TigerNet -- Blogs -- Mickey Plyler's Blog

Managers vs. Leaders
I want to thank the thousands of Clemson people that read yesterday’s blog and the hundreds that have responded with comments on the blog page or e-mails, phone calls and text messages.

I think it is appropriate to continue to clarify a few items from yesterday’s blog.

Everyone should form their own opinion and I am not telling those that still support Bowden they are wrong. However, it is hard to find anyone that is fully supportive at this point. I have always said that I will support the current Clemson head coach as long as he was the head coach and that is still the case. I want Bowden to win every game from here on out. As I said yesterday, it would be a great day in my life if I had to pick up the phone the Monday after the ACC title game and apologize to Tommy because I was wrong. But as I said yesterday, I have lost hope and think a change is needed.

On e-mailer asked me how did I go from an apologist to a doubter in one game? The answer is simple. My first radio show was November 2, 1998. It was the Monday after Tommy West lost to NC State. I knew that first day that West was gone and two weeks later he was fired. Bowden was named the head coach less than a month later.

In all, I have hosted about 2,500 radio shows. I started the blog two and a half years ago and have written about 600 blogs. Not once, publically or privately have I said Bowden needed to let go, until yesterday. The reason I never said it or wrote it before was because I never felt that way. I was just giving my opinion. My gut always told me that good times were still ahead. My gut always told me that firing Bowden was not the answer.

The reason I wrote yesterday’s blog was because my gut told me that it was time. I still wanted to talk to football people and make sure I was not crazy but they only reiterated what I felt. Yesterday was the first time I felt that way. I can’t fake it and thought anything other than the truth was not acceptable. The truth is I have come to a different conclusion on the future leadership of the football program. It is time for a change.

It is my opinion that times are about to get bad around here. As I said yesterday, I expect IPTAY donations to drop next season because seat equity did not satisfy a lot of people. Many donors went up because the high expectations of a top ten pre-season and the hope that they could improve their seats. Well, the Tigers are not going to finish in the top ten and many have figured out that they will not move their seats so many will drop back to their original level. I can see a major drop in IPTAY next year but it would be worse if Bowden is still around. I just get the sense that the masses want a change and my gut tells me they are right.

Tuition keeps going up and the economy has made a big down turn. Times look like they may get tough around this place. But this is where leadership needs to kick in.

The athletic department, the university administration, the board of trustees and the coaching staffs face adversity and leadership is needed.

There is a difference between a manager and a leader. A friend e-mailed me this morning and wrote, “You manage things. You lead people.”

“The biggest difference between managers and leaders is the way they motivate the people who work or follow them, and this sets the tone for most other aspects of what they do. By definition, managers have subordinates - unless their title is honorary and given as a mark of seniority, in which case the title is a misnomer and their power over others is other than formal authority. Managers are paid to get things done (they are subordinates too), often within tight constraints of time and money. They thus naturally pass on this work focus to their subordinates. An interesting research finding about managers is that they tend to come from stable home backgrounds and led relatively normal and comfortable lives. This leads them to be relatively risk-averse and they will seek to avoid conflict where possible. In terms of people, they generally like to run a 'happy ship'.

Leaders do not have subordinates - at least not when they are leading….when they want to lead, they have to give up formal authoritarian control, because to lead is to have followers, and following is always a voluntary activity.

Telling people what to do does not inspire them to follow you. You have to appeal to them, showing how following them will lead to their hearts' desire. They must want to follow you enough to stop what they are doing and perhaps walk into danger and situations that they would not normally consider risking.
Leaders with a stronger charisma find it easier to attract people to their cause. As a part of their persuasion they typically promise transformational benefits, such that their followers will not just receive extrinsic rewards but will somehow become better people.

In the same study that showed managers as risk-averse, leaders appeared as risk-seeking, although they are not blind thrill-seekers. When pursuing their vision, they consider it natural to encounter problems and hurdles that must be overcome along the way.”

I hear Clemson people when they say they are ready to be inspired. I think Clemson people are ready to get on board. They were ready when asked to up the ante with seat equity last year but they need more because this season has not worked out so far. I see a lot of managers but Clemson people need to follow a leader. They need a leader to step up and inspire them once again. The question is, “Who is that leader?”

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Comments:

Mickey,

Since I criticized an earlier blog let me tell you how much I enjoyed this one. Regardless of one's feelings about Bowden, this is good stuff.

