Last year in Columbia, Tennessee offensive tackle Antonio Richardson did an exceptional job keeping Jadevon Clowney in check for 58-plus minutes in the Vols’ matchup against the Gamecocks. But with 1:19 remaining and the Vols driving inside the South Carolina 20-yard line trailing by only a field goal, Clowney slipped by Richardson, causing a game-ending fumble by Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray and dashing the Vols’ hopes for an upset.
“He just hit me with a little counter inside head fake and went back out,” Richardson said afterward. “That was really his bread-and-butter the whole game. I just kinda got lazy with my footwork that play and he beat me. It was the fourth quarter and we were moving down the field pretty quick. I thought I was in the groove of things but just for some reason, he got me. He is a big-time player.”
Being the fierce competitor he is, Richardson circled October 19th, 2013 on his calendar; the day he would have a chance at revenge.
But on Tuesday, that relationship, which seemed to be one of mutual respect, turned to a bit of trash talking when Clowney had the following to say about Richardson during an interview at SEC Media Days in Birmingham, Alabama:
Jadeveon Clowney on #UT OT Tiny Richardson. "He is the best at holding and getting away with it."
— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) July 16, 2013
Richardson followed with a tweet of his own, telling Vol fans, he hopes they can make it to “the circus”.
Hope you Vol fans can make it to the circus Oct . 19th. It'll be a nice show.
— Antonio Richardson (@Antonio_Tiny74) July 17, 2013
Richardson will most certainly be asked for his thoughts on the comment during Wednesday’s media session in Birmingham. Stay tuned.