Moving Forward
First, let’s take a quick step back (I know the tile and the first statement don’t jive, deal with it) and look at a few points from this past weekend. First of all, I would like to say that, as of Monday afternoon, all should be right in the universe again because the Tiger Football Team should be ranked ahead of the Basketball Team. This major crisis was real and I could see The Nothing from The Never Ending Story devouring South Carolina as a whole due to this paradox. All should be well in Clemson land.
There is one point of info which I am sure we have all viewed slack-jawed over from this past weekend’s game, Tiger and Gamecock alike. The major reason why Clemson came away with a win in Columbia is time of possession. The Tigers kept the ball out of Spurrier’s hands for nearly 3 entire quarters (CU38:37 USC21:23). I truly believe this was the game winner for the Tigers. An extra few minutes of ball possession on the Gamecock side and the outcome would have, very possibly, been different. This is the one glaring statistic on paper for this game which made the difference. Most of the numbers on both side of the ball are VERY similar.
On a side note, a hot topic, what to do with Bowden? Well, difficult to fire the man after a 9-3 regular season, even if we get thumped in a bowl by an SEC team. Pickings will be slim to none for a decent coach in the off season, we have a fantastic class of recruits headed to Tigertown this year, and nearly every kid is graduating in four years on the team. Everyone, it’s time to put the pitchforks and torches away for awhile. Bowden’s current contract is through 2010. It’s time to show the nation we are serious about our program. I for one am about sick of the media gabbing on about how we are going to fire Bowden and how he is on the “hot seat”. This is devastating to a program and how it is portrayed from the outside in. I feel it to be a good move to offer a two year extension with a nominal pay raise (contract to 2012) with a rider of a possible additional three year extension(contract to 20015) and pay raise at the end of a potential “great” season in 2008. Keeping the program moving in a positive direction and giving a contractual goal for Bowden is good business and is critical from every standpoint. Recruits want to know who they will be playing for all four years, negative media needs to be silenced, and the administration needs to make sure Tommy doesn’t leave Clemson in the middle of the night because we won’t put up for some job security on his part. Extend the contract, keep a decent/good coach and keep moving in a positive direction. Things could be much worse. Clemson could be 6-6, not going to a bowl game, and have just lost our 9th game in 11 years to our rival and our coach could be in the mist of the longest losing streak of his career.
The stats between the two teams aren’t all that similar. Net passing yards are kinda close, otherwise things don’t stack up. Besides, time of possession didn’t make the difference in the game. No. USCe’s offense simply did not perform very well which lead to 3 punts, 2 blocked punts, and 3 turnovers. Those 8 failures led to the TOP differential and their loss.
As for Bowden, I agree that replacing him with someone better won’t be easy. I’m undecided on how I feel about extending his contract. However, I do feel as though extending it absolutely will not take him off the hot seat nor silence the media, nor silence disgruntled fans. Regardless of contract extensions (Nebraska comes to mind), coaches can be fired for poor performance.
Two year extension is fine. But no more.
And an ACCCG should be the goal next year. We’re due. Hell, if Wake can get one, we should get one.
As was very blantantly stated in Tom Osborne’s speach regardnig Nebraska, they would not be extending any contract and the fact that perception of the program and questions of uncertainty were bad business for alumni/fan realtions and recruiting. Coupled with the fact some occurences took place during Callahams tenure that had not occured for 30 years (losing seasons, missing bowls) he needed to make a decisions and the firing was the answer. We would be fools to think we have that kind pressure and traditions but we aren’t terribly far off the same mark. I’ve seen nothing out of Bowden that suggests he his taking the program in that direction and if anything he is working forward, just not at the pace most fans/alums wanted to see.
After having said that I thought Bowden must go when Clemson was in the midst of the 2 game skid, I must admit I was wrong, given what is happening with other teams in the College and Pro worlds.
I still do think Bowden can get us only so far unless he institutes a few changes (like a Special Teams coach who doesn’t have any other duties). Other than that, he’s created a set up with a good mix of young and old coaches and is recruiting at a pretty good level as well.
There is no reason to let him go unless a coach comes up who is a blatantly better fit with the Uni and personnel, and there is no one who comes to (my) mind right now.
The only problem is the mental make up of the team given expectations are going to be ridiculously high going into next season. We have the men who can go out there and get it done, now we need them to believe so.
I’d like the theme for next season to be along the lines of ‘No Fear’.
Wow, just heard Chan Gailey got fired too!
“No fear”, I like it. I do think we “finished the job”, just not to the ACCCG. The potential for this team to go on a 2007 0-3 skid was very real. Even though i do not agree with the last quarter of offensive play calling, the team managed to charge down the field and and take a W away from the Gamecocks. I was thinking about it last night and got a bit pumped up. Clemson was potential only 13pts from playing the the national championship this year. This was a 10pt L to GT and one dropped catch by Kelly. How could we possibly let our coaching staff go when you can say this?
“Clemson was potential only 13pts from playing the the national championship this year. ”
c’mon. that’s classic “Bowden-speak”
you can do better than that. Clemson hasn’t realized it’s potential. Never will under Bowden. NEVER.
That said, however, I think a 2 year contract extension is still in order, if only to keep recruits from stepping over to another program
If we would have beaten GT and Kelly would have caught the pass, where would we be? Short of saying “it dosen’t matter”, it’s still worth the thought.
My thoughts exactly on the recruits.
Considering that the past two years the Tigers were out of the ACCCG by 1 point according to Tommy, does that mean we were even worse! And now to sound like a shamecock fan……Wait ’til next year BITCHES!!! Ooooh Lawdy, the returning Junior class with the chip on their shoulder and no Matty Ice to hold them back…..
Bowden has had ample time in which to bring some sort of championship to clemson and has failed to do so.It is had to accept his excuses for failure year in and year out with the recruits that are entering his program.He is a great recruiter but a poor motivater and should not receive an extension or more compensation.