 319. The bye week helps – Clemson has conditioned every day after practice.
Just being back helps, too. Believe it.
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