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Replies: 24
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All-American [572]
TigerPulse: 94%
20
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I finally realized THE problem with this program
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Sep 7, 2025, 10:41 PM
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I’ve been wracking my brain on trying to figure out what the #### we are witnessing, year after year.
But especially this year my god is it pronounced.
A couple things here we should all agree is true:
1) For the most part, we have a coaching staff that is experienced and coaches on a high level
2) We are top 10, possibly top 5, this year in blue Chip talent on the roster.
3)our preseason hype, on PAPER, should have been justified for the most part with our returning production and very talented players.
4) Recent coaching hires have been high level.
Yet the product on the field, particularly the offense, is so bad it’s head scratching.
So what’s happening here?
When something doesn’t make sense, doesn’t add up, you keep asking questions. And usually it’s the most obvious thing.
I’ve come tot he conclusion that our issues are:
1) deeper than player talent
2) deeper than NIL or Portal (which has hugely hurt us and if not for either we’d had won another natty since 2018
3)deeper than coaching talent
This is a program, administration problem.
This is people ABOVE Dabo who have no ability to put pressure ON Dabo.
You see, Dabo performs very wel, as anyone does, under pressure, on the Roy bus. This is how he cut his teeth.
Dabo is still elite.
But there isn’t any accountability above him anymore, anyone to suggest that maybe there’s risk in what is being put on the field.
Look, I don’t know what you do or say. Dabo is a legend and he’s extremely led by his own integrity.
But there has got to be more leaders above him who can put good, positive pressure on him so he reverts to that Dabo of ‘10- ‘18 when he was climbing the mountain and had things to prove.
I’m convinced this is the root of the problem.
A program that doesn’t know how to put any pressure on the top guy anymore, therefore there isn’t any recessions for anything.
What is your opinion on this?
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Campus Hero [13544]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Posts: 15777
Joined: 2014
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
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Sep 7, 2025, 11:10 PM
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Well then, Neff and Clements should speak up. They are above Dabo in the pecking order. I think this will happen only if the Tiger football program falls off a cliff, like a 5-7 season. And if the fans begin staying away. And if Clemson only shows up on the ACCN (HORROR OF HORRORS). As long as the Tigers remain top 15, these two gentlemen will be content, IMHO. And if the playoff expands to the top 24 teams, everybody running the show will be happy.
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Offensive Star [337]
TigerPulse: 98%
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
Sep 8, 2025, 10:39 AM
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If the playoff expands the 24 teams, you can pretty much change the name to the Big Ten/SEC Championship rather than CFP. A CFP with 16 teams with no one getting a BYE is perfect.
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Top TigerNet [28423]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Posts: 16782
Joined: 2018
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
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Sep 7, 2025, 11:25 PM
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At least you’ve come up with a new wrinkle, albeit a little convoluted and a bit of a reach.
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Head Coach [977]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
Sep 7, 2025, 11:29 PM
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Somewhat agree in that I feel like the EDGE he once had to prove himself has softened. And maybe the reason it’s softened is that his job is secure at this point, with no accountability from above.
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Gridiron Giant [15608]
TigerPulse: 99%
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We did have a couple offensive duds last year, and
Sep 7, 2025, 11:39 PM
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still finished with the 11th ranked offense, against the 22nd SOS. Our offense produced more passing yards against Texas than any other team. Texas was the 3rd ranked defense.
LSU.. hmm, i think we can all agree we would have liked to see more of a running game. We did also have a couple dropped passes that elite WRs gotta make. But more than anything - more than playcalling, more than dropped passes - the elephant in the room was the most important position on the field. QB.
We all should know the story by now. Cade plays bad. He got called out to play “big boy football”, and he admitted played bad.
Some better run plays may have caused LSU to back off that blitz, but again, when you really stand back and look at it, missing the plays we did call are what cost us the game.
Yesterday we were almost impossible to watch to start the game. We gave up the quick score and a FG, then there was that 5-yd INT TD. We did stink it up in the first half, for sure.
Then we did better. 27 straight points. Cade threw several nice passes. He did much better in the 2nd half, so the offense naturally worked better.
It doesn’t matter what plays you call if the QB isn’t executing them. That’s the biggest thing.
So last year we were 11th, we played a really bad game at QB, and we had a horrific half before the QB started to find his way back to Texas form.
I did also like not only that we ran the ball, but we showed some new stuff as well. Randall showed strength and power and some nice cuts. We will continue to work on that.
What I’m getting at, is the offense has been there. Now it’s time to get back to potential at QB and continue to practice and use the run game.
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Paw Warrior [5047]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: We did have a couple offensive duds last year, and
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Sep 8, 2025, 10:33 AM
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Cherry picking stats doesn’t change the fact we 2-6 against top 10 teams since 2021. At the end of the day what matters most is how we play against good teams, which of late is not good
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Game Changer [1777]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
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Sep 8, 2025, 7:57 AM
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I think it would be interesting if his contract had been structured a bit differently, heavily weighted towards producing wins. Seems like “$11 mil no matter what” is a bad idea. (I know there is a bonus structure in place, but I wonder if he’d be more motivated to keep what he built running in top shape if the incentives were different.)
Something with the payout exponentially weighted toward higher number of wins like:
0 - 6 wins, $500k
7 wins, $1m
8 wins, $2m
9 wins, $3.5m
10 wins, $5m
11 wins, …
…
National championship: $20 mil
I think this would make every win matter more - thoughts?
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Solid Orange [1330]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
Sep 8, 2025, 8:21 AM
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Agreed. That’s how sales reps and CEOs are often compensated.
