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YOUR BALANCE
TNET: Clemson’s path out of the cellar may be different than Florida State’s
Tiger Boards - Clemson Football
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TNET: Clemson’s path out of the cellar may be different than Florida State’s

1
5

Oct 20, 2025, 7:00 AM
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Clemson’s path out of the cellar may be different than Florida State’s

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Keylan Rutledge is a great example of what

3

Oct 20, 2025, 7:16 AM
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got us to where we are. Dabo said they pursued players, but the players didn't choose us.
Fact of the matter is we didn't match GT's NIL offer when we had the resources to do so. 2 years ago most players would have chosen Clemson over GT with the same amount of money on the table.
It'll be interesting to see how the portal is approached this year. If you don't see a major shift there, I wouldn't expect much change in on field results.

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Re: Keylan Rutledge is a great example of what

5

Oct 20, 2025, 8:05 AM
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Dabo will work it out, but it will take tough choices!
As a long time Clemson and SMU fan and graduate; I know we will survive and succeed.
We mostly stunk for a decade, until 1977 then the Pell / Danny Ford years turned us around. SMU was in the wilderness for almost 40 years! Today in college football, the changes come much faster!

Dabo will have to start with coaching upgrades, which includes Motivation and schemes. Then player upgrades, based on game performance, not just potential. Some stars ⭐️ will get benched, and some will flee through the portal. Since our last championship our coaching staff was raided! Dabo’s job is to fine replacements that are effective!

He will have to fire some good guys, in search of Great Coaches. Same with players, college football is semi-pro now! When players don’t deliver, next man up! His balancing act has to be in Coach first, Execution and performance on the field is now the key to success in college football.
Unfortunately, money rules today for the best talent!
We need to start paying to get our share of 5 Stars ⭐️, because that is the new reality.


Go Tigers, Go Dabo!

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Re: Keylan Rutledge is a great example of what

1

Oct 20, 2025, 8:35 AM
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I like all these things you list in here that he could do to change. I'm just afraid he won't do any of them. If his stubborn ### would just make 1-2 of these changes, we'd probably see a big improvement.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States

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2

Oct 20, 2025, 7:27 AM
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Alright take; but, the fan you "ribbed" is most likely in the majority of fans and I don't think you pontificators realize this. You guys just amplify the criers, whiners, and nefarious individuals.

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3 ACC losses

2

Oct 20, 2025, 7:30 AM
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Re: 3 ACC losses

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Oct 20, 2025, 9:47 AM
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… and counting.

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Yes Sam

3

Oct 20, 2025, 9:11 AM [ in reply to Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States ]
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Some lifelong Clemson alums, boosters and fans are frustrated by paying Dabo his deserved respects, while cautioning/warning/criticizing the laziness of not using the portal for 4-5 yrs, and loading up the coaching staff with coaches lacking college coaching experience.

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Sam Coot strikes again

2

Oct 20, 2025, 9:39 AM [ in reply to Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States ]
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🥱

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Re: Sam Coot strikes again


Oct 20, 2025, 2:35 PM
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The delusional types seem to like/ agree with the other delusionals …

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States


Oct 20, 2025, 9:43 AM [ in reply to Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States ]
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I prefer “prophet” over “pontificates”, TIA.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States


Oct 20, 2025, 12:20 PM [ in reply to Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States ]
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No, I do realize this. That's why I say it would be so destructive to push Swinney out too early. A key point of the whole article is he needs 2 more years to turn it around. 5 years of mediocrity is what Bobby Bowden was afforded and I think we will and should give Dabo the same.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States


Oct 20, 2025, 12:26 PM
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He’s already into that five year window.

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Excellent article

3

Oct 20, 2025, 7:36 AM
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It’s so depressing to be a Clemson fan right now. I just don’t see us changing and being worth a dang for the next few years.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States

1

Oct 20, 2025, 7:37 AM
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Wow we are officially now a bottom-half ACC TEAM. Still waiting on “that FIX “ Coach. Still waiting to “get better” Coach.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States

4

Oct 20, 2025, 7:40 AM
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This is the most realistic and positive outcome. I do not believe Dabo is willing to make these changes in a serious way, personally, and that the next few years will be more of “we don’t have enough roster space” or “we’re just a few plays away.” The players, like fans, seem done hearing all of the empty platitudes and references to past success. It would be easiest for him to build Clemson back up by committing to modern the college football landscape, but I don’t see it

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Disagree. IF we want to remain in the upper strata of college football we

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7

Oct 20, 2025, 7:54 AM
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can’t afford to not make a change.

The Bobby Bowden aw shucks loving uncle era is over.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States

6

Oct 20, 2025, 7:57 AM
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I don’t know if GRiley is actually calling the plays or if Dabo is…. If it’s Riley, this needs to be his last season…. Saturday every long pass was open.. CV had one dropped but it was there the TJ made that one gander … so what do we do? We run AB draw after QB draw and throw. 4 or 5 yarders… when you need 7 or 8 for a 1st down…. This is IMO stupidity and P..s POOR play calling… no creativity no new plays …. Same crap different game .. screen on 1st down, run up the middle on 2nd down 4-6 yd pass on 3rd down …, punt!!!

