Wednesday September 10, 2008

This Week in Clemson Football

By Steve Guerry

A Clemson fan couldn’t have asked for a better way to blow off some steam this weekend than an easy Tiger victory on a gorgeous Saturday. The 3:30 kickoff was perfect timing as it gave old friends to partake in some tailgating and dissect every aspect of Clemson football, past and present. Today, I’m going to discuss a few hot topics of conversation overheard beneath many a tailgate tent.

Two point Stance:
Listen, I know it looks unconventional, and that is not how your Pee-Wee coached blocking, and let’s face it, that’s about the level most fans ever reached, but there is a method behind the madness. I’ll admit, I’ll be the first one to get upset at the coaches after an embarrassment at Alabama, but overall, these coaches are pretty good.

Could Brad Scott, Tommy Bowden, and Rob Spence have made it to where they are today by teaching bad technique? These guys are professionals and know football like the back of their hand. I’m not defending every play call or defending the embarrassments like we recently experienced, but I do know that these guys are professionals and schools like Alabama, Arkansas, and others would not come calling for them every year if they were incompetent and teaching bad technique.

Fire Tommy Bowden:
Seems like the easy solution… this week. Bowden has not taken us to the levels I believe this program is capable of, but he has been decent. IF Clemson were to get rid of him, ask yourself: Who do they get? Bill Cowher? Jim Grobe? Bobby Bentley? Mark Richt? These are all names that I heard thrown around, but none of them are very realistic.

Some people say Skip Holtz, but Clemson already has Skip Holtz. His “diddy” got him into coaching, he runs the spread offense, and he has built a team into a Conference USA power. Sound like anyone you know? The bottom line a university has to go into their job search knowing they can make an upgrade and land a better coach. I am not sure they can do that this year. Clemson could go for Mike Ditka or Danny Ford, but hiring past their prime coaches has not turned out too well for the Tigers in-state rivals.

Parking, Seating, and IPTAY:
Like the wise philosopher Snoop Dogg once said, ‘change is coming nephew you better believe that’. All IPTAY members have to do is look down the road at South Carolina and other SEC schools to see that there is going to be some sort of new system based on points and annual giving. If your tailgate party is huddled around the shade trees on Perimeter Road or watching the kids slide down hills on cardboard boxes and then walking to the 50 yard line, but they haven’t been giving to IPTAY accordingly; you may want to get familiar with the Rugby field and bring some binoculars.