Sunday Morning Thoughts
I’ve never heard the city of Clemson so quiet after a home football game.
We were walking out of Death Valley last night after four hours of football, 2 hours and 45 minutes of booing, 2 hours of cold, and 6 seconds of soul-crushing defeat. The Tigers had just lost to Pitt. Pitt! Of all teams. The guy who sits next to me had a point--I’ll never look at Heinz Ketchup the same.
Going into the game I was pretty intrigued to watch James Conner ball out for the Panthers. He’s an excellent player whom I will gladly stash on my fantasy team next year in the pros and who also is a cancer survivor. While that is fantastic for him, couldn’t he have just lost this game? I feel stupid because I told one of my students that Clemson would win by two touchdowns this week. Little did I realize how iconic the idea of “two touchdowns” would become for this game.
Two goal line interceptions from Deshaun Watson. Two drive-saving calls for Pitt by officials. The officials were bad last night. I understand that Clemson has received some calls in the past, and Dan is partially right when he says they’re the luckiest team in the world. Kyle Bambard might be able to provide that claim some sustenance. But at some point I would like for somebody with more authority than myself to claim that the officiating on Ben Boulware the past few games has been suspect, and that the officiating in the ACC in whole this season is highly questionable. Right, Jimbo?
On the flip side, how does one team gain 650 yards on offense and lose. No question mark. That’s a statement. That’s like when my other fave Notre Dame scored 50 week 1 against Texas and lost. It’s a headscratcher. One would think that in a game where the quarterback sets a conference record for passing yards that might be enough to seal it. The defense could have been better. The play calling might have been served with a few improvements here and there, and good grief get the first down when it’s 4-and-1 with the game on the line and the other team only needs to go 30 yards to kick the winner.
But as Kristin and I sat down this morning and watched Dabo’s press conference from yesterday, we were in awe. This man was not gripping at officials. He was not blaming his quarterback—he was extolling him. He complimented the other team and began discussing what it would take for his team to get things rolling again in 7 days against the Tigers’ next opponent. He’s gracious in victory, but even more humble in defeat. Kristin made the comment about how composed he was. That poise and attitude of accept and recollect in preparation for the next step is the foundation of what Dabo Swinney has done with the Clemson football program. I read tweets yesterday stating that the sun would come up today and while that hasn’t exactly held true so far (look, we badly needed the rain, okay?), the idea that the world will continue on its axis is 100% correct.
It helps that things went bezerko in the top 4 last night and Michigan and Washington followed the Tigers’ lead by losing. Clemson is still in the driver’s seat. As Dabo said--win the battle for the state, win the ACC, see what happens. It’s a noble plan that worked last year. Dabo used the phrase after the game yesterday that “prosperity is a terrible teacher.” Adversity builds character. The man is well-known for his fun, trendy phrases and I believe we have another one here.
Besides, that sounds like the perfect t-shirt slogan when the team is dancing after another Clemson victory.
We were walking out of Death Valley last night after four hours of football, 2 hours and 45 minutes of booing, 2 hours of cold, and 6 seconds of soul-crushing defeat. The Tigers had just lost to Pitt. Pitt! Of all teams. The guy who sits next to me had a point--I’ll never look at Heinz Ketchup the same.
Going into the game I was pretty intrigued to watch James Conner ball out for the Panthers. He’s an excellent player whom I will gladly stash on my fantasy team next year in the pros and who also is a cancer survivor. While that is fantastic for him, couldn’t he have just lost this game? I feel stupid because I told one of my students that Clemson would win by two touchdowns this week. Little did I realize how iconic the idea of “two touchdowns” would become for this game.
Two goal line interceptions from Deshaun Watson. Two drive-saving calls for Pitt by officials. The officials were bad last night. I understand that Clemson has received some calls in the past, and Dan is partially right when he says they’re the luckiest team in the world. Kyle Bambard might be able to provide that claim some sustenance. But at some point I would like for somebody with more authority than myself to claim that the officiating on Ben Boulware the past few games has been suspect, and that the officiating in the ACC in whole this season is highly questionable. Right, Jimbo?
On the flip side, how does one team gain 650 yards on offense and lose. No question mark. That’s a statement. That’s like when my other fave Notre Dame scored 50 week 1 against Texas and lost. It’s a headscratcher. One would think that in a game where the quarterback sets a conference record for passing yards that might be enough to seal it. The defense could have been better. The play calling might have been served with a few improvements here and there, and good grief get the first down when it’s 4-and-1 with the game on the line and the other team only needs to go 30 yards to kick the winner.
But as Kristin and I sat down this morning and watched Dabo’s press conference from yesterday, we were in awe. This man was not gripping at officials. He was not blaming his quarterback—he was extolling him. He complimented the other team and began discussing what it would take for his team to get things rolling again in 7 days against the Tigers’ next opponent. He’s gracious in victory, but even more humble in defeat. Kristin made the comment about how composed he was. That poise and attitude of accept and recollect in preparation for the next step is the foundation of what Dabo Swinney has done with the Clemson football program. I read tweets yesterday stating that the sun would come up today and while that hasn’t exactly held true so far (look, we badly needed the rain, okay?), the idea that the world will continue on its axis is 100% correct.
It helps that things went bezerko in the top 4 last night and Michigan and Washington followed the Tigers’ lead by losing. Clemson is still in the driver’s seat. As Dabo said--win the battle for the state, win the ACC, see what happens. It’s a noble plan that worked last year. Dabo used the phrase after the game yesterday that “prosperity is a terrible teacher.” Adversity builds character. The man is well-known for his fun, trendy phrases and I believe we have another one here.
Besides, that sounds like the perfect t-shirt slogan when the team is dancing after another Clemson victory.