As for the big question, I've said on T-Net many times: we should erect a statue to Tommy outside the West End Zone. He has done a terrific job in building a quality, respected football program and most importantly, for the young men who have come through that program. He is responsible for all that it is, both good and bad. In the big picture, the Clemson football program is strong and I credit him for that. The unveiling of that statue should be his farewell party as well. It is time for new leadership. I respect him, I thank him for his contribution, but his father is demonstrating very well that leadership is best when it is earned each week on the field, not as an honorarium. It diminishes both the coach and the program when that's all it is.

Posted by tigerpawclemson1 on September 30, 2008 at 12:45 PM EDT #

The TB lovers are getting desperate. People trying to tear down Ford to make Bowden look better are not Clemson fans! They are TB lovers. Your methods are pathetic and akin to sleazy defense attorneys that can only help their client by attacking the character of the witnesses.

FACT - The '89 investigation PROVED Ford won clean. The NCAA and SI turned Clemson upside down for over a year, but came up empty! The only things the NCAA found were little things all schools do, the kind of things we now self-report.

Were we officially put on probation? Yes, 1 year. Remember the sanctions? You can't, because there were NO sanctions. The NCAA had to save face and make us look bad. Therefore, we received a 1 year, zero sanction probation.

Like Mickey wrote, there are managers & leaders. The TB lovers are just following their leader. Last year TB manipulated Clemson and put himself before the school. Little wonder his followers now put TB before what's best for Clemson!

Posted by flatiger66 on September 30, 2008 at 01:05 PM EDT #

I could be very wrong about what many people think flatiger66, but I think most Clemson fans are neither TB haters or followers.

Most fans admit he is a good manager of the program. There is not gross problem to address and a lot of progress has been made under TB.

Most also realize he is not a dynamic leader or a great gameday coach.

Haters gain nothing by tearing TB down as a person or coach, since he is decent at both. Also, TB lovers gain nothing by pointing out problems in the past.

Mickey's blog is dead-on, TB has been a good manager of the program BUT he has not proven a good leader of the team. Outcome is great potential with a solid foundation, but unrealized goals when its time to perform!

Posted by tigerP94 on September 30, 2008 at 01:16 PM EDT #

That said, I agree with Mickey and MANY others that its time for a change of leadership for our team (and maybe program as a whole).

Posted by tigerP94 on September 30, 2008 at 01:18 PM EDT #

Will Muschamp would be a leader

Posted by balllin on September 30, 2008 at 02:15 PM EDT #

These comments from Mickey and tigerP94 are excellent points. We have all worked for managers that were risk-averse and timid in their actions.

Leaders inspire people to do things they didn't think they could do, and TB just hasn't been that guy for our football team. He has done many great things in the program, but making us mad-dog winners hasn't proved to be one of them.

Posted by mumbo78 on September 30, 2008 at 02:19 PM EDT #

tigerP94,

Evidently you are not reading the board posts I am. Since Sunday I have seen quite a few TB lovers post about Ford and probation and make comments like, "given TB's clean record it makes his accomplishments look closer to Ford's". There have even been posts by people that think TB is BETTER than Ford!

You are also incorrect in talking about "haters" tearing down TB. Nobody is on here badmouthing TB as a person. And he is universally thanked for being a good ambassador for CU and having rebuilt the program. BUT, to say we can not question and attack his coaching abilities is asinine! His game day and X's & O's coaching is terrible! If he were a better game-day coach we couldn't be in the mess we are in now. To debate otherwise is to be either blind or in serious denial!!

And we need to fire TB NOW!!! Mickey's blog was dead on yesterday as to why!! It is a WIN for EVERYONE!!! Including TB!!

Posted by flatiger66 on September 30, 2008 at 02:19 PM EDT #

I'm your huckleberry.

Posted by the_merlin on September 30, 2008 at 02:44 PM EDT #

I have made this comment many times on tigernet ....you become a great team when players 'sell out' for the coach. Players who are willing to do what ever it takes to be successful will make those sacrifices for a tough coach they love and respect. That is a situation that Clemson has been in in the past .. they are not now under Mr. Bowden nor do I think that they will ever be that committed.

Posted by FORESTTIGER on September 30, 2008 at 02:55 PM EDT #

I think it is funny but real sad that what I have been saying to anyone who would listen for the past five years is all of a sudden the vogue thing to say about TB. He should have been shown the door a long time ago and to extend TB should cost TDP his job as well because it shows a lack of judgment on his part. He has gotten a things built around campus I suppose but he has also torn down any national reputation this school had as being a football school. Can any of you believe that the CU basketball team played for an ACC title before the football team ? Under Bowden it is official, CU is now a basketball school.

