TigerNet -- Blogs -- Mickey Plyler's Blog

Friday E-Mail Bag
Each Friday I publish your comments and answer your questions. To submit a comment or questions please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com.

Mickey,
I truly enjoyed my first Clemson game. I went up there and spent the weekend with my brother. The campus was beautiful and the game was great. I went down on the field as an active duty military member. I thought it was very classy. It was pretty emotional. Every time I am at some recognition it puts things in perspective. My oldest brother has been to Iraq twice and my youngest brother is there now. We all enjoy what we do and are humbled when recognized for it. Today is one of those days when everything is put in perspective. Seven years ago I was where I am now but as a student. Now I am instructing our younger Sailors before they go the fleet. I am thankful for this opportunity.

Jonathan,
I am so glad you had a chance to get to Clemson last weekend. I remember your first e-mail last year and I am so glad everything worked out well for your visit. Jon Seketa and his crew work extremely hard to make Military Appreciation Day a big deal and it was another success. Thanks to you and your family for your service.

The defense did not send alot of extra pressure last week but I was also concerned by the secondary. The good news is they will have three more weeks of practice because NCSU, SC State and Maryland will not provide much of a challenge. Wake Forest will be a challenge though. No, Clemson is not mediocre but the Tigers have issues that have been exposed. It is too early to talk about the top of the ACC. This team needs to make a statement starting tomorrow against NC State.

Kirk,
Thanks for the kind words. I too was disturbed by the pass defense. The Tigers could not pressure the passer and they gave up big plays as a result. There was some miscommunication in the secondary as well. Defensive issues will need to be addressed but the next three opponents will have a hard to exploiting those issues.

I feel as though Cullen Harper's stats have created a facade that hides his short comings in terms of talent & potential; very similar to what we saw with Proctor. Am I out of line to want to see Korn move ahead of Harper?
Duane

Duane,
Harper is the starter. He is the better of the two quarterbacks right now. He is the senior and he is a captain on this team. He was not healthy last week. His shoulder was hurt and that was obvious. He was not sharp. He under threw receivers and threw behind receivers. Korn is a talent and will break a bunch of records when he gets his chance but it won’t be anytime this season unless Harper is hurt or really struggles.

Kirk,
Most former offensive linemen and most coaches I talk to agree that a three-point stance is the way to go. I think we have beaten this dead horse enough. I just wish they would go three-point stance in short yardage situations.

Mickey,
The article in Sports Illustrated about the Clemson-Alabama game confirmed a nagging suspicion I have had for a while. It seems that teams are studying our offense on tape and know exactly what we are going to do in certain formations, etc. Here is a quote from the article:

Jeffrey,
The problem with the Alabama game was personnel and the fact that Clemson was forced to become one-dimensional. Every team has tendencies but I don’t agree. That stuff is easy to say after the game but I bet there is not a fan in the stands who can predict every play. Try it this week and e-mail me. I bet it is a lot lower than you think if you do it every play. Alabama exposed Clemson lack of toughness but not Xs and Os.

Mickey,
Has Clemson lost more games as a favorite than any other team in the last few years? I think we were favored in every game last year and will probably be this year. The coaches are not getting the team ready to play at a high level.

Bill,
I think that is right. Part of the problem is that Clemson is favored every week and anytime they lose it goes down as an upset. The last two years they have only been underdogs twice and won both of those games so did the coaches get them ready to play in those contests?

Mick,
How do you think recruiting will be effected by the huge deal ESPN has signed with the SEC? –
Jason

Jason,
I think it will have a big impact. More money means nicer facilities and that should equal better recruiting.

Mickey,
"Lets re-evaluate Bowden at the end of every season and not after one game."

Bob,
I am not sure what big games Clemson plays in if you eliminate FSU, USC and the GT game from two years ago. I know they lost to BC last year in a huge game but what are the other big games? Look, I want to win more games. Bowden has not won enough games and needs to do better. No one wants to win more than I do. Sometimes I just wish they would fire him so all of the haters would get their way and they would not have anyone to bitch about. However, the first time the new coach loses they would jump him too.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Comments:

"but what are the other big games?"

Kentucky, Auburn, Alabama..........

And as far as the ACC goes, Maryland, NC State, and Boston College when the chance of a ACC Champ game birth was in reach.

Posted by John_Boy on September 12, 2008 at 01:30 PM EDT #

"Sometimes I just wish they would fire him so all of the haters would get their way and they would not have anyone to bitch about. However, the first time the new coach loses they would jump him too."

You're right. Some people just like to complain. They'll complain no matter what. It's just their nature and it's easy to do.

Posted by WakeBdr on September 12, 2008 at 02:14 PM EDT #

"but what are the other big games?"

Wow - really?

I would include all of the bowl games, the UGA games, the VT games, the BC games, and I was also thinking of Thursday night games on ESPN. Basically, it seems like whenever we have a chance to show the nation something - we usually lose.

I should give him credit for beating Miami and Tenn. in the Peach Bowl, but would also add losing to Miami in OT the next year as a big game.

Posted by bobwilson4 on September 12, 2008 at 02:22 PM EDT #

Honestly. Where do these things come from. Most folks I know only "hate" seeing Clemson stuck in mediocrity. Most I know didn't really start losing faith in the leadership till the season after the Tn win in ATL... certainly not the FIRST THING. Sad to make broad brush comments like that.

