CLEMSON -- One sequence late against Louisiana Tech reinforced the fact that Clemson has a totally different personality in charge of its defense this year.

The Bulldogs had third-and-1 inside Clemson's 10-yard line, the place where for years the Tigers have pridefully produced their ferocious best to keep opponents out of the end zone -- winning time, garbage time, didn't matter.

On this night the visiting team ran up the middle for a first down. And then ran again to the 3. And then ran again, right up the gut, for a 3-yard touchdown on second down.

Join Tigerillustrated.com subscribers on The West Zone message board!

This totally foreign sequence was followed by a totally foreign sight on the sideline: Clemson's defensive coordinator clapping his hands once, as if to say "we'll get 'em next time," patting one of his players on the butt and then walking the other way.

It was jarring only because of the presence we were used to for the previous decade, and the sure penance we were used to seeing when the offending players reached the sidelines after committing such unpardonable sins.

Ben Boulware once told us of being terrified of seeing the white foam in the corners of Brent Venables' mouth. That meant he was really pissed. That meant there was going to be hell to pay in the form of a spit-spewing, figurative decapitation.

The persona of Wes Goodwin and his predecessor could not be more different. That is not exactly news, as we've all been able to see the sharp contrasts in the 10 months since Dabo Swinney made the unconventional choice to replace one of the top defensive coordinators in college football history.

But the past month-plus has given us six games, plus a wild overtime in Winston-Salem, to learn more of Goodwin and what he's all about.

Goodwin knew going in that he'd be faced with some trying moments. But he probably had no idea so many would come so early.