I think this football program is at a crossroads. I don't think it's where it used to be. I don't think it's even as good as where Ken Hatfield had it in his first three years. I think it's at a stage where an identity needs to be set. I think too many outside distractions are put up to camouflage the weaknesses.
"Yeah, we might have a Top 5 recruiting class. We've been in the Top 10 in recruiting the last six years. But what's in our trophy case? I don't want to hear about we've got four five-stars coming in. I don't want to hear about the best guys in Florida coming in. That's great. I applaud you for recruiting. Now, can you get those guys to win on Saturday?I don't want to hear about 'This is a process,' or, 'These kids have to learn.' Every coach in college, you recruit the guys you want. You get some, you don't. But everybody starts off with a new batch of guys. Now, can you get these guys to play? Give me the bottom line. Give me wins. Give me ACC championships. Give me bigger bowl games. That's what I want. That's what Clemson was when I came to it.
"We're not there now. Supposedly we've got the coach that everybody wanted. Great guy, 'All In,' good speaker, charismatic. Now, can you win games?"Clemson is not a physical team. We have no identity. We have some great players. C.J. Spiller was one of the greatest college players ever. Da'Quan Bowers was one of the most physically gifted football players I have ever seen in my life. But guess what? If you can't run the ball and smash somebody in the mouth, you can't win. It's not about having the best players. Clemson has won games before not having the best players. Chris Morocco wasn't one of the Top 100 quarterbacks in the country. DeChane Cameron wasn't one of the Top 100 quarterbacks in the country. Rodney Williams wasn't one of the Top 100 quarterbacks in the country. But you know what? They were winners. They were football players. And that's what Clemson is lacking. Clemson has a lot of great athletes that run fast and jump high. Show me the Ed McDaniels that go to small schools and nobody wants them, but they can come in and become All-Americans. Show me the Rob Bodines, guys that beat all the odds to become great players. We don't have football players. We look good on the outside, but our engine is horrible. We're a Ferrari with a Pinto engine."
From Brentson Buckner In Their Own Words: TigerIllustrated
Damn Right.
11 months ago
TigerVance
8 comments
2 recs |
Comments
You really can't argue with that.
A lot of people get very excited about recruiting…heck, I get excited about it. The problem is that our recruiting has improved by leaps and bounds over the past ten years, but the results have not.
Fans have no control over what happens on the field, but we want to win, so we cling to whatever we can to give us hope. Right now, we have recruiting and a few new assistant coaches. Problem is, we have heard it all before, and we still have not won the ACC in 20 something years. I WISH I could be more optimistic, but I am not. I support our players and coaches, but it is time for us to quit talking and start winning.
"Clemson is coming!" - Stephone Anthony
by Tigerplowboy on Jun 27, 2011 8:17 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Tough to swallow
He’s dead on, ain’t he? I just hope that Morris and Caldwell can give us the physical presence and identity we have sorely missed. I feel like we have been in a funk since RichRod took his offense to WVU. That was the last time I remember seeing Clemson play with a defined offensive identity.
The talent is here, the coaches appear to be here…now we have to get something to show for it.
by judge jeff davis on Jun 27, 2011 8:45 PM EDT reply actions
Post it all over campus.
Put it up in the locker room. Put it up in the weight room. Pin it to Dabo’s office door. On the outside and inside so he can see it coming and going. Pin it on the chests of the AD, President, and BOT. Write it on the stadium turf.
We’re not a good program if we’re not winning and forging an identity with our hyped talent.
Preach It!
He’s damn well dead on, and it’s about time one of our former players spoke out ’cause you know most of them feel this way. Major props to BB for having the stones to speak the truth!
This part was my favorite
“Clemson is not a physical team. We have no identity. We have some great players….But guess what? If you can’t run the ball and smash somebody in the mouth, you can’t win. It’s not about having the best players.”
Until proven otherwise, I’ll always believe this is the difference between a team with talent going 8-4 and a team with talent going 11-1.
















