Following a huge win by the Clemson Tigers over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2014 Discover Orange Bowl, wide receivers Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant both decided to remain together and announce that they will both forgo their senior seasons at Death Valley and enter the 2014 NFL Draft. In a 40-35 Tigers’ victory, Watkins went off to set quite a few records by hauling in 16 catches for 227 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Bryant also caught a pair of scores in the big Clemson win, including an outstanding grab in the corner of the end zone that helped the Tigers regain the lead late in the third quarter.
- My views are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Discover Products Inc. and its affiliates.
Thanks to Discover and the #FanLoyaltyPoll, I was able to attend what was now the final ever collegiate game for Watkins, Bryant and the quarterback who helped make their careers better, Tajh Boyd.
Discover gave me tickets to the 2014 Orange Bowl so that I could have an experience to relive for years. Rooting for the Tigers, I had a feeling that it would be a close game. The Buckeyes put up an excellent fight in a contest that went back-and-forth throughout the game. Clemson would come out on top in the end, but the hours before the game were equally as exciting, thanks to Discover and the tailgate party and fan zone experience leading up to the big game.
Fans were allowed to have their picture taken with the Orange Bowl trophy, as well as in the XBOX fan center. Anyone also could take photos at an ESPN College GameDay set, with their heads in either a Clemson or Ohio State jersey or just out with fellow fans. With caricatures and face painting and a free jump and giveaways, there was clearly something for every fan, regardless of whether you were rooting for the Tigers or the Buckeyes.
If you happened to be cheering for Clemson and their outstanding receivers, then the experience will be even more memorable for those fans! Of course, it will be a game that Watkins and Bryant will never forget as well, as it is the game that helped propel their draft stock for the 2014 NFL Draft.
It was a great game and an even greater day, thanks to Discover and the Fan Loyalty Poll and Orange Bowl. Of course, the day of the game and the game itself was just the culmination. This all began months ago with the Discover #FanLoyaltyPoll as well as the interactive social media campaign to get fans involved in the 2014 #DiscoverOrangeBowl!
* Discover Products Inc. sent me a Gift Card for participating as a Blogger in the Discover Fan Loyalty Poll program
Leading up to the official announcement of the Discover Orange Bowl matchup, fans everywhere were able to let the world know which team was the most deserving to play in Miami on January 3, 2014. Fans with rooting interests for various teams all weighed in to let the committee know that they would support their favorite team in this season’s Discover Orange Bowl. While the response was overwhelming, that was only Phase One!
Phase Two was about choosing sides. Fans were asked which side they were on, encouraging them to go to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and show their support for their favorite team, using hashtags to support either #Clemson or #OhioState. Fans of the #Tigers and #Buckeyes showed an overwhelming support for their favorite team, with Ohio State winding up with a 52%-48% edge toward the end of the Orange Bowl. But, while the fans favored the Buckeyes, it was the Tigers who found a way to come out on top in the game.
From the announcement of the matchup right throughout the 2014 Orange Bowl, fans continued to visit http://www.discoverorangebowl.com/ and tweeted their support for the Tigers and Buckeyes. Photos taken at the pre-game festivities and during the game were displayed on the Jumbotron at Sun Life Stadium throughout the game.
Photos take of Watkins and Bryant and many others will be the final ones before these student-athletes begin to enter the next stage of their lives, which will be the NFL next season. I believe that the decision was an easy one for Watkins, who could very well be a top 5 pick in this year’s NFL Draft. He possesses the speed and skills that should make him an elite wide receiver at the next level. The time was right for him to declare himself eligible for the draft. He could go nowhere but down after shattering countless records in the 2014 Discover Orange Bowl.
Watkins is a first round pick, but where will Bryant go in the 2014 NFL Draft?
As for Bryant, I really feel that he could have been a beneficiary of returning for one more season at Clemson, this time as the clear-cut No. 1 receiver for the Tigers. If you are guaranteed of going in the first round like Watkins, then it is a good decision to go pro. I just don’t think the same is true for Bryant. He will likely not go in the first round, and may not hear his name called until the third day of the 2014 NFL Draft, as he has shown flashes of brilliance at times, only to be followed by too much inconsistency.
Either way, it was a great game and a day to remember for the fans and players alike. It will be the final time that Watkins and Bryant don the Clemson jersey, and it will be a game that people will be talking about for ages, and that future players will be looking to top for years to come.
Make sure that you stay tuned to Boston Super Blog for all of the latest polls and results from the Discover Fan Loyalty Poll. We have got you covered throughout the remainder of the 2013 college football season, leading all the way up to the 2014 BCS Championship Game between the Florida State Seminoles and Auburn Tigers! Make sure to Like Discover on Facebook and follow them on Twitter!
The Discover Fan Loyalty Poll is conducted twice a month by Rasmussen Reports, a nationally recognized leader in polling, who gathers sentiment by phone from 1500 college football fans who follow games at least once per week on television, radio, in person or online. The Poll leads up to the 2014 Discover Orange Bowl. Discover’s commitment to college football includes relationships with ESPN and Notre Dame Football on NBC.
About Discover
Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America’s cash rewards pioneer, and offers home loans, private student loans, personal loans, home equity loans, checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its direct banking business. It operates the Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation’s leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.
