Thursday October 30, 2008

Election Day; BC; Coaching Search

Election Day; BC; Coaching Search
I had some thoughts on a variety of topics I wanted to share this Thursday:

*Can we hurry up and get this election over with? The negative campaign ads are depressing. Also, a personal note to both parties-I don’t need anyone fighting for me in Washington. I can do for myself. I don’t need you to fight for me. All I ask is that you get out of the way and don’t do anything to hold me back.

*I am now excited about the Boston College game. I can’t wait to see how the team responds after a week off and another week of bonding. I am concerned about the Eagles because statistically they may be the best team Clemson has faced this season. Boston College ranks in the top half of the league in almost every important statistical category.

*I am surprised Boston College has run the ball better this season. The Eagles averaged under 100 yards per game on the ground last year but are averaging over 155 yards per game this season despite playing two true freshman running backs.

*The Eagles also have improved their pass defense. In the past few seasons they have loaded the box in an attempt to stop the run first but have yielded some big passing gains. Last year Boston College allowed 252 yards per game through the air but this season they give up only 156 yards per contest. This figure also leads the ACC.

*I would not have thought Boston College could lose Matt Ryan and still improve on offense but they have. Last season the Eagles averaged 28.3 points per game but are up to 29 points per game this season.

*Their defense is an improvement as well. A year ago they gave up 20 points per game but have dropped that number to 17 points per game this season.

*A year ago the Eagles gave up 328 yards per game but have lowered that number to 265 yards per game this season despite having only four returning starters from last year’s squad.

*Boston College has turned it over eight times in their last two games including six interceptions by Chris Crane. However, they did beat Virginia Tech at home despite the five turnovers committed against the Hokies.

*Tell me which Crane plays Saturday and I will tell you who wins the game. If the six pick machine of the last two games plays then the Tigers will win in Chestnut Hill. But if the Crane that was 34 of 51 for 458 yards and two touchdowns against N.C. State plays then the Tigers will be in trouble. On the season, Crane has seven touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

*I am not going to Boston this year but did go two years ago when Clemson first made the trip there for a conference game. To be honest, it does not feel right to have BC in the ACC. To me, the ACC trips feel right when you are the visitor at North Carolina, NC State and Virginia. In my lifetime the ACC added Georgia Tech and that felt right. The conference added Florida State in 1992 and the trips there have also felt right and FSU belongs. I used to go on the away game trips to Virginia Tech before it was a conference member and have since and it also feels right. The Maryland trips always felt different to me. I always felt we were playing a Big East school whenever we go to Maryland. It just doesn’t feel like a conference game or an ACC game. Now I get the same feeling at Boston College.

*I do like the trophies the Boston Gridiron Club came up with for the Clemson-Boston College game. I am not crazy about the overall trophy but love the leather helmet ones given to the MVP. I applaud the Boston Gridiron Club for being proactive in an attempt to recognize something and promote more of a rivalry.

*The coaching search stuff is a little frustrating. I was talking to Larry Williams the other day on the subject of reporting on coaching searches. There is a demand for information but there is little supply. Readers of newspapers and websites, listeners of radio shows and viewers of television all want information on candidates. However, the sources for real information are hard to come by. In this search, Terry Don Phillips is not talking and nor should he. The Bill Carr agency has been hired by Clemson and they will not talk about their work and nor should they. The agents that are employed by potential coaches involved in the search are not talking and nor should they.

So as readers, listeners and viewers we don’t get the information they demand. However, some things are better out of the public eye.

Butch Davis might not have any interest in the Clemson coaching job but his denial statements last night meant nothing. I am not saying I believe Davis made inquires about the Clemson job but I am saying that if he did then he still would deny it publically.

For you unmarried guys, try this. The next time you see someone you have interest in or might want to go out with in the future, mention it to a couple of your friends and your girlfriend’s friends. See how that goes over with your girlfriend. I would like to hear a head coach came out in mid-season and said, “I would be interested in coaching at another school in my conference.” It would be fun to watch a big name coach commit occupational suicide.

Also, how long do you think coaches’ agents and coaching search agencies would stay in business of they let out information that needs to stay private at this point?

I have talked to everyone I know to talk to but knew I could get nothing before I started. Coaching searches are private matters. Rumors are fun but there is not a person on this earth that can tell you with 100% accuracy who the Clemson coach will be this December including Terry Don Phillips.

*I love getting your e-mails and look forward to Friday’s E-Mail Bag but some need to be a little more realistic. I swear I still get e-mails on Danny Ford’s candidacy. But Ford has a better chance than those who suggest a staff of Bill Cowher as the head coach with Dabo as the offensive coordinator and Will Muschamp as the defensive coordinator. Why not shoot for Belichik and Parcells too? Pete Carroll and Bob Stoops?

When Jimmy Sexton mentioned everyone wanted the Clemson job, he meant of the ones that would be looking around. He meant that Clemson is the best of the jobs that should come open and did not mean it was the best job in America.

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