Wednesday October 07, 2009

It's Purnell's Fault

It’s Purnell’s Fault
Dang that Oliver Purnell! All of this is his fault. He is the one that has turned us into a basketball school.

Clemson Nation is hurting. I woke up again this morning hoping the empty feeling from the loss to Maryland would go away but my gut still hurts. I can’t shake it. I want to take a few days and fly to New York for a couple of playoff games to get my mind off of the Maryland loss but can’t afford it so I sit here in misery.

My misery is shared by many and my e-mails are flooded with accusers and apologists. When you lose to a bad Maryland team and are 2-3 there is enough blame to go around. The accusers have blamed anyone in sight for the current and past failures. Among those that have been blamed are: Bill Atchley, Bobby Robinson, Max Lennon, the board of trustees, Danny Ford, Ken Hatfield, Tommy West, Tommy Bowden, Jim Barker, Terry Don Phillips, Katie Hill, Dabo Swinney, Billy Napier, Brad Scott, Jeff Scott, Corey Lambert and me.

Atchley was the school president in 1985 when powerful athletic director Bill McClellan and Atchley had a power struggle. In the end both were reassigned and McClellan’s powerful run ended. Some think this was the beginning of the end of Clemson’s athletics. McClellan was a power broker and Clemson athletics were strong under his leadership.

Bobby Robinson was blamed by one e-mailer because he did not put his foot down and get control of Danny Ford when Ford “got too big for his britches.” Ford’s insubordination led to his dismissal which has led to 17 years of mediocrity.

Max Lennon took some blame from a few e-mailers because he was the one who pulled the plug on Ford. I remember a Ford supporter telling me it would take 10 years for Clemson football to rebound from the firing. He was wrong. It has been almost 20 and things still are not the same.

Ford himself has been blamed. One e-mail claimed Ford’s power play was selfish and it cost him his job and robbed Clemson fans of further dominance in football.

Bitter Clemson fans still blame Ken Hatfield for the downfall of the football program. He faced a difficult task but his recruiting efforts were lacking and his staff was weak. The program saw a significant slide under his watch.

Tommy West was not named but guilt by association includes him in the blog. He took over a terrible situation and did make it better but not good enough to keep his job.

Several phone callers and e-mailers still hold Tommy Bowden responsible. Some point out his nine plus years without a title. Bowden was guilty of not being able to win the one game to get his program over the hump and few people still hold him accountable.

One of the most popular targets of blame seems to be Jim Barker. The current Clemson president has his detractors that claim his personal goal of breaking into the U.S. News and World Report’s Top 20 has been a reason the school has not had more athletic success. Some claim resources and emphasis on his goals take away resources for athletics. They also claim athletics are not a priority in his administration.

Terry Don Phillips is among the most popular on the hot list. Phone callers and e-mailers claim under Phillips’ watch the athletic department has dipped to new lows. They point out facts about the lack of championships and the lack of support for the coaches within the department.

Katie Hill is Phillips’ right hand assistant. She is the slicer who cuts budgets and breaks hearts. A couple of e-mailers have pointed out her brash style and harsh tactics. The bottom line has become more important than championships under Hill’s watch according to an e-mail or two.

Dabo Swinney has received some blame this week. The once ultra-popular coach has received criticism this week. Dabo is the head coach and the 2-3 start does go on his record.

I have read that Billy Napier and his inexperience is a factor in Clemson’s offensive issues. I had at least one person tell me he is not experienced enough to lead an offense at this level against this type of competition.

The same type of call or e-mail came on the subject of Jeff Scott. The first-year wide receiver coach’s inexperience has been called out as a reason for so many drops by the Clemson wide outs.

Brad Scott has come under fire because of his evaluations and his offensive line productivity. Some think this is perhaps the biggest reason to the 2-3 and a big reason for the lack of titles in recent years.

I have gotten a few Corey Lambert comments. He did take it on the chin against Georgia Tech but I hate it when we blame players.

Even I have not escaped blame. According to a couple of people, it was my mega-influence on the powers at Clemson that got Dabo the job. Never has a radio host and a blogger been given such power.

Clemson football has not won a title since 1991 and a 2-3 start is unacceptable. When things are this bad, there is enough blame to around.

Since we are slinging around blame, I think Coach Purnell needs to be atop the list. How dare that man try to turn us into a basketball school. The audacity of the man.

BTW-only 37 days until the Tigers open the basketball season. Let the countdown begin.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Ann Fallaw, Bob Pollock, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Mike Kingsmore.