We are winning less close games than in 2005, but are winning more games by a larger point differential. I have to remind myself that 2005 was the last year of an 11 game regular season so in reality, we are in most seasons, just adding 1 more cupcake to the feast. This year to-date we have won two games by more than 7 points and lost two games by less than 7 points. I feel like that is the 800 lb gorilla standing in front of the proverbial corner with which we would all like the program to turn.

Watching the UGA game on Saturday evening after drying out from the TCU game, I just knew UGA would pull that game out. Great programs almost always do. I grew up a Penn State fan and I can tell you I watched a lot of stinkers that Penn State would miraculously pull out at the end.

In almost any profession, young/inexperienced people put in high positions of authority need to have a strong, experienced team around them to be successful. I feel like Dabo could be the right guy for the job, but I'm afraid he made a costly mistake at the OC position. He did the right thing at DC hiring an experienced person in Steele to fortify what was already a solid unit. The offense has been a weak unit for years, so retaining a lot of that staff and continuing with that system is somewhat of a head scratcher to me. I also have reservations about the "take what the defense gives you" philosophy, because logically, that means you are doing what they want you to do. At times it seems that the only thing the system effectively does is put us in 3rd & long situations! Ha!

Anyways, I'll quit rambling, you've probably seen these trend-lines so if so, just delete. Keep up the great work! Hope to hear from you….

The Tigers have lost 7 of its last 8 games decided by seven points or less and 15 of the last 21 dating back to 2005! That's an 87% losing percentage in close games in the last 8 games and 70% losing percentage in the last 4 plus seasons! Wow! Is it too much to ask the football gods for a 50% win rate in close games? We probably would have a couple of ACC Championship game appearances during that time if we could just win 50% of the close games. We most likely will have 3 more close conference games this year with Miami, FSU, and NC State. If we win 2 of those we would be 2-2 in close conference games and probably win the Division. We have issues but so does everyone else we play. If we can avoid major injuries we will get better but so will everyone else we play. Will we learn to make a play in the final minutes to win close games? When will we ever get that confidence and composure back that good teams have? This program has more ACC Championships than any program in the league but 0 ACC Championships since 1991?!?! Oklahoma had a few years of mediocrity during the 90s. Alabama had their down years. Tennessee hasn't been great for a little while. Georgia went for 20 years or so without an SEC Championship. USC suffered some rough years before Pete Carroll. FSU ain't so great anymore. Miami has not been good for a few years. Remember when Colorado was great? What about Nebraska? These things go in cycles and every "name" program in every conference has had their great eras and their not so great eras. It should be about time our mediocre cycle ended and we started winning at the next level again. At some point in time this program has to rise above 7-5 and 8-4 and the best way to do that in the modern era of college football is to win 50% of its close games. Most teams have about 4 close games each year. Win half of them and 8-4 turns into 10-2. Gator Bowls and Peach Bowls turn into Orange Bowls and Sugar Bowls. To win the Division or another ACC Championship, Clemson has to win at least 50% of it's games that are decided by a TD or less. Attention to detail boys! Do the little things. Look the ball in all the way. Concentrate. Step and throw. Follow through. Block. Tackle. Prepare...Every play. Every day. In the words of Steve Spurrier, "Simple as that."

Just needed to rant after seeing that stat today. I feel better now.

If we finish the season and haven’t been embarrassed, winning the games we’re truly favored to win, then we’ve grown up and improved from the Bowden era. Isn’t that the kind of stuff the sane side of Tiger Nation pointed to before the season started? I still believe it would be a good marker for Dabo’s first official season. In addition, if we accomplish this we probably do win the Atlantic, but let’s first focus on beating the inferior and not being embarrassed by the superior.

Mickey, like too many tiger fans, you’re starting to sound desperate just four games in. Settle down and have some faith. Time will fairly judge this team and its staff… let’s not rush it.

A couple weeks ago I asked you this:

Kyle Parker has a cannon there’s no denying that, but his accuracy seems to be seriously lacking. On the touchdown to Allen it was low and behind him, on the touchdown to Ford it was short and to his left, on the interception again short and left, I believe it was Ashe who made a great catch on a ball low and behind him. I can only think of a couple balls where he actually hit the receiver in the route or in stride, do you think we will see that improve over the course of the year? Do you think this could be contributing to the receivers dropping balls?

You responded with this:

I agree that Parker has a strong arm. In baseball terms, he has a plus-plus arm. I have had little problem from an accuracy standpoint so far. I do think he will continue to improve each week.

Since then he went 13-27 vs BC and there were several passes that were off like I mentioned previously. Then he went 13-37 vs TCU, didn't watch the game (since it wasn't on) but the radio broadcaster made repeated comments about how the pass was a little off, a little to the wrong side, etc. Granted they were both in what are considered poor conditions for throwing the ball but 40% completion percentage is just plain bad. TCU's QB went 17-26 in the same conditions. Still think its not an issue because I really think it is, and I haven't seen it get any better yet?

First off, wanted to tell you I think you do an awesome job and all of us CU fans appreciate you.

My question is in regards to Willy Korn. The internet message boards are full of comments to the effect (from "inside info") that WK's future at Clemson is essentially over. The word is that there was no real competition for the QB job and that there is a huge gap between Kyle Parker and Willy Korn. Furthermore, they say that Boyd is the QB of the future (should Parker go pro in baseball).

