Pouring the Foundation

Since this whole Muschamp to Clemson hullabaloo is pure speculation at this point, I thought it would be a good idea to set the foundation for how we got here.

In the 3 weeks leading up to the Maryland games, the Clemson football team had just about recovered from the bed-shitting session that occurred in the GA Dome against ‘Bama.  We got comfortable wins against the Citadel and NC State and a 54-0 beatdown of South Carolina State.  There had been hiccups.  The OL struggled, the defense gave up a lot of yards and 2008 Cullen Harper was not 2007 Cullen Harper (causing a portion of the Clemson faithful to call for Willy Korn play a more significant role in the offense, if not be named the starter).  Nonetheless, we made it to the “teeth” of the OMINOUS ACC schedule with only one non-conference loss: the mighty Maryland Terrapins and their fairly weak defense and nothing-to-write-home-about-offense were coming to town.  This is Tommy’s year.  This is when 10 years of prep will come together in an ACC run that Clemson fans have not seen since the early 1990s.  Right?  We know what happens next.

1^st Half: 17-6 halftime lead.  204 first half rushing yards.  Gameplan working perfectly.

2^nd Half:  Maryland switches to a 4-3 (that’s right, a halftime adjustment) and Clemson abandons the run (10 second half carries combined for Davis and Spiller, both on Doak Walker watch list).  Maryland puts up 14 second half points and Clemson puts up 0.  Final:  20-17 Maryland.  Tommy Bowden has his annual meltdown game.  Only this year it’s about 5 or 6 weeks earlier than normal.

I’ll admit, I’d been pretty easy on him in years past.  This time, I’ve finally had enough.  I want Tommy Bowden gone.  Immediately…after the conclusion of the regular season.  And  I want Will Muschamp in.

Here’s what some of the rest of the world has to say: 

Larry Williams – Charleston Post and Courier

“As costly as Saturday's defeat might've been to Clemson's hopes of finally winning the Atlantic Division and advancing to the ACC title game, the far bigger casualty might've been his loss of a large part of his fan base.”

Can’t say I disagree here.  It’s never a good state of affairs when the vast majority is ready for a change.  I will approach every game here on out, regardless of how we perform against Wake and GT, with guarded optimism.

Mickey Plyler – Daily Tigernet Blog

“However, this is a different time and this is a different place. My opinion might not be worth anything and I am not trying to convince you to change your mind no matter what you think on this subject. But I have concluded that now is the time to make a change.

I am tired of a divided Clemson nation. I am ready to be reunited. I just can’t see how he can escape this one. It is about to get really bad around here. I think it will be Hatfield bad. The feeling I get is that people are ticked and are not going to take it anymore.”

Again, reference to losing a good portion of the fanbase.  I wasn’t around for the Hatfield era, but from what I’ve heard.  It wasn’t pretty.

Tommy Bowden – Post-Game Press Conference

Q. You're satisfied with the jobs your assistant coaches are doing? 

A. "Yes, but disappointed in the results, because of what we just talked about. If we don't fumble the punt and give them that field goal, and then we threw the screen under center and it was picked off by a blitzing safety which hadn't happened in four years of this offense… those were six points. Right now I'm more concerned with correcting those things. Maryland is a good team. If we don't have those penalties, then we don't fumble that punt, then I'm not answering these questions." 

Atta boy.  Throw your players under the bus that have saved your ass more times than we can count.  The fact is, the 6 points that they gave up SHOULD NOT HAVE MADE THE DIFFERENCE AGAINST MARYLAND.  The right gameplan would have kept Maryland’s offense off the field and would have let James and CJ run wild…just like they did in the first half.  Take some damn responsibility.

 

As a result, a small band of alumni (and maybe a residual undergrad or two) have come together to start the public coaching search a couple months early.  First, if we go 10-2, I still want a change to be made.  Second, we’re not going 10-2.

The quivering lip - coming to a press conference near you, December 2008.