Posted by DocHolliday on September 30, 2008 at 03:17 PM EDT #

clean house Micky welcome aboard,the right thing is never the easiest thing to do but its always right.

Posted by MBIGTIG06 on September 30, 2008 at 04:29 PM EDT #

It is time to turn the page.No more excuses.Turning the page doesn't mean TB has to go but we need change now not next year.Go Tigers.

Posted by waltmadden3 on September 30, 2008 at 04:56 PM EDT #

I'm glad that people finally get that Bowden (though a good coach & person in many respects) is not a championship-caliber coach. I'm just surprised that it's taken so long.

Where was the outrage when TDP foolishly gave Bowden an unnecessary $4M buyout a couple months ago? (Bowden would not have gotten a better coaching job. ESPN reported that Arkansas' board of directors rejected Bowden because he's mediocre. And a recruit wouldn't make a decision based on a $4M buyout versus a $1M buyout.) Of course, TigerNet didn't even report on that disgraceful contract.

Interestingly, if Bowden had simply hired a top notch OC, Clemson would probably have won an ACC title or two, and Bowden would be looking good. But Bowden (being the nice guy that he is) was blindly loyal to his buddy Spence. Much of being a great head coach (or manager) is hiring and developing championship-caliber staff. But Bowden has been blind to Spence's (and Scott's) failures against tough teams.

Posted by Razzmatazz on September 30, 2008 at 05:05 PM EDT #

Who is the leader and who is the manager at wccp? It appears both positions have been vacant for some time.

Posted by loubello on September 30, 2008 at 05:06 PM EDT #

Bring in Bill Cowher!!!!!!
Forget Dabo!!!!

Posted by Big Case on September 30, 2008 at 05:09 PM EDT #

The powers that be which reside over Clemson football have made it abundantly clear that winning is not the number one prioriy around here.

There is no point in changing coaches if the plan is to hire another coach who is more about representing the ideals of Clemson University than winning football games.

Posted by Big Case on September 30, 2008 at 05:13 PM EDT #

Clemson will never go after Norm Chow because he is not a white christian male.

They will not talk to Dennis Green or Tyrone Willingham or any promising young black coach either.

It is just the way it is.

Clemson won't go after Bill Cowher because he swears a lot on the sideline.

I am sure if asked anyone involved in the hiring will offer some lame excuse about how either of the aforementioned coaches were not interested, but the truth is Clemson has never tried to bring in a big time coach because they are to worried about the racial and religious profile of the coach.

Pathetic.

Posted by Big Case on September 30, 2008 at 05:21 PM EDT #

jjjj

Posted by newnan on September 30, 2008 at 05:59 PM EDT #

Big Case many of the names you dropped in your list of potential coaches have all proven to be decent coordinators but none have had much success as head coaches other than Cowher who has shown little if not any interest in coaching at the college level. It would seem as though you are trying to infer that CU is racist as far as hiring practices are considered and I would only direct you to the bench for the CU basketball team. I would assume also that you might feel as though they are sexist as well given that CU has never had a female football coach or anti-semitic because they have never hired a Jewish coach. All of that is bunk, CU will hopefully go for the best possible candidate to replace TB when the time comes and I would imagine color nor gender will matter much as long as it brings wins with it.

Posted by DocHolliday on September 30, 2008 at 06:08 PM EDT #

Sad but true, Big Case.

Razz, I think 3 or 4 years ago the right OC & DC hires could of made a difference, but since then TB has shown his deficiencies in so many ways that he wouldn't have been effective on a consistent basis regardless. It is his responsibility to veto plays, alter personnel, approve or suggest adjustments, and very importantly, motivate & inspire not just the players, but the fans. Sadly, he never did either, but he has dismissed, belittled, and alienated those that pay the bills - the fans.

Doc Holiday, amen! I was a HUGE TB supporter at first, but by '01 & '02 I was seeing red flags, by Dec '03 I had NO doubt that TB would NEVER win 10 games or the ACC. I was ridiculed and banned 3 times despite NEVER writing an ill word about TB other than objectively criticizing his coaching. It is not hard to see if you open your eyes and be honest with yourself.

Posted by flatiger66 on September 30, 2008 at 06:26 PM EDT #