New source of motivation

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Quite clearly, a four-touchdown smashing of mighty Alabama wasn't enough to quell skepticism of Clemson by virtue of its conference affiliation.

The past six months have brought a regular drumbeat of claims that Clemson was able to spend all season resting while Alabama had to somehow find a way to get through the murderous grind of the SEC.

It makes you wonder how much louder the clamor would be had Clemson merely won by a field goal instead of 28 points.

Given the exalted stature Alabama carried into the game, an unadulterated beatdown of that magnitude should answer any and all questions about what a supposedly weak conference schedule means in the context of Clemson's national stature.