I swear, I think its in the water….
Every year its the same old story. Clemson blows their shot at a title and SCUm watches their delusional dreams circle the drain.
I won’t even approach the subject of UNC, NC State, Duke or Wake. They’re basketball schools with occasional success (see Wake 2006). But I respect them immensely for their academic records.
I will however, laugh my ass off at what continues to happen at Clemson and SCUm.
Last night Tammy Bowden has yet another shot to win his division and compete for an ACC Title. Yes, I did just say the words ACC and compete in the same sentence. They were at home, under the lights, on ESPN2, wearing their orange jumpsuits, touched the rock and ran down the hill. Hell, they even had thunder & lightening on their side! Yet, no amount of luck, talent, resources, or hype could keep them from their eventual destiny…blowing it BIG!
When they came out in the first quarter and started moving the ball, I really thought they were gonna prove me wrong. Through 3 quarters of play, they held BC to a field goal. Clemson made Matt Ryan look more like a 3rd stringer instead of a Heisman contender; the BC offense just couldn’t keep the ball moving. But in the end, even Clemson’s tough D (I have to admit they’re pretty good) gave up 375 total yards. Ouch.
It’s so typical though. They just give up. After Ryan hit that last TD to put them ahead, Cullen only completed 4 of 9 passes & his receivers couldn’t catch a cold. Beaten again.
What I don’t get is why Clemson faithful tolerate this year after year? Don’t get me wrong, I take great pleasure watching them fall. But, its like watching a train wreck - you know its gonna jump the tracks & crash, but you just can’t take your eyes off of it. Seriously, Clemson has too many attractive variables to keep wallowing in the mire. You’ve wasted 9 years on Tommy Bowden and he’s yet to lead you to a division title, much less an ACC title or a BCS bowl - a national title hasn’t even been a pipe dream! There’s plenty of $$ in IPTAY, great facilities, great educational opportunities, history/tradition, beautiful campus, top recruits, etc. Yet since 1991, the end results are always the same: failure & disappointment.
You should’ve worn the purple pants
The lamecocks are even worse. Everyone says the University of South Carolina is where good coaches come to die. Laugh, but there is a good deal of truth in that statement. Just look at the records of Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier while leading the lamecocks. Even Spurrier can’t keep SCUm’s overall winning percentage above .500
In November 2004 they acquire the services of the Ol’ Ball Coach and immediately start scouting a space to display the crystal football in their still non-existent trophy case. Remember, they left last year’s trophy back in Memphis. Yet even after 3 seasons this ”coaching god”, known as the evil genius in college football, has yet to finish the year with less than 5 losses. He’s recruited top classes, paid top dollar for the best assistants, bent the rules of colegiate admissions, played every qb in the state…and still nothing but the status quo in Columbia.
This was the year they were finally ready to compete for the SEC East title, remember? They made their way up to #6 in the polls midway through the season. Only to crash & burn in true Carolina style! On the way back down they lost their last 4 games, all SEC opponents mind you.
Now all that’s left to play for is the annual battle for the Hardee’s Biscuit Trophy, otherwise known as The Ghetto Bowl. Yes that’s right folks, next Saturday Climpson and SCUm will check their crack cocaine, stolen computers, knives, and AK-47’s at the door for another chance to humiliate our state on national television.
Stay classy boys…
I just don’t get it. I guess my vision is cloudy. I come from a long line of Georgia fans & grads. We’ve had our share of trouble, embarrassment (see Jim Harrick), losing seasons (see Ray Goff), and disappointment. But there are huge differences between UGA and the 2 colleges up the road, the biggest one of them being, we would never tolerate mediocrity as a way of life. We would never digest failure as a daily meal. And we would never remain resigned to being a cellar dwellar. As a South Carolinian, by tax note only, I’ve witnessed over the years the outright glee & excitement in an 8 win season at Climpson & SCUm. It blows my mind that they celebrate only 4 losses! Hell, Lou Holtz could’ve been elected Governor of this state when he only lost 4 games. At Georgia, 4 losses will get you fired…just ask Jim Donnan.
Like I said earlier, it must be something in the water.
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Side note: who knew Clemson’s qb Cullen Harper is the son of UGA’s Jeff Harper? Jeff played on the 1980 National Champoinship team. He’s the bald dude, sixth row up. Interesting to know Cullen’s first choice was Georgia - we signed 4-star Blake Barnes that year instead.
