Clemson Football: The Strangest of Hurdles
Everyย preseason, a team must address what obstacles need be overcome in order to have a successful season.
In some cases, it could be the schedule, as is the case for Miami this yearโThe Canes get Florida State, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma as their first four opponents.ย It sure would have been helpful to at least spread those games throughout the schedule.ย
In the case of FSU, there are no running backs that are proven.
Clemson also has its issues in the preseason.
After looking over the Tigers' "problem areas,"ย I came up with a few pertinent ones. Theย most significant problem out of the Clemson camp is a lack of a place-kicker. In close games, a place-kicker can be very important, as Clemson found out in 1999 and in 2006.ย
Of course, there isย the quarterback controversy brewing (a subject in and of itself). The Tigers are also going to have to find at least two more receivers to help out Jacoby Ford.ย ย
But these problems pale in comparison to what head coach Dabo Swinney could face on Sept. 11, the day after the Georgia Techย gameโa game I am convinced the Tigers will lose (unless theย Jackets turn the ball over)โthe day Clemson's season really starts.
The Tigers will be 0-1 in conference play and still in control of their own destiny.ย However, a national TV audience will have witnessed the loss and Clemson fans will begin to file numerous complaints. I suspect the first complaint will be that Swinney started the wrong quarterback.ย
The next comment will be that Clemson hired the wrong man and that nothing has changed.
I suspect we will also hear how soft the team is. Every Clemsonย fan will have a theory and complaint about the loss.ย
Because the game was on a Thursday, ESPN will be showing the highlights all day Friday andย the game willย be a topic for discussion on Saturday.
Theย salt will be rubbed inย and it will sting.
If theย Clemson coaching staff and the team itself can ignoreย the criticismย and focus on Boston Collegeย nine days later, they should be fine (after all, if they beat BC, Maryland, and Wake Forest, they'll enter the Miami game 3-1 in conference play andย in a good position to win the division).
But, this is an inexperienced team without a veteran coach.ย Moving onย after the Georgia Tech loss could prove difficult.ย For a young coach and three young quarterbacks, the hardest hurdle to jump this year could be theย Clemson fans.
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