STRENGTH and CONDITIONING. The biggest issue facing the

Jan 7, 2012, 3:40 PM

Clemson Football Program right now. Simply put, we are FAR behind the times.

We are not as strong, powerful, mentally tough, or aggressive at the point of attack as most of the teams we play. Sometimes we're able to win with pure athleticism and coach-driven enthusiasm, but there are days when you can't count on that. There were times where we got beat up, like we did against GT, NCSU, USC, and WVA. All of those teams took it to us, and we were unable to respond or keep up with the pace. It's been a fairly common theme in losses during the last 3 years.

At a minimum, a solid strength and conditioning program develops all of these things: strength, power, mental toughness and confidence, and raw aggression. Clemson Football is lacking in ALL of these areas.

Sure, we have some fundamental and scheme issues on defense, and if we don't get it fixed we will not move upward. But if we truly want to reach the upper echelon of college football, then STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING MUST MAKE A CHANGE.

If Dabo can't see this, then he will fail as head coach. If he can't see that physicality is what's holding us back, then he will not make it in big boy football. We have some tremendous athletes and Dabo and staff are continuing to build a roster that is capable of beating anyone. But if he doesn't fix our most glaring issue immediately, IN TIME FOR WINTER WORKOUTS, then the bad losses we saw this year will rear their ugly heads all over again next year. If that happens, then he will lose the vast majority of the DESERVED support he has now.

No, I do not expect that we are good enough to win every single game. Sometimes you lose regardless of athletes and strength and conditioning. But when you get physically punched in the mouth like we did 4 times this year (and almost 5), then fixing the problems at the root of those losses is PRIORITY #1.

Three years ago Dabo said he was going to make us tougher. In many ways he has. We are better now then when he took over. We've reached another level.. but obviously there's another level we're striving to achieve. If Dabo wants to succeed at Clemson or anywhere for that matter, then he'd better embrace the fact that Strength and Conditioning has changed dramatically from when he played and when our current S/C staff was hired.

Dabo's shown he's not afraid to make the difficult decisions. If he recognizes an issue, and if it means moving someone out who's been here over 15 years, then he will do it. It's not 1990 anymore. Your Strength and Conditioning staff is as important as any coach on the field. The question is - does he recognize it?

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seeing what I want to see. Not in the least bit.

I say there's over a decade of seeing teams being able to out-physical us. When we can't outscheme, out-athlete, or out-enthusiasm other teams, then we typically get beat up and lose.

I think defense lacks fundamentals and has for years. Regardless, I think blocking and getting off blocks has been an obvious problem for years.

I think the naked eye can see most teams are physically in a different kind of shape than us. That's what prompts guys at TI and TCI etc to point it out. It's not folks imaginations running away from them. You CAN see it.

I think you can see that almost everyone from Wofford (yes, even Wofford!) to Wake, from NCSU to USC to WVU,,they all had the builds. Bigger arms and bigger lower bodies. More drive. More aggression. Luckily we were able to beat a couple of those guys because we had superior talent and/or God-given size. Good thing.

I agree with the growing masses that thinks it's obvious.

I don't there is anything at all ridiculous about what can be seen with the naked eye. It's weird how one can not physically see it. Do you watch the any games from the best teams in America? Can you not see they're physically imposing? Really?? If you can't readily see it, then I suppose it cannot be explained.

Just as an example - USC hired a guys named Craig Fitzgerald a few years back. He is known to exercise the latest techniques and methods. Since his hire, their entire team took on VISIBLY bigger sizes and lower bodies... They've punched is in the face and beat us solely on physicality ever since. USC has improved as a team since his hire. Why do you think Spurrier made a change? Because he understands the importance of this area in today's game. It takes more than scheme and you can't win on speed and athleticism anymore.

STRENGTH and CONDITIONING. The biggest issue facing the

I think it's way more mental than S&C.

I disagree. I didn't think we looked as muscular as WVU but

I thought we looked bigger than WVU...

Man, I wish I didn't see what I see. It's not a matter of

We've also been owned by USC in baseball/basketball

Which is why I think a change in defensive scheme and/or S&C

Tajh ad other players guts

Re: You have noticed it too?***

Re: STRENGTH and CONDITIONING. The biggest issue facing the

Batson is one of the most respected guys in the industry

Re: Batson is one of the most respected guys in the industry

Exactly.***

BS.

s&c is a HUGE part of our problem. Needs to be fixed asap***

I think it's obvious. If we don't address it, then we're

Coty Sensabaugh and Bashaud Breeland are over 6 feet***

Why hasn't anyone ever tried to hire him away. He is just

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