NEWBERRY — Tajh Boyd, Clemson’s starting quarterback in 2011 and the quarterback that led the Tigers to the 2011 ACC Championship, inspired Newberry County football players and coaches during Newberry County Touchdown Club’s monthly meeting.
Boyd, who was born and raised in Hampton, Virginia, was the middle child that grew up playing almost every sport imaginable.
“Football is obviously pretty special, and that is the reason that we are all here tonight, for some of us it has taken us places we never thought we would have went. For a lot of us it has taught us values nothing else could have taught us, and when you look at what it means and what it takes to play in general, at any level, you realize how equipped you are in life,” Boyd said. “I don’t know where it is football is going to take you later in life, I hope you accomplish every dream you can imagine. The game itself, when you look at what it is, and what it is to us as players, you start to realize not everyone is equipped to play.”
When Boyd was playing high school football, he said they were 43-2 in three years, and they won two state championships. He said his coach was probably one of the most important men in his life, because he saw things in him that Boyd didn’t see in himself.
“He was one of those guys if there was something that happened outside of the arena, he was willing to step in and figure out what he could do to resolve the issue,” Boyd said.
It was in fact because of his high school coach that Boyd would commit to Clemson later down the line. However, prior to that, Boyd committed to Tennessee.
“There were so many echos and rumors that the head coach, Phil Fulmer, wasn’t going to be the guy. So we approached Hamilton, the athletic director at the time, we asked if Fulmer was going to be there, and he said he wasn’t going anywhere,” Boyd said.
Two weeks later Fulmer was let go, and in came new head coach Lane Kiffin.
“He reached out to every player but me, and finally I got in touch with him, he said, ‘hey man, I like you as a player, I just don’t think you will fit in with what we are trying to do here.’ I was like, alright,” Boyd said.
After that, Boyd’s dad fought for him to play in the 2009 US Army All-American Bowl, which is where Boyd first heard about Clemson.
“One coach at Clemson knew my high school coach, that is how it all tied together,” Boyd said.
Boyd became the MVP of the Army game, and he said he received a call from Kiffin.
“He calls me the next week, says ‘hey man, I’m just reaching out, I feel like we got off on the wrong foot, I’d like if you could reconsider,’” Boyd said.
Well, Boyd didn’t and the rest is history.
“One thing different about Dabo Swinney compared to anyone else, he was genuine, he was real. He continues to rally, doesn’t let life beat you down kind of guy, the guy that finds a way to get results,” Boyd said. “I’ve always been a big picture guy, where can I go to be a better man, that is why I committed to Coach Swinney.”