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Orange Elite [5489]
TigerPulse: 93%
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Campus Hero [13776]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Posts: 10963
Joined: 2006
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
Sep 8, 2025, 12:14 PM
[ in reply to Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program ] |
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I think you are totally wrong in thinking that Dabo is motivated by money ...... regardless of the amount. I would certainly be disappointed if he were, as would many others here.
Regarding "the problem with this program", suggesting that Neff is in a position to put some sort of pressure on Dabo is ridiculous. If there was any kind of power play between those two, there is no doubt in my mind who would win. I like Graham and think he is doing a good job, but he will not tangle with Dabo in anything other than administrative matters.
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Game Changer [1923]
TigerPulse: 96%
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
Sep 8, 2025, 8:33 AM
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This makes a lot of sense, but a major problem presented is the assertion that Dabo is not a self- starter. I dont want to think this is accurate but it could explain why for we waited to the last minute to replace DJ and similar curiosities.
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Gridiron Giant [15352]
TigerPulse: 83%
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Posts: 23757
Joined: 1998
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
Sep 8, 2025, 8:34 AM
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HERE IS MY OPINION. THERE ARE AT LEAST 100 TEAMS THAT WOULD LOVE TO HAVE OUR PROBLEMS. BUT HEY I BET YOU SPENT ALOT OF TIME WITH THAT THINKING CAP ON TO COME UP WITH THAT. OR MAYBE YOU HAD A BUCKET ON YOUR HEAD LIKE GOMER PYLE. SMH.
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Orange Elite [5489]
TigerPulse: 93%
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Well, we are about to have a 4+ loss season problem this year
Sep 8, 2025, 9:12 AM
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I know some teams that have been perennial playoff contenders don’t want this problem. So no, there are few playoff contenders who want our problems right now. SMH…
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Orange Blooded [2553]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
Sep 8, 2025, 9:27 AM
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It seems like grasping at straws. However, you might have a point that Dabo has become untouchable like Joe Paterno did at Penn State. Paterno settled into mediocre also, but no one above him could do anything about him and without the Sandusky debacle they never would have done anything to pressure him about his lackluster performance. He would have coached there until his dying breath...he got close.
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National Champion [7737]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
Sep 8, 2025, 10:41 AM
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Accountability SUCKS
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All-TigerNet [5937]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
Sep 8, 2025, 11:57 AM
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I agree that there is no one above him willing to put pressure on him UNLESS the situation becomes really bad. Neff and Clements do not want to be known as the leaders who ran off the greatest football coach in Clemson history. It IS the same situation as Paterno and Bowden. Dabo has more power than his bosses in this situation and he knows it. Football makes all the money 💰
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null [null]
TigerPulse: 5%
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
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Sep 8, 2025, 5:52 PM
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Danny Ford believed he had more power than the President of Clemson, when he wanted a new dorm for the football players and claimed he would get the fans to pay for it. He publicly challenged the President, and got fired for it. Danny won the first Natty for us, and that was not enough to save him. Dabo's no different. We have just been made to believe he is.
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Commissioner [1277]
TigerPulse: 98%
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
Sep 8, 2025, 1:02 PM
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Danny Ford has entered the chat . . . . . . . . . Once considered untouchable but then taken out by Atchley on the famous "tail wagging the dog" statement.
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Rival Killer [2913]
TigerPulse: 99%
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My opinion is that my ADHD won't allow to me to read all that***
Sep 8, 2025, 1:03 PM
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Tiger Titan [48347]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Posts: 12184
Joined: 2015
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
Sep 8, 2025, 1:12 PM
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The problem this year has been the RAT POISON. We ate it hook, line and sinker. Clemson has under Dabo performed better as the underdog. I really wish we had that killer instinct and ran over teams when we are favorites but for the most part we look ho-hum. Oklahoma looked like I wished we were looking at this point in the season.
On another note so far Klubnik does not have the “IT” factor like a Watson or a Lawrence. I would put whatever we beat SC last year and LSU last year with either of those guys. When you needed a score they for the most part delivered consistently.
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Hall of Famer [8577]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Simple. If Neff is afraid of Dabo then Neff needs to go.
Sep 8, 2025, 1:18 PM
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There can be only one leader for the athletic department. The HBC is not the athletic dept leader. Everyone must be held accountable at the end of the day. Not saying Dabo has anything to account for but just addressing the OP's hypothesis. I feel like Neff is probably intimidated by Dabo and his success and cannot challenge why we are not performing better than we are. Just my $0.02.
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Standout [242]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
Sep 8, 2025, 1:18 PM
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Agree 100%. Dabo having his son announced as a starting WR is all you need to know. Must wrench the gut of better athletes to have daddys boy announced as a starter. Not as a holder but as a WR.
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Orange Blooded [2553]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
Sep 8, 2025, 4:56 PM
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It doesn't matter. Cade does not seem like he could hit him anyway.
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Game Changer [1732]
TigerPulse: 61%
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Re: I finally realized THE problem with this program
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Sep 8, 2025, 1:26 PM
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the talent is not top 5, that is laughable. People have claimed the talent to be top 5 but there is no justification for this argument. The recruiting hasnt been near this good, and the portal has been next to nonexistent, so how does that equal top 5 in overall talent??? Back in 2016 and 2018, teams wouldnt even try a 4th and short against our Dline. now, everyone is doing it because this line is soft and getting pushed backward on the snap. The Lbs arent filling gaps and stuffing the run anymore either. Dabo praised the LB play on saturday even though Woodaz is making tackles 10 yards downfield. That is a problem guys yet DABO seems oblivious or just doesnt know any better. There is a serious talent issue but coaching is the larger issue right now, Dabo included.
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Replies: 24
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