My point is this: KP may have a decided advantage in arm strength, but that is not the end all measure of a QB. The past two games Kyle has struggled in my opinion-- by no means do I think he cost us the game, but there is a large amount of area for improvement. At the very least, I think implementing a wildcat type package using Willy Korn taking the snap would give us a great run option and a much better pass option than CJ could offer. I guess I just feel it is hard for me to write a young man like Willy off so easily with really no chance yet to truly show what he could do if given the reigns, say, for one whole half of football.

What are your thoughts? Thanks again.

I first want to start out by saying that Clemson fans don't need to panic! I realize we just lost at home but it was to a top 15 team and we had a chance to win that game. People can go and blame the play calling and the coaches but being at the game and seeing it live in action, the players are to blame as much as anyone. The plays that were called, if they were executed by the WIDE RECEIVERS then we would have been able to move the chains and score TD's.

Fact of the matter is Kyle Parker has 4 people he can throw it to and 2 of them are big and slow and easily covered. Jacoby Ford and CJ Spiller are the best 2 receivers we have, and the other 2 are Palmer and Rendrick Taylor. NO ONE else can catch. I swear Mickey, if Terrence Ashe see's the field again I'm gonna get sick. The kid can't catch the ball with his hands. Kyle Parker has hit him in the hands on slant patterns several times and he simply can't catch it.

If Jackson makes the missed FG we don't need a TD to win, so the players need to execute what's being called and what's expected of them.

As far as the fans go, we need to win to try and get some people in those seats that were empty. The student body is disappointing in their attendance, but the only way I can figure out how to get butts back into the seats and make Death Valley a top 10 place to play again is to "Just win baby"!

Thanks,

The actions of the Clemson Administration have gone too far. In their self
proclaimed era of "Championships Begin with Scholarships", they are saying
one thing and definitely doing another. Their actions are perpetrating a
fraud and need to be exposed fully. The actions of the Clemson
Administration speak much louder and clearer than any words. For example:

1. After the AARC fiasco, President Barker tells the IPTAY National Meeting
we're on a "level playing field" w/ our conference peers and South Carolina.
Dwight Jones, the recruit in question, ultimately was signed and enrolled at
UNC. Clemson did not give him the opportunity to sign.

2. Dabo Swinney agrees to forego a larger salary in order to build a larger
support staff for the football program. While the support staff is
marginally larger, several promised positions fell through. Additionally,
"cheaper" employees (Mike Dooley) were hired in place of stronger, but more
expensive candidates (Lawson Holland).

3. Dabo Swinney has to fight for several weeks to keep a valuable member of
his support staff (Tony Eubanks), losing valuable prep time in the first few
weeks of the football season.

4. Coach Leggett loses pitching coach, Kyle Bunn, in a 'lateral move' to
Alabama. Alabama agreed to pay much more, and Clemson let him go, despite
his good work w/ the pitching staff this past year. In his place, we hire
an individual from out of the southern region w/ little-to-no pitching coach
experience. Rumor has it this guy came cheap as well. While the new seats
in left field look nice, I would have much rather saved those funds for
keeping good coaches.

5. Clemson's men's track and tennis teams have coaching turnover. Clemson
has traditionally had one of the strongest programs in the ACC in both these
sports. Yet, we hire assistants from what I would consider historically
lesser programs. These individuals may turn out to be great hires, but on
the surface you would think Clemson could get more qualified candidates if
they were willing to spend the money. I can only guess what will happen w/
the soccer team's coaching situation after this season.

6. Clemson failed to pay the money to land a higher profile women's
basketball coach, and the foundation from 20 years of success under Coach
Davis has crumbled away.

The Administration keeps saying we've got to open our wallets to take our
programs to championship levels. Yet, they appear to be unwilling to open
their wallets for appropriate staffing hires and support. They're not being
fair to the average fan. To me, it's a fraud to take the average fan's
money under the guise of creating a championship program when you take the
actions they have done recently.

Thanks for all of your help in exposing their actions. It must continue or
our athletic programs are doomed to their current state.

I also looked up the teams in the ACC for their record in the last 11 games decided by 5 points or less, which just confirmed our problem. So Tiger fans when it feels like we lose more heart breaking close games than anyone else, we do.

GT = 8 wins out of 11
UM = 8 wins out of 11
UVA = 8 wins out of 11
BC = 7 wins out of 11
WF = 6 wins out of 11
NCST = 6 wins out of 11
VT = 5 wins out of 11
UNC = 5 wins out of 11
Miami = 5 wins out of 11
FSU = 3 wins out of 11
Duke = 1 win out of 11

The TCU game last week makes that 1 out of 12 now for Clemson. I thought we played with great effort for 60 minutes. Our defense played strong even at the end of the game after being on the field for so long. Spiller was special again. But unfortunately the results were the same. They get a lucky tipped ball which led to their first TD and a trapped ball catch between their player and ours for their second. We in turn miss a short FG, which forces us to go for the TD and again stall in the red zone. The last minute was a mismanaged mess (as was the last minute of the GT game).

When and how does this change?