Please change the game plan … if we’re going to lose… let’s at least lose trying something different… this is not 2019-2020 we do t have TL or Travis ETN to run through the small holes….

Please !!!!!

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States

1

Oct 20, 2025, 10:15 AM
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LOL, whoever is responsible for this offensive mess should be their last season. LOL

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States

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Oct 20, 2025, 8:17 AM
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Agree on “excellent article”. Times are, unfortunately, different (NIL, portal). This, obviously, isn’t going to be fixed overnight (painful part for fans), but I am trusting Dabo to respond, as he always has, sometimes in surprising ways.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States


Oct 20, 2025, 8:18 AM
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I don't who a Ryan Kantor is but he chooses horrible captions almost daily. I know things have changed since I was in elementary school 65 years ago but cellar means below ground, or the bottom. At this point, yes we suck, but there are 7 teams below us in the standings including 3 with no wins. I know, splitting hairs for some with being 9th but we are on the first floor at least.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States

5

Oct 20, 2025, 8:51 AM
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Nah we're in the cellar. We haven't beaten a P4 program at home in over a year now (a full season). We're 3-4 and eyeing not going bowling. Statistically we're dreadful and the bottom half in so many defensive statistics that matter. Offense can't get a measley yard against an average team when it matters. 0-4 against the SEC (the record from 2021 onward isn't good against them). What more do you want to prove that statement? Oh we're not as bad as North Carolina or BC at least? Thank God! This place would shut down! We're first floor of where? The Waste Management headquarters!? Go argue your semantics elsewhere. JFC you people.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States


Oct 20, 2025, 2:43 PM [ in reply to Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States ]
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You’re just in denial Valley Boy .. it’s like comparing stenches ..regardless of the words used - at the end of the day - it still stinks.😷

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States

5

Oct 20, 2025, 8:31 AM
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I’ve probably said this before on Tigernet, but Dabo needed a season like this to make him swallow his pride and make the changes. He’s been lying to himself (and to us) for the last half decade that we are “one or two plays away” from being a national title contender. The sad part is he’s done a good enough job to make that claim seem sort of valid. But 4 losses and a playoff berth is completely different to a senior QB, big money defensive talent, and barely being bowl-eligible. He can’t lie to himself anymore. Fire everybody but Luke and (maybe) Allen. Let’s start from scratch.

I just hope Cade gets back so he doesn’t have that as an excuse to why we suck.

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Pink Floyd could have been singing about the Portal in "Time"

1

Oct 20, 2025, 9:00 AM
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As Gilmore & Waters wrote and sang it …
"And then one day you find (five) years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun"

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Re: Pink Floyd could have been singing about Portal in Time

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Oct 20, 2025, 10:13 AM
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May I add, there is no dark side of the moon, as a matter of fact, it's all dark!!!

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States

1

Oct 20, 2025, 9:04 AM
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Napier is gone, Norvell is next, this is the year the programs are tired of losing.

Dabo, time to man up and make the tough calls so you can be ready for next year!! Franklin was shocked when his AD showed up at his door on Sunday and gave him walking papers!! He didn't think he would be fired.

I don't think they'll fire you down there in good ole' Clemson, but this year is a bust and lost. You need to get with your AD before he gets with you!!! Make the moves needed to get Clemson back on track!!

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States


Oct 20, 2025, 9:11 AM
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Agreed.
While change begins at the top. I don't think, like the article said, it's Dabo (this year). But it definitely should be most if not all of the position coaches and maybe some of the assistants.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States

1

Oct 20, 2025, 9:19 AM
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Who do you think hired them?

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"You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain"

2

Oct 20, 2025, 9:11 AM
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A perfect analogy!!!!

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States

5

Oct 20, 2025, 9:15 AM
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One problem not mentioned is "preparation." We just don't seem well prepared to face what other teams are throwing at us or how to attack their defense. What are all these analysts on staff doing? Dabo said he's working as hard as he ever has, but is he working smarter? Hopefully he'll get it figured out and at least stop the bleeding. Go Tigers!

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States

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1

Oct 20, 2025, 9:52 AM
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^^^^ yes yes yes ^^^^

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States

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Oct 20, 2025, 9:23 AM
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The self-proclaimed football guru Mike4TigersNo1 is not going to understand we needed a d end last year trough the portal. Though I tried to explain it, it went way over his head and said “we got one, Heldt”. Both guards outside the top 450? Ouch. But, according to cultists like him, Dabo really really tried. And it isn’t possible for a transfer player to come in to start for an outgoing senior’s position. “THe pROgRaM is FiNE. iT’s just BaD qb”

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States


Oct 20, 2025, 9:26 AM
Reply

So According To The Bobby Bowden Scenario
Dabo's Got 2 More Seasons Before (5) In Row🤔🤔🤔
Dabo Must Make The Philosophical Changes Right Now👁👁

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States


Oct 20, 2025, 10:07 AM
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You also have to take Bowdens age "80" with his leaving FSU.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States


