All-In [49613]
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Joined: 12/10/98
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Sunday sermon: The runner stumbles
Oct 30, 2011, 6:58 PM
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"In many things we all stumble. Yet though the righteous may stumble, they rise again."
For the first time this year, we stumbled. And make no mistake, we did a whiz-bang job of it.
Offensive turnovers, defensive lapses, special team lapses ... this one was a team effort. Credit the Jackets, who were clearly better prepared, blame the coaches, blame injuries, blame the long stretch before our desperately needed week off, blame Sports Illustrated, blame the guys finally buying into the shouts of "BCS!"
Blame anyone you'd like. They probably all had a hand in things. But, there's no escaping one glaring fact:
It's the end of October, and the Sons of Clemson have lost a game. There is no reasonable scenario that will allow them to play for the national title.
I'll give everyone a moment to pause at the enormity of that statement. Going into the first week of November, Clemson has no hope of a national title.
None. Zip. The best we could possibly do is perhaps a Top Six finish, an ACC and BCS title and national accolades for the coaches, players and school that we have come to embrace.
Heck, we might as well close the concession stands for the Wake game. NOBODY wants to see an also-ran.
Why, wasn't it just last year that we were in the national title hunt until ... Sept. 18. The year before that, Sept. 10. The year before, Aug, 30.
Obviously, y'all get the idea. The runner has stumbled. What matters now is how he gets back up and runs.
If I know this team, if I know the collective heart of the Sons of Clemson, they will get back up and sprint. They will mount up on the wings of eagles. They will run and not grow faint. They will run without ceasing to the goal which is there before them.
A dream is gone. Reality remains.
And that reality is better than any dream. We stand poised to be the most successful team a generation of Tiger faithful have seen.
We need only climb up, dust ourselves off and claim it.
Rest well, then prepare and rise to capture all that is there before you, Sons of Clemson. No one will be able to stop what you together commit to.
Let this be our commitment: Forget what lies behind and look forward to what is coming. And let those who choose to turn back know lament at the things they denied themselves.
The runner has stumbled. Behold how he shall run from here.
It's going to be glorious, Tigers.
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