Wednesday April 30, 2008

The Acceptable Season

The Acceptable Season
A few months ago, I wrote a blog about a conversation I had with my college roommate concerning the 2008 Clemson football season. The conversation is on the same subject as yesterday’s blog and this morning’s radio show. From what I am hearing from most callers and e-mailers so far, I see two scenarios where Clemson fans will accept as the minimum in 2008. Those two are:

Atlantic Division Title
Under this scenario, the Tigers would win the ACC’s Atlantic Division and advance to the ACC Championship Game. Under this scenario, Clemson fans would not care too much about overall wins and overall record as long as the Tigers advance to the title game in the league.

Winning the title would be nice but if Clemson makes it to the game then many would see it as a step forward. As long as the program is moving forward then most would feel this is another step in the right direction.

BCS Bid
Under this scenario, Clemson would advance to a BCS game despite not winning the Atlantic Division. This is similar to what Georgia did last season. If you remember, Georgia did not win the SEC East or the SEC Championship last season but the Dawgs were an at-large pick by the Sugar Bowl. Georgia dominated Hawaii in New Orleans.

I think most Clemson fans would think this is a positive step in the right direction and would be satisfied. The Tigers have not been in the BCS yet and this would continue the momentum of the program.

Let’s consider other outcomes:
ACC Title
Obviously most would be extremely happy with this result. This would mean the Tigers win the Atlantic Division and the ACC Championship game. This would also secure an automatic BCS Bowl bid. Anytime you can add a ring the fans will be happy plus Clemson has not won the ACC since 1991.

National Championship
Find me someone in Tiger Nation who does not dream of the second national title in school history. Clemson does not have the talent to win it in my opinion but the schedule may be a factor. Put Clemson in the long shot category.

No Title, No BCS
Clemson could have a very good season and win 10 games without winning the Atlantic Division or getting to the BCS. I am not sure how fans would react with Clemson went 10-2 but still not play in the ACC Championship Game or a BCS game.

It would be hard to be disappointed but would this mean the Tigers took a step forward? This would be the first time the Tigers have won 10 games since 1990 so would this milestone be enough?

A 9-3 season with no ACC Championship Game or BCS game would not be a step forward and I think most would not see it as a positive step.

The Process
Maybe this kind of talk is part of the problem though. Maybe we all put too much pressure and always have expectations that are too high. Maybe we all contribute to the problem.

Sports psychologists tell their clients to concentrate on the process and not the results. A place-kicker’s focus should be to try to take the right steps and hit the ball in the proper way instead of trying to make the field goal. If he concentrates on the process then chances are he will make the field goal.

In my opinion, one of the mistakes made in the Clemson program in recent years is the focus on the result. The players, coaches and fans have been searching for the ACC title for so long that the program has become too focused on this outcome. I think the players and coaches have to hear about it so much that it has become stressful. How many times have we seen this team let down when they seem to be out of ACC title contention?

I think if Tiger Nation just focused more on the process then the outcome will take care of itself. Coaches and players say the right things but they put too much pressure on themselves. What the program needs is to free itself up by just relaxing and focusing on the process. Clemson cannot win the ACC title in September or October but they can enjoy the climb to the top.

There is a song by Kevn Kinney, former lead singer of Drivin n’ Cryin, about taking time to climb the mountain but when you get there you might be disappointed in the view. The fun is in the climb. The challenge is in the season. So we should all just enjoy each week and each game and not get caught up in the title pressure. Clemson plays its best football when it plays loose.

We can focus on a season that starts and ends with SEC teams. We can enjoy the once in a generation game with Alabama. I don’t remember the 1975 game in Tuscaloosa but there was a time there where I thought I would never see Clemson and Alabama play in football.

We can enjoy James Davis as he attempts to become the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. We can enjoy Cullen Harper as he attempts to become the all-time leader in passing touchdowns. We will see Aaron Kelly become the career receptions leader early in the season.

I know the psychology may not be the most important aspect of the season but there is no sense in players, coaches and fans adding any pressure. This team is team will be very fun to follow so let’s enjoy it because they will be plenty of time at the end of the year to evaluate where we are.

Who am I kidding? 11-1!

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