Tyler Gauthier’s old team have a big game Friday night.
His current one has a big one Saturday.
Naturally, the center for the Miami Hurricanes was interested in Venice High’s Class 7A state semifinal against St. Thomas Aquinas, but what happens Saturday at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, South Carolina, will have Gauthier’s full attention.
As the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game should for every one of its participants. That the Tigers come in as the nation’s top-ranked team only has added to the hoopla.
“There are a lot of games like this one that you know deep down that it means a lot more,” the junior said. “But preparation-wise, there’s not much more added, but there’s more on your own. More film, more training-room (work) to get your body ready.”
Gauthier is one 'Cane capable of recalling the game two years ago when Clemson invaded Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens and left with pieces of the 'Canes imbedded in their cleats. A 58-0 loss doesn’t just evaporate from memory.
“They basically put it on us,” he said, “and that’s something that a lot of kids on my team remember, too. They are preparing the best way they can to make sure that it doesn’t happen (today).”
What could have been isn’t lost on Gauthier or any other Miami player. The No. 2 'Canes had a 15-game winning streak in place when they traveled to take on Pitt on Black Friday.
And black it was for the 'Canes. The 24-14 loss dropped them to seventh in the country and put their shot at a spot in the College Football Playoff in serious danger.
“I don’t think we were looking ahead,” Gauthier said. “The team that’s in front of you, you focus on them and that’s your focus. I think Pitt just came out with a better mindset that day. They were the better team in that time of the season and they ultimately got the best of us in the end.”
So, what has 6-foot-5, 305-pound Ty Gauthier been up to since leaving the Venice High campus after starting four years for John Peacock’s Indians and earning first-time all-state status?
Even then, Gauthier was a sleeper, ranked the 1,041st overall recruit in the nation. Miami beat out Arizona, UCF and USF, and the moment he arrived in Coral Gables, he began to surprise.
No red-shirt freshman season for Gauthier. He saw action in four games as a reserve offensive lineman. As a sophomore, he started Miami’s final four games, a critical part of his maturation.
“If it did anything, it gave me a lot of confidence in myself,” he said. “Made me know I could play with the elite people in the ACC.”
Peacock never had a doubt.
“I always thought he was going to do very well wherever he went,” he said. “He’s tough, strong and athletic.”
When the 'Canes told Gauthier he’d be moving to center, he knew that would mean battling his roommate and three-year Miami starter Nick Linder.
“We looked at each other before camp and basically were like, ‘We’re going to make this a competition and whoever wins, wins,’ ” Gauthier said.
It wasn’t really close. Rehabbing a shoulder injury, Linder lost his job to Gauthier. Linder ended up leaving the team.
Gauthier had to become adept at snapping the football. He worked on learning the line calls required of a center.
He’s aced pretty much every test. Gauthier has one year left, but people in the Miami program already see him as a starting NFL center.
“You’ve got to be a special person to be there,” he said. “I still have a lot of work to do to prove that I’m going to be there.”
The coaches at Venice gave him the best of head starts.
“All the coaching staff, if I needed anything, I could talk to them and they would help me out,” he said.
“If it wasn’t for them, I might not be the player I am today. I actually wouldn’t be the player I am today.”