Wednesday January 20, 2010

Questions; Loyalty

Questions
I went to bed last night with questions in my head and woke up this morning without any answers. It is now mid-day and I still don’t have the answers.

Why was I not devastated with the loss at Georgia Tech? I don’t believe in moral victories, so why do I feel better about this basketball team this morning than I did before the loss?

Maybe part of the reason I felt so weird this morning was the way I had prepared my mind before the game. Very seldom do I think my favorite team does not have a prayer to win a game. But going into last night’s game I had convinced myself that Clemson had no chance. I had built up this Georgia Tech team to be the Globetrotters and we were going to be their Washington Generals.

I have had low expectations with Clemson basketball in the past but that was when basketball matter much less in Tigertown. Now it matters.

So here we were with a late lead. How did we do that? Georgia Tech has a bunch of Frisbee catching dogs and we had one hurt point guard and another one that was sick. They were more athletic than us at every position.

Clemson had no business being this close this late in a game on the road in the ACC against a team full of future NBA players. But I did not count enough on two aspects. First, Oliver Purnell had this team extremely prepared. Once again he outcoached Georgia Tech’s Paul Hewitt. Also I had not counted on this team showing so much heart. This group of Tigers trailed by ten in the second half but fought back and had a great chance to win.

Sure it was a loss but I emerged from last night’s game feeling better about this team. I have more respect now because I saw an injured point guard start and play 36 minutes despite the pain. I saw a freshman post player stand up to those lottery picks in the second half. I saw a team that thought they could win on the road and now I am a believer.

There were a ton of negatives to find in the loss. It was a loss. The free throw shooting was pathetic. One freshman has zero confidence. The transition defense was depressing. Key turnovers hurt.

But the overwhelming feeling I have this morning is one of hope. Rarely does a loss yield hope. Usually mornings after a tough loss I would be examining the free throw shooting or the turnovers or the foul call with three seconds left. Instead, I am examining the rest of the schedule with a renewed enthusiasm.

Loyalty
Tuesday presented a roller coaster at Clemson that seems to happen at a lot of places. They had a high profile coach that was offered a big contract to leave his current position. In fact, it was reported yesterday that Clemson defensive coordinator Kevin Steele had taken a job at Tennessee.

Who could blame Steele? It was a contract that was reported to be in the $800,000 range and it was his alma mater.

Coaches have left Florida, Tennessee, Southern Cal, Notre Dame and other powers this winter. It happens in the NFL and college football every December and January. You brace for it and hope if a guy leaves then you can quickly find a qualified replacement. The industry can be harsh to institutions.

But Steele did the uncommon Tuesday. He stayed. He chose loyalty over money. Actually Clemson defensive line coach Dan Brooks did the same earlier that day. David Cutcliffe did it last week and Rick Stockstill did it Tuesday morning.

Steele and Brooks have not spoken yet but Stockstill had a classic quote yesterday morning. The head coach at Middle Tennessee State turned down East Carolina and said, "I am very humbled and appreciative of the interest East Carolina University has shown in me about their head coaching position. ECU is an outstanding University, community, and its football program has a great tradition and has been very successful throughout the years.

"The timing is never good for a coach to change jobs. However, the timing of this opportunity came at a critical time in recruiting with both universities and to the fault of neither MTSU nor ECU.

"I have decided I will remove my name from consideration at ECU. I could not look in the eyes of these recruits and their families and tell them the things I believe in and what I want them to believe in and then leave Middle Tennessee with only two weeks left in the recruiting process. Also, I have so much respect and admiration for our current players that they were ultimately the reason I could not pursue this any further. We have invested a lot together during these four years which played a major role in this decision.

"Personally, I want to thank Dr. (Sidney) McPhee, Chris (Massaro), and Middle Tennessee for giving me the opportunity to be the coach of the Blue Raiders. They gave me a chance to be a head coach four years ago and I will always be grateful for that opportunity."

For Stockstill it was not about the money. It was not about the prestige of a job. It was about his current players and his future players. It was about a life lesson.

College football coaches all across the country try to get prospects to commit to their schools and ask them to stay committed and to be loyal until signing day. At the same time those same coaches still recruit prospects who are committed to other schools. On one hand they preach commitment then turn right around and ask kids to break commitments to other schools.

It seems ironic that this happens in their industry as well. Coaches get contracts but often times don’t honor them when they leave to go to another program. Schools have no room to complain because often the schools fire coaches before their contracts have expired often times because of wins and losses.

Sure Stockstill, Steele and Cutcliffe will probably receive raises for staying but it was refreshing to see loyalty win out over money. At least for a day.

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, Kaitlyn L, 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, Bob Pollock, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Mike Kingsmore,Perrin Seigler, Carole White Begley, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, Steve Cato, the Nicolopulos family, Cason Palmer, Candace Fallaw, Scott Jackson, "the Jacksonville, FL guys".