Posted by Tomcatgre on September 12, 2008 at 02:48 PM EDT #

Mickey, as others have written here, you have lost all credibility. Stop making excuses for this hack of a coach. lol, yea, sure, there will always be some people that will complain, but this TB situation is way way beyond that. for the past 5 years, the number of TB supporters has gone down, while the number of anti-TB fans has gone up. I have not met a single fan, alum, or IPTAY member in two years that supports TB. the only place i see folks still supporting TB is on TNET. even some of the most ardent TB fans on TNET are now calling for him to be fired. so to say "there will always be those that will complain" applies to the current situation is a desperate grasp at straws to defend what is getting more and more indefensible. TB is a joke in the media and it gets worse with every loss. Recruits are not stupid. Clemson is becoming a joke, and as a proud alum i'm sick of it.

Posted by flatiger66 on September 12, 2008 at 03:02 PM EDT #

oh, BTW, this is the 4th consecutive season we've been saying "let's wait till after the season" before we pass judgment. If that doesn't say it all, i don't know what will.

Good coaches produce consistent teams. The only thing consistent in almost 10 years under TB is the inconsistency.

Posted by flatiger66 on September 12, 2008 at 03:08 PM EDT #

You say Korn will not get a chance to play unless Harper is hurt or really struggles. Well last week Harper was obviously hurt, his passes looked bad, so why didnt Tommy give Korn a chance to play more? Is Harper still hurt now? Why does Tommy insist on sticking with the veteran even when he is hurt/underperforming, such as Whitehurst at GT a few years back, or Will Proctor for the entire 2006 season or Harper last week?.

Its simple, we need to win games not just be loyal to a Sr. If Korn is 100% healthy and Harper is not, then Korn should play. If both are 100% then Harper should play.

Posted by drock4484 on September 12, 2008 at 03:33 PM EDT #

Big games are played against good teams usually. I think Georgia was just better than Clemson. I think VT and BC were pretty good also. I remember it was not too long ago that Maryland, NC State and Virginia were beating Clemson by large margins. Just fire him so I don't have to hear the bitchin until the new coach losses his first one.

Posted by Mickey Plyler on September 12, 2008 at 03:58 PM EDT #

Mickey, you sound pitiful. "Just fire him so I...". Don't tell me you have FINALLY run out of excuses. If you don't want to admit that you were wrong, fine. Just don't try to blame the haters. That was a Billy Clint move.

Posted by CM Shack on September 12, 2008 at 04:26 PM EDT #

I love the excuse that we shouldn't fire TB because poor little Clemson just can't do any better. Folks, the joke is on us. Barker & some on the BOT simply don't WANT to do better!

And TB saying it's ok to lose because "other teams lost, too", well, I tried that excuse myself. I think I was 8. My dad beat my arse! My mom said "if everyone jumped off a bridge, would you?". So why are we letting our fine Christian coach pass the buck and make excuses that no good parent would let a child get away with!!!

Mickey is clearly a sell out, how about Dan Scott? Mickey isn't really a journalist, but Scott is, or is suppose to be. Has he been objective or is he kissing TB arse too??

Posted by flatiger66 on September 12, 2008 at 05:27 PM EDT #

I agree with drock4484 on Harper/Korn -
lets not have another Proctor-type
type season. What if Harper had taken himself out when hurt against Alabama, or if the coaches had taken him out and replaced him with Korn. Possibly, Korn could have gotten the ball long to Kelly and Ford, and Tigers could have come back.
I hope the coaches will not let Harper's ego get in the way. It would be better for him to rest his shoulder and allow Korn to have his chance, at least until the Wake Forest Game. If Korn is hot, let Harper do the mop-up role and save himself for the pros. If his shoulder is ok, the pros will draft him anyway, because of the success of Ryan in Atlanta and their similarities.
I hope Harper is not injured, but all I know is, that I have not seen a good long pass out of him in last three games.
The defenses can stack the line, when that happens.
Give Korn a chance. His long passes looked good against the Citadel.

Posted by captron on September 12, 2008 at 08:34 PM EDT #

Mickey: I love your blog and read it daily. Usually you lend a calm, mature analysis. So was surprised that you would label people "haters", simply because they want Clemson to replace Bowden with a better coach. I know a LOT of people who want Clemson to hire a better coach, but not one of them "hates" Bowden or his staff. Reasonable people should be able to disagree without being disagreeable.

Posted by Razzmatazz on September 13, 2008 at 01:02 AM EDT #

Harper may be the better QB behind a solid O-line. But I wonder if Korn wouldn't be better behind a marginal O-line, due to his mobility. I don't know. One experiment is better than a thousand expert opinions.

Posted by Razzmatazz on September 13, 2008 at 01:09 AM EDT #

I used to think Mickey had a passion to see Clemson get back to the glory years, but he is too personally connected to this coaching staff to criticize them publically. I don't count on getting anything other than more excuses defending this staff for their inadequacies and repeated failures.

Posted by Bowden's 12th+man on September 13, 2008 at 09:57 AM EDT #

Do any of you "get rid of Bowden People" realize who we have playing on our off. and def. lines? Surely you realize the struggle that will always happen when you have to start the youth that we are playing with now. You don't play freshman on the line and do very well. Coming into this year, we all knew that the offensive line could be an issue...and that was before losing some to injuries. Many of you just ignored the facts..in spite of being told this by Bowden repeatedly. How about just supporting our team and Bowden 100% until he decides to leave or we fire him?

Posted by tiger r on September 16, 2008 at 05:52 PM EDT #

wlmauwvtbouucsbhvzthabtmdgpwid

Posted by 124.42.99.34 on September 16, 2008 at 06:20 PM EDT #

wlmauwvtbouucsbhvzthabtmdgpwid

Posted by 124.42.99.34 on September 16, 2008 at 06:20 PM EDT #