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All-In [11013]
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Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Feb 27, 2025, 2:54 PM
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The stages are clearly different:
National Championships:
I. M. Ibrahim (soccer) - 2
Mike Noonan (soccer) - 2
Dabo Swinney (football) -2
Larry Penly (golf)-1 (Team) 2 individual champions Charles Warren (1997), Turk Pettit (2021)
Danny Ford (football) - 1
Honorable mentions:
Chuck Kriese (Men's tennis) 22 times in NCAA Tournament. Highest finish: 7 times in final eight.
Bill Wilhelm (Baseball) 17 NCAA tournament appearances, 6 college world series, College Baseball Hall of fame.
Brad Brownell 4 NCAA appearance. Highest finish: Elite 8.
Sorry can't leave out Frank Howard. His legacy speaks for itself.
Message was edited by: revmarkg®
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Commissioner [1250]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Feb 27, 2025, 3:13 PM
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I feel like the only right answer is Dabo his rise to the top of college football and beating the greatest coach of all time 2 times in the national championship it just really was Clemson University’s “moment” that felt like it really put us on the map.
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Commissioner [1250]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Feb 27, 2025, 3:15 PM
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And the Soccer program has been insane as well no shade to them they have been better than football quite a few times but it’s just not as impactful as football!
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Game Changer [1818]
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Game Day Hero [4524]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
Mar 3, 2025, 8:52 AM
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I almost feel guilty to say this, but I don't believe so. Coach Ford is far and away my favorite after Dabo, but I think the game had started to pass him by. MAYBE he could have won a title the year he left, POSSIBLY year after. But we were just ok at QB and the game was becoming a lot more passing oriented. I DO think we would have been a top 5 team, but those Miami and Florida State teams that came along were so overwhelming, just don't know that we could have kept up with the track meets they could run. Case in point, When he went to Arky, just never got it done and that was before the SEC became the dominant Conference. Love Coach Ford, but his time had passed I believe.
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Top TigerNet [29764]
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I think all of the ones you mentioned plus others deserve respect
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Feb 27, 2025, 3:14 PM
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rather than needing to search for just one as the "goat"
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TigerNet Elite [76276]
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John Heisman.***
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Feb 27, 2025, 3:15 PM
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Top TigerNet [29764]
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who was the greatest Clemson swimming coach ever?***
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Feb 27, 2025, 3:15 PM
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TigerNet Elite [76276]
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Paw Warrior [4951]
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Re: John Heisman.***
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Feb 27, 2025, 3:51 PM
[ in reply to John Heisman.*** ] |
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I was going to mention him also. Like Howard, his reputation speaks for itself.
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All-In [11013]
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Agree the name speaks for itself.
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Feb 27, 2025, 5:02 PM
[ in reply to John Heisman.*** ] |
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However, he was at Clemson for four seasons. His legendary status did not arise from his Clemson tenure.
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Paw Master [16957]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Feb 27, 2025, 3:17 PM
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C-C-C-Coach Kline aka Henry Winkler. Beat Clemson 7-3 in the Waterboy. Oh, best Clemson coach? Dabo. End of discussion. Heisman didn’t win any natty’s and wasn’t here very long. Ford only won one. Howard steadied the ship and prepared it for future success. Not really a discussion. None of the other sports generate revenue and therefore should be rendered moot.
Message was edited by: OneJedi®
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Orange Elite [5486]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Feb 27, 2025, 3:34 PM
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It was 6-3.
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Paw Master [16957]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Feb 27, 2025, 4:53 PM
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Yeah, MudDogs Clip Clemson 6-3. Good catch!
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Paw Master [16957]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Feb 27, 2025, 4:54 PM
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Then upset Louisville 5-0
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Paw Warrior [4951]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Feb 27, 2025, 3:57 PM
[ in reply to Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history? ] |
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Heisman’s career at each stop was monumental.
Ford….only one championship? Look at the records and count how many only have one. And then the ones with none.
Howard did more than just steadied the ship.
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Paw Master [16957]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Feb 27, 2025, 4:55 PM
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Negative Nancy much?! Jeesh. Howard won some conference championships. Never sniffed a Natty. One of the criteria was natty’s.
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Ultimate Tiger [33774]
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Howard was HC for 30 years. Noone else is even close.
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Mar 1, 2025, 9:04 AM
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And had the stadium built during WWII years. And started IPTAY. And has Howard's Rock. And is a legend!
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Paw Master [16957]
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Game Changer [1818]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Mar 2, 2025, 8:51 PM
[ in reply to Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history? ] |
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Had Ford not been fired would have had 4 fast. Danny Ford built strong team fast. Although HC before him extra special got 2 Orange teams on probation fast.
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All-TigerNet [5996]
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I would add Jack Leggett to Others Receiving Votes
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Feb 27, 2025, 3:18 PM
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My vote would be for Dabo.
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CU Medallion [19009]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Feb 27, 2025, 3:25 PM
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That is easy Coach Dabo Swinney, two Nattys and multi Conference Championships in the biggest sport College Football. Dabo is going to be a top 10 coach in the Hall Of Fame before it's over.
Those other coaches did a great job as well for sure also.
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Clemson Icon [24505]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Feb 27, 2025, 3:40 PM
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Dabo is the most influential, because he also turned the basketball program around.