Oct 20, 2025, 12:23 PM [ in reply to Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States ]
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Correct, 2 years isn't long to turn a losing team into a championship one, but he did promise that.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States

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Oct 20, 2025, 9:34 AM
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Great article! Thank you.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States


Oct 20, 2025, 10:19 AM
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Step 1: Bench Cade for the rest of the year. Give CV the chance not afforded to Cade by sticking with BIG Stinko. You're not gonna hurt Cade's draftability by riding the pine for the remainder of the season. He77, you might even help it. Besides, who cares if he gets drafted. He's already a multi-millionaire.
Step 2: rinse and repeat

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States

1

Oct 20, 2025, 10:27 AM
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And while I'm at it, when is the last time you saw any of our "great" linemen bloodied? The only proof that they even played is the grass stains on their posterior from being knocked flat on their a$$E$. I saw (i believe it was)Linthicum watch or glance at a guy go by him on the way to CV as he was dancing with the invisible man this past weekend. Unreal. Every time his misses his assignment, we should cut 3 inches off of his pretty braids or mullet. By now, he would be high and tight as a jarhead.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States

1

Oct 20, 2025, 12:23 PM [ in reply to Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States ]
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You're welcome!

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Analysts

5

Oct 20, 2025, 10:20 AM
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Can we at least start by cutting out the 25-30 analysts, assistants to the assistants, and former players/coaches? That should free up enough $$ for a couple of NIL players. It's a start...

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States


Oct 20, 2025, 10:23 AM
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Yes, that right there is what we call a pattern, not a one-off year. The worst part is he either is a flat out liar or he is plain stupid, telling everyone this would be his best team ever.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States


Oct 20, 2025, 11:04 AM
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This is exactly right.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States

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Oct 20, 2025, 11:05 AM
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I mean the original article is right. No comment plus or minus on any of the other posts

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to correct Angry Clemson Fan , we're paying 8 figures not 7 for this crap

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Oct 20, 2025, 11:15 AM
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Also disagree that he's making the right decisions late and too small - if you are making decisions that way, then you are not making the right decisions at all. What could have taken band-aids here and there 2-4 years ago, now requires major/life saving surgery.

Dabo needs to change his entire model this offseason(actually starting now, not waiting to season's end). IF he continues to be stubborn about it this off-season, then he needs to move on. Hopefully honorably like Saban, Bennett, etc. but if not then the buyout fund-raising needs to begin asap.


A good start would be giving half his salary back for the failure of this season and tying the next few years to performance expectations. We just settled a lawsuit with the league and the way he is driving this program into the ground financially based on salary, staff salaries and on-field performance that will cause us not to hit the benchmarks from a TV viewership, success metrics that we just made ourselves dependent on with the lawsuit settlement.

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Re: to correct Angry Clemson Fan , we're paying 8 figures not 7 for this crap


Oct 20, 2025, 11:33 AM
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I like it!! Mr. Mason? You’re hired!!!

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Re: to correct Angry Clemson Fan , we're paying 8 figures not 7 for this crap

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Oct 20, 2025, 12:25 PM [ in reply to to correct Angry Clemson Fan , we're paying 8 figures not 7 for this crap ]
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What I mean is it was the right decision to take 3 transfers... 3 years ago. He should had done that in 2023. Then he would have figured out how to integrate them well and we could have taken 5+ the last two years.

He made the right call to hire Matt Luke, but he should have done it right after Caldwell (or someone similar).

Those are just 2 examples.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States


Oct 20, 2025, 3:06 PM
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I'll help with some of the fixes.

1. Stop graduating players in 3 years. (Keep talent as long as possible)
2. Time to dole out some NIL money
3. Whoever is your talent evaluator needs to go. The 5 stars we have aren't playing like it.
4. Graduation rates now don't matter. (this one will be hard, but some of the best player are now hired guns)
5. Can we at least bring back Jeff Scott for recruiting and the offense?
6. Start all over with a new D Coordinator.
7. The strength and fitness coach needs an upgrade. (Tigers should not be pushed around)
8. Attitude and hunger. (Start taking away the perks until the team gets hungry again)
9. Stop being a friend and be a coach.


Just off the top of my head from the performances I've seen this year.

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States


Oct 20, 2025, 3:35 PM
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Yes, that right there is what we call a pattern, not a one-off year. The worst part is he either is a flat out liar or he is plain stupid, telling everyone this would be his best team ever., and this is mot the first time either. He and the stars are all entitled and compkacent because no one is held accountable.
It's time to quit bragging about keeping players that can't play and start bragging about running off the misses and bringing in better people which is what everyone else is doing..
Produce or move on should be the montra for every player and coach!

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Re: TNET: Clemsons path out of the cellar may be different than Florida States


Oct 20, 2025, 4:07 PM
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Jon Blau: “Adam Randall has been great this year for Clemson, but little details are the difference sometimes.

There was a lane on third-and-1 if he ran inside Olsen Patt-Henry. Went outside the block and came up short.

SMU throws a 70-yard TD on a coverage bust right after this.”

See, we were just 2 plays away from beating SMU.

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