Shock and Awe Anyone?
Oct 16th 2008 - Written by: Derek Chinners
Alright, let’s go back to Thursday night…
Wasting numerous opportunities to put the game away, having nothing on offense, and losing in the final minutes…
One thing I just can’t figure out is that after four 3 & outs to start that game ‘that other coach’ wouldn’t at least give Willy Korn a shot at it. You’re just going to stake your job on the guy that hasn’t gotten a first down yet? That struck me as peculiar.
I believe this was the first game I have ever watched as a Clemson Tiger Fan where expected us to lay an egg, blow the game, and lose.
So, was I shocked ‘that other coach’ stepped down? - Not so much
Am I shocked at the overall results of this season. - Definitely
Willy Korn is named the starting QB
I’m thinking, ‘Is that other guy still the coach? - I’m still not very interested…
Dabo Swinney Named Interim Head Coach amidst ‘that other guy’ stepping down
A little more interested… but not really.
Dabo Swinney Press Conference… = Awe Yeah!!!
Wow, he didn’t side step questions like ‘that other guy’. Wow, he actually has a plan. Wow, he actually believes that he controls his own destiny. Wow, he actually thinks positive. Wow, he’s not afraid. Wow, now you’ve got my attention…
I can just imagine the thoughts running through Dabo’s head… I’ve got 5-6 first day NFL draft picks on the offensive side of the ball. I’ve got 7-8 future NFL players on defense. I can tell the oline to get in a three point stance and hit someone in the mouth. I can never call a bubble screen again. I can use the five star stud QB that we recruited for three years and sat for another… and on and on and on.
I mean, its not like he’s trying to turn Lead into Gold here. He just needs to polish up the Rock a little bit and get everyone on the same page moving in the same direction.
One Heart Beat, One Clemson
I believe it is simply a mindset issue with this team, and ‘that other guy’ just wasn’t getting the players to buy in. However, I listen to Dabo for a thirty minute press conference and I’m ready to strap on a helmet and hit someone, anyone, in the mouth.
Dabo has excited me to the point were I am anticipating this next game with great enthusiasm. Come on Georgia Tech! Come on in to Death Valley and beat a wounded Tiger that’s been backed into a corner and now has Charismatic New Coach with nothing to lose, plays you’ve never seen, and NFL Caliber players that are angry & All In.
It simply boils down to mindset. You cannot achieve what you don’t believe. Essentially, if you cannot picture yourself accomplishing what you’ve set out to achieve you’ve already lost. Dabo sees a Golden opportunity to turn a lump of coal into a sparkling Diamond… and I wouldn’t bet against him.
Am I shocked at the last few weeks events… Sure. But I have a feeling I’m going to be Awed this weekend when the Tigers hit the Yellow Jackets in the mouth!
Go Tigers!
If you would like to comment on this column then you can email Derek at chinners.derek@lycos.com.
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