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All-In [11013]
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OK, popcorn ready again.***
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Feb 27, 2025, 4:56 PM
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Paw Master [16594]
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It's Dabo IMO. Nine conference championships and 2 national championships
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Feb 27, 2025, 4:09 PM
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in 16 seasons is an amazing performance. To do it while creating a unique, positive culture is even more remarkable.
Noonan is definitely up there too and I think maybe he could have laid claim to the title if he had started at Clemson younger. But he's 63. Won't catch Dabo's overall number of championships. I wouldn't be too upset if he got one or two more national championships, though. 
Heisman spent four seasons here. I guess if you're going off pure coaching ability there's an argument to be made. I just take into consideration long-term success FOR Clemson.
Honestly we've had a pretty good run with a lot of men's sports in having good, solid coaches with long tenures. Soccer had Ibrahim, Adair and Noonan, and that basically covers everything since 1967 (Hindson with the one interim year was a bit of an anomaly). That's crazy. In baseball you have Wilheim, Leggett, Monte Lee and Bakich, and that's stretching all the way back to 1958!
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All-In [10778]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Feb 27, 2025, 4:37 PM
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Easy for me. Coach Ibrahim is the best because he started from scratch and took us to the top.
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Orange Blooded [2206]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Mar 2, 2025, 9:05 PM
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Exactly. He wasn't even a coach when he started. He was a professor of chemical engineering or something like that. In the blink of an eye we were ranked #1.
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110%er [3959]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Feb 27, 2025, 4:58 PM
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Easy! DABO!!!!
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National Champion [7852]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Feb 27, 2025, 5:17 PM
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Dabo is the only correct answer.
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All-TigerNet [6048]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Feb 27, 2025, 5:21 PM
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IMO, any list of great Clemson coaches should include Banks McFadden for consideration - even if he isn't the greatest, his accomplishments and effort in Clemson athletics should be noted.
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Orange Blooded [2393]
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John Heisman***
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Feb 27, 2025, 8:08 PM
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TigerNet Elite [74420]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Feb 27, 2025, 9:33 PM
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Heisman is not the answer as he bailed on us after a year.
Frank Howard took over a when there was very little and built Clemson Football.
We were not up to competing with the Blue Bloods who had $$ and all that, but all of the competitors of the day respected Frank Howard.
He was the force building a better stadium.
He was the one who moved Clemson football along.
Dabo is the same and did the same as Frank in building better resources to attract better players.
No one before or since was as good at inspiring students and players.
If you have never been at a pep rally when he talked, you don't understand what one man can do.
Frank Howard was a pioneer. Later coaches had a step up as to the foundation he built.
Frank Howard is not history -
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Tiger Titan [50648]
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It has to be Dabo.
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Feb 28, 2025, 12:13 AM
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Most popular college sport, took us from good to great to elite, and did it the right way with guys who achieved on the field and in the classroom. Two national championships and arguably the best team ever in 2018.
I’d put Noonan #2 and Ibrahim #3.
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Clemson Icon [27753]
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Noone
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Mar 1, 2025, 8:50 AM
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Mentioned Tates Locke!!!!!
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Ultimate Tiger [33774]
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Tates Locke was ahead of his time
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Mar 1, 2025, 9:14 AM
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If he coached now, everything he did would be legal or at least not punishable.
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Recruit [69]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Mar 3, 2025, 6:16 AM
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I think the question has to have criteria such as:
* Win/loss
* Conference Championships
* Natty’s
*Impact
- on student athletes
- on the University
- on the town
These questions answered individually lead to only one. Dabo Swinney
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TigerNet Elite [70255]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
Mar 3, 2025, 6:48 AM
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That’s a pretty good list right there.
Just remember that Frank Howard had an undefeated team in the late 40s which would have been claimed as a national championship by many schools.
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Paw Warrior [5045]
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One of those is unlike the others. Biggggg stretch.
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Mar 3, 2025, 6:55 AM
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Not even close to the others.
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TigerNet Elite [70255]
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Re: One of those is unlike the others. Biggggg stretch.
Mar 3, 2025, 7:03 AM
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I know what you’re saying… Brad is not one of the best coaches in Clemson history. Best finish is the final 8… No conference championships… no national championships…
At best he should be considered one of our best basketball coaches. But I’m certainly pulling for his team to win the ACC championship this year.
Go Tigers!!!
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Paw Warrior [5045]
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Re: One of those is unlike the others. Biggggg stretch.
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Mar 3, 2025, 7:11 AM
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100% correct. Until a coach wins something, they don’t belong. Be it conf championship, nattie, etc. simply being there a long time is not enough to put you on mt Rushmore. Making a field of 68 - 25% of the time is not exactly noteworthy. The narrative could change if we win multiple conf tournaments - and a nattie or two. But until then, out of place.
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Game Changer [1891]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Mar 3, 2025, 7:12 AM
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I think it’s all according to who you ask because if my dad was still alive he would say by far Coach Howard because he was his line coach when he played from 31-33 but for me in this generation it would have to be Dabo for every thing he has accomplished in his way seals the deal for me.
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Solid Orange [1377]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Mar 3, 2025, 7:15 AM
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I’d like to see this Question but take Dabo out of the mix.
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Solid Orange [1377]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
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Mar 3, 2025, 7:17 AM
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Then id go with Ibrahim. The ole Chemistry professor that started a program from scratch and won 2 Nattys
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Orange Beast [6572]
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Re: Who is the greatest coach (all sports) in Clemson history?
Mar 3, 2025, 7:40 AM
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Dabo but, wow, what a list.
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