Time to Move On
So the dust has settled. For all of us level headed Clemson fans, the disappointment did not come at the hand of an “L” but because we all saw a glimmer of hope, the possibility of a win, the light at the end of the tunnel. It was not to be. On the way home from the game, tired and delirious, I thought to myself what would the perfect comparison be to this season, well the past few seasons now that I really think about it. I came up with a good one that I think only my generation within a tight window will understand…Oregon Trail. Oh yes, back in the Simpsonville Elementary computer lab, nothing more than a dark storage room with green screen IBM’s, I learned of the horrors that was the Oregon Trail. The game would start very innocently, purchasing a wagon, oxen, corn meal, a firearm and ammunition. After loading up your family, goods all your other personal belongs you were headed West. Now, for those of you which actually played this game, how should I put it, it was damn near impossible to make it past the Mississippi. Hopes were high as you traveled on. Somewhere around Arkansas, well short of your goal, is where things started always getting miserable. All your food would run out, your family was begging for you to shoot a buffalo to feed them but there would never be anything more than a field rat, no water for days, your kids and wife would get yellow fever and die, then as if God himself was laughing at you your wagon wheels would fall off, they would fall the f#@* off while trying to run from some Indians. I kind of feel like this, this is our season. This is our football team. The highest of preseason hopes from a truly faithful following, we do our best to support our team and the team shows they have worked hard. Yet we always throw a wagon wheel, in the middle of nowhere. I do not intend to cast down more doom and gloom on the situation which has been dealt. I will always support our Tigers, to the last game of every season, until the final tick of the clock. I am simply saying something must change…
I will put it bluntly. I have been a stout Tommy Bowden supporter from day one. His first year a coach was my freshman year. My wife and I have a picture with him posted on a popular website. He is a great person, a great family man, a Christian and I will always have the utmost respect for him. It truly pains me to officially go public with this opinion but I think it may be time for Tommy Bowden and Clemson to part ways. Not one time in the last nine years have I EVER doubted his abilities as a coach, I still do not. Clemson has a lot to owe Tommy. He has brought us increased and much improved recruiting, better athletic facilities and the West Endzone. Amidst his constant calling for these improved facilities and systems, I believe it has caused him to become exposed. Clemson now has top tier facilities and backing, which Tommy has brought to us. The sad part of this equation is Tommy just is not his dad and is not a top tier coach. It is my belief what is now holding this program back from becoming great is the coaching staff. Do we let Tommy go right away, even if we lose big to USC (which I fear is on the horizon) absolutely not. We, wait. Clemson should wait for a coach which is qualified and up to the task of taking us to the next step. The facilities, team, recruits and alumni are in place and are ready. Clemson should wait for the best fit, at the end of this year or next time will tell. I feel it shows now that Tommy is not the best fit for the job he has presented himself with. Clemson has outgrown his abilities.
While on the subject, let me introduce you to this guy…
So you’ve always been confident that he’s a 2nd tier coach?
When would any of us had the ability to determine Bowden is a TRUE second tier coach until he has become officialy surrounded by first rate facilities. Everything he has wanted, everything that was holding him back (as he claimed when he arrrived) has been put in place. No one could have determined his true coaching ability until the University improved on its aging program. Now…all of these “other” problems are on him.
You say, “Not one time in the last nine years have I EVER doubted his abilities as a coach, I still do not.” Later you say Tommy “is not a top tier coach.”
Which makes me confused.
The wikipedia entry says that Jim Leavitt was heavily courted by a bunch of teams but has chosen to stay at USF. How about this one? Or him?
TDP hired Les Miles at OK State, so if Clemson and Tommy do part ways, I hope a solid long term hire is made.
What, exactly, is a solid long term coach at Clemson. After the freshman 4 years to establish “their” team, Clemson fans will start screaming for national championship teams again.
My bad. I guess a coach being “solid long term” can only be decided in hindsight. Some people don’t have any hindsight while others are stuck in the past. It’s bad that we have so many stuck in the ’80s in Clemson…
I guess what I meant to say was if TB is let go, we need someone who doesn’t bring a drop off in play given the quality talent everyone says we have right now, but is also good enough to continue the good recruiting the current staff is apparently doing all along improving results and eventually getting rid of the jekyll-hyde persona.
So far the administration has managed to stave off heat, but from what I’ve been seeing here, things are close to reaching 2003 (prior to the FSU game) level.
How bout we go get one hard ass assistant that learns to light a fire under the teams ass. Maybe it’s a strength and conditioning guy that takes them behind the woodshed every Monday, following a game where they get pushed around and have their mouths smashed without really returning the favor. Or we could just show them the way LSU and Florida beat on each other and challenge them to “sack up” as the cliche goes. I also suggest that if we are going to get a running backs and/or special teams coach, they are a separate person as it is apparently too big a job for one assistant.
I’m really not sold on the need for a hard-ass coach in order to win.
See: Ole Miss with Ed Orgeron.
Assistant coach, not head coach…good cop, bad cop. Head coach doesn’t have to be a hard ass. As long as they players are more scared about pissing off the man that will make their lives a living hell in practice, conditioning, film review, etc. the head coach can worry more about game strategy, etc.
Maybe we could get Tommy West back!!!
First off, Joey Batson continues to get national recognition for his strength training with the team. As for assistant coaches, maybe one that doesn’t hold onto bubble screens like a baby blanket would be good.
There’s something that Plyer is really railing on that makes sense: the fact that lately the Tigers have been “soft” and haven’t laid anyone out. Bowden’s teams are made up of finesse players that seem to be unable to strike fear into anyone’s heart.
Sure, Batson is getting the team strong enough, but I’d rather have someone that can get mean, than someone that is strong. And I dont’ see any “mean-ness” out there on the field.
The toughness comes from the top. And Tommy is not one to get angry and rip some ass when necessary.
When Coach Rod was here, Tommy was the good cop, Rich was the bad cop. And the team was better for it. Now we’re stacked with alter boys on the staff that would rather save (capital S) than scare.
Ain’t none of the kids currently out there that can pound someone (see 2005 Matt Ryan hit by Dunham, i believe)
How about Paul Johnson? I think we always needed a coach that does more with less. Tommy may have been great at a bigger school. But, recently I think most of us believe Rich Rodriguez was the coach we thought we were getting. No, were not getting him either. Johnson would be attainable and affordable, in my opinion a good fit. Who knows? If he is family oriented Jim Leavitt might be convinced because Clemson is a nice place to live. But he would certainly be expensive.