Monday November 24, 2008

Beautiful Win; Dabo's Report Card

A Beautiful Win!
I might be the only man in America that thought Saturday was beautiful.

Before you go calling me a homer and an apologist, let me explain.

First, it is always beautiful to beat Al Groh. Dabo might not have coached in the NFL but his checker background beat Groh and his chess.

I found out something else about Clemson on Saturday. In the process I also found out about this current coaching staff. I found out that the Tigers could win a close, low-scoring, field position battle. Clemson proved Saturday that they can win a game in which it did not look sharp or impressive on the offensive side of the ball.

I was beginning to think that the Tigers had forgotten how to win ugly. Consider the fact that Tommy Bowden won 72 games in nine and a half years at Clemson but only five of those wins came in games when the Tigers scored less than 20 points.

In 1999 Clemson beat Wake Forest 12-3 in Winston-Salem. In 2000 Clemson beat South Carolina 16-14 at home. In 2004 Clemson beat Maryland 10-7 at home. In 2005 Clemson beat South Carolina 13-9 the beat Colorado in the bowl game 19-10.

I have a lot of respect for coaches who can find a way to win a game when all things are not working. Anyone can win when things are clicking on all cylinders but managing a game where field position is a factor shows me a lot. Patience and strategy become a priority in games like we saw Saturday.

Steve Spurrier is considered an offensive genius but when he wins games like Saturday I hear how impressive it is. I hear some say that it shows his true genius when he can win in another way. In his first three years at South Carolina Spurrier won four games in which the Gamecocks scored less than 20 points. Clemson has now won only six of those type games in ten years.

It was told to me once that good teams can win in different ways. Bad teams can still win but they usually win in only one way. In other words, you can be a bad team but if you have a good quarterback it seems like all of your wins have to come when he throws for 300 yards. Good teams can win 13-10 games but then turn around the next week and win 38-35. Good teams can have a bug rushing game one week and a bug passing game the next. Good teams can beat you in warm weather or cold weather and at home or one the road.

I would have loved to see Clemson beat Virginia by three touchdowns. However, it was refreshing to see the Tigers win a game like this one.

Dabo’s Report Card
I don’t know if Clemson will hire Dabo or not. I have heard all arguments on both sides of the issue. I understand those that want for the school to keep him and I understand those that want someone more experienced.

Most Bowden detractors hit the former head coach in one of three areas. They would say:
1. He did not win a championship.
2. He did not endear himself to the Clemson people.
3. His teams were not physical and lacked toughness.
Personally I hit on the toughness part and in the end hit on the championships item.

Even his biggest opponents would have to admit that Dabo has done a bunch in the field of endearing himself to the fan base. Dabo is personable and does it with little ego. He is honest and genuine. He is just a likeable person with good people skills. Dabo wants to be around Joe Clemson.

Also, with the exception of the Florida State game, Clemson has been the tougher team in every other game Dabo has been at the helm. I think that says a lot considering that the Tigers were more physical than Boston College and Virginia on the road. The defense has been more of an attacking unit and the Tigers have hit harder in every game outside of the FSU contest.

Now obviously Dabo has not won a championship but it is certainly not fair to criticize that just yet. Therefore, I do not see how he is not a change from the previous situation. If he has changed two of the three biggest complaints against the previous staff then he has differentiated himself.

I know it sounds like I would hire Dabo but that is not the case. I have said many times that I am “ALL IN” with Dabo. I will fully support him as the head coach through this week. I also trust that Terry Don Phillips has and will continue to interview all interested and qualified candidates including Dabo. At the end of the interview process I trust Terry Don will hire the best candidate and we should all support whatever Terry Don decides.

I cannot sit here and tell you who the best candidate is because it is such a calculated gamble. Butch Davis looked like he was in complete control in Chapel Hill until the last two weeks where he got beat by a bad Maryland team and got destroyed by a bad NC State squad.

The point of this topic is to point out that Dabo has done a lot to right what was wrong with Clemson football. This team is closer than it was before. This team is more physical than what it was before. This team does play hard and does not give up.

Is Dabo assured of the job if he wins Saturday? Can he get the job even if he loses this weekend? What would Dabo’s staff look like? What other candidates impressed Terry Don?

I don’t have the answers to those questions. But the picture will continue to get clearer in the next week to ten days.

I am just glad Clemson beat Virginia at checkers, chess, football or whatever the game was that we played Saturday.

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