INTERVIEW WITH DAVID "HITMAN" DUNHAM

I was fortunate enough to get in touch with former Tiger LB David Dunham today and he graciously accepted my request for an interview. Dunham always made the most of his opportunities on the field and while his stats. don't necessarily dazzle you, his big plays do. I'm going to hit some highlights on Dunham's playing career at Clemson but don't want to give away too much because some of these are discussed in the interview below: Dunham came to Clemson as a highly rated recruit out of Columbia High School in Lake City, FL. In his redshirt freshman year, he played a limited role at LB but mostly on special teams, earning a letter in each. In David's sophomore year, he played on special teams in every game and very quickly earned playing time as a LB. He made it clear to the coaches and fans why he was so highly recruited, contributing with some big plays in games against FSU, UNC, SC and was named special teams player of the game against MTSU. The playing time at LB increased even more as a junior in 2004 and so did the big plays in games against against VA, MD, SC and FSU. In his senior season, Dunham made the hit that many Clemson fans and football fans around the nation will always remember.

JM: What have you been up to since your Clemson playing days- are you back in Lake City, FL now?

DD: Following my career at Clemson, i was fortunate enough to be given an opportunity to continue playing, I went on to camp with the Jets briefly and played some arena football thereafter. I currently reside in Valdosta,Georgia.

JM: Do you still keep up with any of your former teammates?

DD: I still keep up with a few members of my recruiting class (Cliff Harrell, Jamaal Fudge, Kyle Browning, Airese Curry, Tye Hill and Lionel Richardson). In addition to those guys, I am still close friends with Reggie and in fact am heading to Tampa this weekend to watch Gaines play. I also try to keep up with a few of the guys that are still playing now, like Chris Chancellor and Kavell Conner.

JM: You were known as the "Hitman" at Clemson for obvious reasons. You knew this would come up because right or wrong, it seems to be the one play that defined your career at Clemson. I was at the BC game and really thought you had killed Matt Ryan. It's been seen about 35,000 times on youtube and was voted #1 college play of that weekend by ESPN. Give us your thoughts on it now.

DD: The reason that play sticks out in my mind is not for the glory or notoriety that was associated with it but for the fact that my "man"(in man coverage) caught the pass for a first down on a crucial third and long! But nevertheless, the hit still gives me chills; I can only imagine the impact if I had not pulled up.

JM: You had several other big plays as a Tiger including the hit and forced fumble against the Gamecocks Cory Boyd on the opening kickoff in 2004 and the fumble recovery in the end zone against UNC in 2003. Is the Ryan hit the one play you personally thought was your best play or do you have another overall performance in a game that you are most proud of?

DD: I believe that my most memorable moment would be my sack on Chris Rix at home in our first "Bowden Bowl" victory, or hitting T.A. McClendon on the goal line and knocking him out of the game in 2004! That is one not alot of people talk about but probably made the most impact on that game.

JM: Moving on now from your personal accomplishments to those of the teams you played on, is there one team victory that stands out to you as being the best?

DD: My favorite without a doubt was that intial win against FSU. It was huge to beat FSU being from Florida. I was playing against two of my high school teammates, Jerome Carter and Kendyll Pope, and my two favorite high school coaches came to watch the three of us play. I recorded my first sack and had another memorable hit when I pushed my blocker into the return man. It was the first time in my career that we played "in the zone" as a team, the crowd was absolutely fanatical and it meant the most to Coach Bowden. I mean FSU had to know what was coming as Radio preceded us running down the hill!

JM: How about one team loss that stands out as the worst?

DD: The worst lost I witnessed would have to be the loss to Matt Ryan and Boston College following the hit. To lose in OT- given the fact that the loss took us out of ACC championship contention and placed FSU in the ACC Championship game after we beat them convincingly on our "Senior Day"-they ended up playing in a BCS game and we played in the Champs Sports Bowl.

JM: You never lost to the Gamecocks the entire four years that you played but witnessed a rare loss during your redshirt freshman year. Coming from the state of Florida, how long did it take you to realize the intensity behind the rivalry?

DD: I did not play, but still traveled to every away game that year, I remember the coldness from the fans and in the air of that stadium and Coach Bowden vowing to not lose again to USC to all of the underclassmen. I grew up accustomed to the FSU vs.Miami rivalry and in that game the fans and players are civil. In our contest, it was about who turned that hatred into motivation to get a win. I will never forget watching USuCks Brewer and Pinnock laugh at us for losing! That was always my motivation!

JM: Have you kept up with the Tigers football program since your playing days were completed and if so, give us your thoughts on the recent staff shakeup and the 2008 season. Also, share your thoughts and/or opinions about the program in general going forward.

DD: I still keep up with the program as much as I can. I have been to a few games the past couple of seasons and expect great things in the future. Coach Swinney and the rest of the staff will do a marvelous job from this point and beyond. As long as he keeps surrounding himself with great coaches, the sky is the limit for our program. In my opinion, we are building something truly special here; the foundation has been layed for greatness.

JM: Thank you again for taking the time to let Tigers fans catch up with you! Your hometown is a short drive from Jacksonville- will we see you at the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl on New Year's Day?

DD: Hopefully so. I was on the sideline for the FSU game and may try to do the same when we take the field against Nebraska. I truly appreciate the opportunity to catch up and GO TIGERS!!