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Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 8
MSgt Michael Bischoff
COL Jean (John) F. B. - I am an Alabama fan (when Ohio State not playing) but after I saw the both play in the previous game I gave the edge to Clemson. Alabama's freshman quarterback seem to have lost his edge in the previous game and just never got it back.
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COL Jean (John) F. B.
MSgt Michael Bischoff - Yep .. He did very well against lesser opponents, but Clemson was just too tough. The good thing is that he will be back next year (and the next) and will get better.
The OSU game was an anomaly. OSU is much better than they played that night. All teams have games like that. Clemson is not that much better than OSU.
The OSU game was an anomaly. OSU is much better than they played that night. All teams have games like that. Clemson is not that much better than OSU.
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COL Jean (John) F. B.
MSgt Michael Bischoff CPT Gabe Snell LTC Stephen C. I have seen several such cartoons with the same theme, to include the one I attached...
First, Clemson won the game and they deserve the congratulations (even if the winning play should have drawn a penalty and not counted... which I will discuss later). However, all the hype about Clemson de-throning Alabama is pure bunk. Yes, they won the 2017 National Championship, but that is a far cry from even coming close to the Alabama Crimson Tide's dominance in college football. This is their first National Championship in decades, as compared to Alabama's 5 in the past 9 years, and 16 overall. This is also Clemson's first defeat of Alabama since 1905.
While Clemson's program has certainly gotten better over the past few years with Dabo Swinney at the helm, it has a long way to go before it can be considered the "elite" program it is now being touted as. Clemson's recent success can largely be attributed to by having a "one-trick-pony" quarterback in DeShaun Watson, who should have received the Heisman Trophy this year. Both he and his favorite receivers will be leaving Clemson for the NFL this year. We will see how good Clemson is without him. Will Clemson go the way of other teams who relied on their one-trick-pony to be successful and then hit hard times when he left? (Florida - Tim Tebow; Auburn - Cam Newton; Florida State - Jameis Winston; Texas - Colt McCoy; Texas A&M - Johnny Manziel; Mississippi State - Dak Prescott; Oregon - Marcus Mariotta; etc...). I predict they will, at least until they can build the rest of their team.
Alabama and other "elite" programs have built their teams and have not relied on one player for their success. Bama has had the #1 recruiting class for the past 6 years and it looks like they will again this year. They have changed quarterbacks each of the past 4 years and have still been successful because of the entire team and its depth of 4 and 5-star players, not just one guy (although I will admit that Derrick Henry did carry much of the load last year). Will Clemson be able to do that? Time will tell...
One more thing Clemson fans don't want to hear ... The top 3 winning coaches in Clemson history are all University of Alabama guys. Dabo Swinney, is a born and bred Alabama native who graduated from Alabama, played football at Alabama, and coached at Alabama before going to Clemson. He is also, most likely, Nick Saban's heir apparent, whenever Saban decides to stop coaching (and probably become the Alabama Athletic Director).
Now about that last play.. Despite the Clemson-faithful denials, it was an illegal "pick play" that should have drawn a penalty. Even DeShaun Watson, in his post-game interview with ESPN, called it a "pick play" and stated they had been practicing it all year. They used it earlier in the game and scored a touchdown. Nick Saban raised hell with the referees following that play, but they did not call it. I have it from a very good source (LTC Curlee knows who it is), with very good credentials as an NCAA referee (President of SEC Football Officials Assn, Board member of NCAA Officials, Commissioner of Referees, and participant in SEC Command Center on game days, tasked with reviewing all calls) that the play was illegal and should have been called. Had Watson run the ball, it would have been OK, however, since he passed it, Clemson committed pass interference on a defender via an illegal "pick". Had the penalty been called what would have happened? Nobody knows, but it should have been called in both instances. Having said that, it is what it is.
Bama will be back at the top next year. Will Clemson? Time will tell...
First, Clemson won the game and they deserve the congratulations (even if the winning play should have drawn a penalty and not counted... which I will discuss later). However, all the hype about Clemson de-throning Alabama is pure bunk. Yes, they won the 2017 National Championship, but that is a far cry from even coming close to the Alabama Crimson Tide's dominance in college football. This is their first National Championship in decades, as compared to Alabama's 5 in the past 9 years, and 16 overall. This is also Clemson's first defeat of Alabama since 1905.
While Clemson's program has certainly gotten better over the past few years with Dabo Swinney at the helm, it has a long way to go before it can be considered the "elite" program it is now being touted as. Clemson's recent success can largely be attributed to by having a "one-trick-pony" quarterback in DeShaun Watson, who should have received the Heisman Trophy this year. Both he and his favorite receivers will be leaving Clemson for the NFL this year. We will see how good Clemson is without him. Will Clemson go the way of other teams who relied on their one-trick-pony to be successful and then hit hard times when he left? (Florida - Tim Tebow; Auburn - Cam Newton; Florida State - Jameis Winston; Texas - Colt McCoy; Texas A&M - Johnny Manziel; Mississippi State - Dak Prescott; Oregon - Marcus Mariotta; etc...). I predict they will, at least until they can build the rest of their team.
Alabama and other "elite" programs have built their teams and have not relied on one player for their success. Bama has had the #1 recruiting class for the past 6 years and it looks like they will again this year. They have changed quarterbacks each of the past 4 years and have still been successful because of the entire team and its depth of 4 and 5-star players, not just one guy (although I will admit that Derrick Henry did carry much of the load last year). Will Clemson be able to do that? Time will tell...
One more thing Clemson fans don't want to hear ... The top 3 winning coaches in Clemson history are all University of Alabama guys. Dabo Swinney, is a born and bred Alabama native who graduated from Alabama, played football at Alabama, and coached at Alabama before going to Clemson. He is also, most likely, Nick Saban's heir apparent, whenever Saban decides to stop coaching (and probably become the Alabama Athletic Director).
Now about that last play.. Despite the Clemson-faithful denials, it was an illegal "pick play" that should have drawn a penalty. Even DeShaun Watson, in his post-game interview with ESPN, called it a "pick play" and stated they had been practicing it all year. They used it earlier in the game and scored a touchdown. Nick Saban raised hell with the referees following that play, but they did not call it. I have it from a very good source (LTC Curlee knows who it is), with very good credentials as an NCAA referee (President of SEC Football Officials Assn, Board member of NCAA Officials, Commissioner of Referees, and participant in SEC Command Center on game days, tasked with reviewing all calls) that the play was illegal and should have been called. Had Watson run the ball, it would have been OK, however, since he passed it, Clemson committed pass interference on a defender via an illegal "pick". Had the penalty been called what would have happened? Nobody knows, but it should have been called in both instances. Having said that, it is what it is.
Bama will be back at the top next year. Will Clemson? Time will tell...
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