Wednesday November 05, 2008

The Climber

The Climber
I think about coaching candidates at Clemson too often and too long throughout each day. We are about a month away from finding out who will be the head coach of the Tigers but it still consumes my thoughts all day, every day.

I think about specific candidates. I go over the pros and cons of Dabo Swinney, Will Muschamp, Bud Foster, Tommy Tuberville, Mike Leach, Gary Patterson, Jim Grobe and anyone else I can dream up in my head.

I have in my head a list of a few guys that Clemson would have to take no matter what the circumstances. That would include the top five or ten coaches in college football and coaches like Butch Davis, just in case any of those guys get in touch and express interest. For everyone else I make these pros and cons and try to see how they match up in my head with what Clemson might be looking for.

I have mentioned on the blog before that this is kind of like those online dating services in which you can say you are looking for a blonde over 5’8’ but under 130 pounds with blue eyes who has at least a master’s degree who makes over $250,000 a year and loves dogs and sports. Chances are you will never find one that fits all of your criteria.

It would be nice to find a guy who has been ultra-successful as a head coach who has ties to the South and is known for being hard-nosed and enthusiastic. The perfect candidate would also be a great recruiter who is great with boosters and the media. He would have tremendous character and would not cost too much.

I am not sure that candidate exists so you have to sacrifice in some areas.

One area where I would give consideration to is “The Climber.”

A Memorable Conversation
Last year I had a conversation with one of my best friends. The conversation stays in my head to this day.

Brody Smith came to Clemson from Southwest Virginia to play baseball for Bill Wilhelm. He graduated from Clemson in 1997 and knew he had a higher calling to serve his country.

Brody join the United States Army as a Ranger and became an E-5 Sergeant Team Leader in the 2nd Ranger Battalion.

He heroically served his country in Afghanistan in 2002 and Iraq in 2003. I value the stories he shares of his dedicated service and have sworn not to tell details of his incredible efforts in the Middle East.

I can tell you the conversation we had last year though. I had sensed that Brody had something heavy on his mind. He had not been the same for the past few months and I was worried. He was a very successful salesman and had a great family and a nice house in the place where he dreamed he would return to live, Clemson. But Brody was not Brody and his friends were worried.

We had lunch at The Esso and migrated to the parking lot to continue our conversation when he asked me a question I have never heard before or since.

“What if you were 34 years old and had already done the best thing that you would ever do in your lifetime?” Brody asked. Here was a war hero who had his whole life ahead of him but was wondering what he could do to climb the mountain again. He was lost and searching for answers.

He was looking for his new Everest.

I found an internet article that says, “At the end of the 2004 climbing season, 1,400 different climbers from twenty different countries had completed a total of over 2000 climbs.” Few have ever climbed Mt. Everest and very few ever do it twice.

I can see the motivation to climb Everest. I do not understand the reasons to climb it twice.

Also, once you have climbed Everest, what is next? How do you get motivated for the Rockies when you have been to the peak of Everest? How do you get motivated for your local 5K when you have finished the Boston Marathon?

Like many companies, I think it is important for Clemson to find someone who is a climber. I want to see someone who is on his way up and not in the twilight of his career.

Mt. Everest is the highest place on earth where it’s peak is 8,848 meters or 29,029 feet above sea level. But you can’t climb Everest without spending time at one of two base camps. The South Base Camp is in Nepal and is 5,360 meters or 17,600 feet above sea level. The North Base Camp is in Tibet and is 5,208 meters or 17,090 feet above sea level.

I want someone who sees Clemson as their base camp and a place where they can get to the peak or national title (hopefully at Clemson). I don’t want someone who has already coached in the biggest game of his career.

Lou Holtz coached at Williams & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, the New York Jets and South Carolina but his base camp was Notre Dame and he had his Everest there.

Bear Bryant spent time as the head coach at Maryland, Kentucky and Texas A&M but his base camp was Alabama and he saw the peak six times there.

Clemson has been to Everest once and it was a climber that took it there in Danny Ford.

Don’t get me wrong, you can’t turn down a great coach like Davis, Stoops, Carroll or any other top notch guy. But unless someone knocks your socks off, I say let’s consider a climber.

Brody’s story ends on a great note. He had to petition the Army because of his age but he has been accepted to re-enlist. He leaves November 20 to enter Warrant Officer Candidate School at Ft. Rucker, AL. He will be there until February then he will spend his next 42 weeks at flight school learning to fly Blackhawk and Apache helicopters. His goal is to get back to the Middle East to help his brothers and have yet another “best thing you will ever do in your life” moment.

How will Clemson’s story end? Ask me in December.

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