It is good to see someone else take up for Mike. I have never understood how Bowden got by with treating him as he did. I have always said Bowden had the right to fire Mike but not the way he fired him. It just showed that Bowden has no conception of Clemson tradition and/or didn't care. We were at the Duke game and saw what was going on. I told my wife we were going to lose that game at the end of the first quarter if things didn't change. They didn't and Mike fell on the sword for TB. Later he got the knife in the back! TB finally admitted months later that he didn't attend meetings yet went against the game plan calling plays. Mike is much better off with a far superior coach and program. TB is finally about ready to get his just rewards. I hope he enjoys that money he never earned.
I won't go item by item on the list. Most people have made up their minds about TB. However on bowls, 3-5 with only one win vs a ranked opponent? Give me a break! We bought the Smurf Bowl bid and how many bowls are there these days?! Only TB would brag about getting us to bowls(forget winning) you need a road map to find! We were there for several days before the Peach. The UTenn fans were insulted to be there with their #6 ranking. The stats that were interesting to me: UTenn 26-38 rushing, CU 34-153; UTenn 384 passing CU 246. The Florida State game had some interesting stats: FSU rushing 17-11, CU 49-153; passing FSU 358, CU 272; FSU TOff 369, CU 425; FSU 3 turnovers, CU 1. The other games after the WF debacle were Duke and of course 63-17. Perhaps TB and RS will figure out a way to get JD and CJ a compete game and we will rally this year. It takes rushing to make it happen, correct? Let's check the other interesting stats for 2003. I think stretching the field is also important to the running game. In 2003 passing: CW yds/completion 12.4, yds/game 273.9; Youngblood 12.8 yds per catch/69.0 yds per game, Hamilton 12.8/78.9, Currie 13.0/56.0, Bahan 11.0/18.5, Elliott 12.4/22.0. Compare those stretch the field numbers with the bubble screen results the RS offense has produced or better yet compare them to Butler, Tuttle, and Cooper under Pell and Ford!
I don't think you are wrong either. That and around $2M will get you TB and RS's wages for being wrong! I recommend you go back and check the Pell and Ford stats for Butler, Tuttle, and Cooper. That spans well over a decade of three yards and a cloud of dust football! One thing very interesting to me about Butler's yds/catch average is that it doubled from 1976 under Parker to 1977 under Pell. As you point out we have two deep threats and that doesn't even count Spiller! If Pell and Ford had been blessed with two Butlers, two Tuttles, or two Coopers along with the power running game they had, Clemson might have been known as the Flying Tigers back in the day! Imagine that.
Excellent column. Tommy has taken care of Tommy. Administrators at Clemson have taken care of Tommy. Do you see any parallels in the news today? Without being too political, it is time for the people to take Clemson back if our representatives refuse to insist on accountability.
I appreciate the defense taking the blame, but where was the O in the second half? After all the O is led by a "Mad Scientist" desired by the top teams in the country and a HC who is supposed to be an offensive mastermind highly sought after by UArk last year too! Just as in the 2007 games vs Furman, GT, VT, and BC the DC for Md figured out how to shut down our running game and knew RS couldn't/wouldn't adjust. Blame the D again and we will have the same problem the rest of 2008 that we have had since RS got here!
These are the same fans that wanted WK last year, during the 'Bama debacle and will want Parker or the next star QB just as soon as Korn has a bad game! Much of this is of TB's own making though. WK should have been getting more reps just as Harper/Reese before him. TB and RS want those super stats vs the cream puffs to shadow the stats vs serious competition though. TB should also realize that any criticism of CH in the media just adds fuel to the fire. IMO he knows all this. It makes a great diversion to the real problems with his team in his tenth year.
Blame it on the players again TB! I guess they are calling the plays by committee. This game looked just like the KU and Auburn games to me. The opponent didn't take JD and CJ out of the game. Our overrated coaches did! The question should be how JD and CJ are forgotten again when the team gets a few points down. Nothing has changed in this fourth year of RS offense. He can't handle a talented offense vs good defensive competition. His stats are built on cream puffs where he builds his resume instead of depth and experience. If TB has not figured out the problem after 'Bama he never will.
I can't understand the surprise at the one dimensional offense. We had only eight yards rushing vs VT last year and averaged 1.25 yds per carry vs Furman, GT, VT, and BC. TB once again has selective amnesia. Not a good problem for someone trying to solve a problem years in the making.
Posted on October 16 at 9:29 p.m.
On Clemson’s Harper confirms injury, but not surgery
Another good personnel move by Dabo!