Michigan reacts to the hit shown 'round the world

CHICAGO -- Jadeveon Clowney's Outback Bowl hit on Michigan running back Vincent Smith has become an international sensation, tallying nearly 4 million YouTube views and millions more on ESPN.

Clowney, a South Carolina defensive end, clubbed Smith in the backfield midway through the fourth quarter. Smith barely touched the ball on a handoff before Clowney popped him, rocketing his helmet eight yards in the opposite direction and the ball to the ground. Clowney recovered the fumble, and the play rallied the Gamecocks from a one-point deficit to a 33-28 win.

"I feel bad for Vin Smith because they don't show Vin Smith popping back up," Michigan Coach Brady Hoke said. "I'll stop there."

Clowney won an ESPY Award for the year's best play, and ESPN has shown the hit ad nauseum. It vaulted Clowney into a superstar and perpetuated the stereotype of the strong, athletic SEC defender continually plowing over his slower, weaker Big Ten counterpart.

But a Michigan mistake led to the world's most famous tackle. The left side of Michigan's offensive line was called to block down on the line of scrimmage with the fullback kicking out on the edge. When Clowney hit the 'C' gap between the tight end and tackle, tight end Mike Kwiatkowski was supposed to block him. Instead Kwiatkowski missed Clowney and zoomed downfield to cut off the safety. That left the 6-foot-6, 260-pound Clowney untouched and into the Michigan backfield.

"It's frustrating because it's not like (Clowney) threw somebody out of the way and went in and made a great play," Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner said. "He was unblocked, which I feel like I'm not the biggest guy in the world, but I feel like if I'm unblocked, I feel like I can hit Vincent Smith at 5-6, 170 pounds and maybe knock his helmet off, too."

The hit's impact was tremendous. Minnesota defensive tackle Ra'Shede Hageman, perhaps the Big Ten's best defensive lineman, said he's watched the play "a thousand times" and envisions making a similar play this year.

"It kind of motivates me to do something like that," Hageman said. "I'm definitely capable of that. It definitely motivates me to do better this year."

The play gives Gardner a nauseous feeling. But he credits Clowney for making the hit, which led to South Carolina's go-ahead touchdown one play later.

"I feel like that's being blown out of proportion," Gardner said. "But don't get me wrong: it was a great hit, a great play. He made a great play when he needed to. You can't blame him for us not blocking him."