Replies: 31
| visibility 6,744
|
All-TigerNet [14233]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 13983
Joined: 2/8/11
|
Nothing Left To Win....
Nov 5, 2012, 10:02 AM
|
|
Read this on another site. Gave me goosebumps. Enjoy!
Nothing Left To Win.
In November 1989, we didn't have much to play for against USC. We had locked up a bowl bid, had lost the ACC championship, and had no national title hopes.
In the words of Coach Ford as he addressed the team on the Sunday prior to the USC, "We got Nothing left to win."
This struck many of us as somewhat odd. In fact our faces must've been quite slack-jawed, because the next thing out of Coach's mouth was… "What? You think we got something left to win?"
Stunned silence enveloped the room.
And on that the meeting was adjourned.
The week was a bustling environment of press, campus activity, and a bittersweet thought this was our last regular season game. But many of us seniors couldn't shake the thought of Coach Ford's words…. "Nothing Left To Win." As I hurried to the senior meeting with Coach Ford on Thursday afternoon, I anticipated what he would say to give me comfort, to ease the troublesome statement he had stuck in my mind.
We talked briefly about the itinerary for our trip, and the fact that we might not have a curfew after the game and that we could ride home with friends or family instead of a team trip. Nothing unusual… and then Ricardo Hooper brought it up…
"Coach, can we wear Orange on the road?"
Coach Ford laughed. "Uh, ha ha, uhhh Why in the world… you don't need no orange pants. Naw I don't think so." Well it was worth a shot, I thought. Coach Ford added. "Anythin' else?" The room stayed silent. "Alright then… see y'all at practice."
Nothing said to ease my fears, nothing.
The Thursday night practice was COLD, and it went by way to quick. Before I knew it we were on our way to Columbia. We checked into the hotel, and had a late dinner, as it would be a night game on Saturday. The next day the team chose "Harlem Nights" as our team movie. I hated it. I remember thinking this just isn't ANY fun. How could Coach Ford, just give up on us like this… how could he say we didn't have anything to play for? How COULD HE??!!!
The rest of that day, I felt as though I was unprepared. I felt as if the last 3 years had been a blur, and I had learned nothing. Indeed, it was an unsettling trip to Williams Brice. As I got off the bus, I commented to Chip Davis about how I'd been feeling. "Me too" was his reply.
Warms ups were business as usual, and I remember being able to find my girlfriend and her friends easily in the Clemson crowd that had gathered at the corner of the stadium…
But I still couldn't shake the feeling… "Nothing to win…"
The locker room was quiet.
Solemn.
Sad.
"I told y'all, y'all got nothing to win." Coach Ford started. And then after a brief pause, he continued… his voice getting louder on every syllable, "And y'all don't. But you got EVERYTHING to prove. Y'all can prove y'all are the WINNINGEST class in the ACC, y'all can prove we own them, and y'all can prove to all them writers and people who wanna WRITE YOU OFF!"
We sat in amazement… his fury was evident, and then it hit us… He WAS MAD. He was pissed off beyond belief… angry at those who snubbed their noses at a team that had beaten FSU in Tallahassee, angry at those who thought 8 wins going into the regular season finale against USC wasn't good enough, angry at those who faulted his guys for losing a couple of games. And now his anger flowed white-hot, enveloping us all… setting off a fire inside each one of us… a fire he stoked by continuing, "I'm proud of y'all!"
And then his voice got soft… and he said, "Y'all ain't got nothing to win… but everything to prove."
And in a whisper he finished…. "Prove you deserve to wear these."
And tossed a pair of Orange Pants onto the bench.
|
|
|
|
110%er [8099]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 3481
Joined: 2/14/12
|
AWESOME!***
Nov 5, 2014, 11:09 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [13888]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 10641
Joined: 9/15/02
|
^^^^POTD day^^^^
Nov 5, 2014, 11:13 AM
|
|
HTH helps
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [4521]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 3669
Joined: 9/19/05
|
45-0, boys and girls!!!
Nov 5, 2014, 11:25 AM
|
|
We could do it again!
On edit: Largest margins of victory for Clemson in this series 1st) 51 - 0 (1900) 2nd) 63 - 17 (2003) 3rd) 45 - 0 (1989)
Message was edited by: Beegshot® - history
|
|
|
|
|
CU Guru [1929]
TigerPulse: 91%
Posts: 2510
Joined: 8/30/14
|
Re: 45-0, boys and girls!!!
Nov 5, 2014, 11:36 AM
|
|
Wow! What an awesome story, Danny was one of a kind and just like Dabo, this university is forever better for all they have given us.
|
|
|
|
|
110%er [5084]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 5811
Joined: 8/7/01
|
Goosebumps!***
Nov 5, 2014, 11:38 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CU Guru [1925]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 1983
Joined: 8/25/99
|
If I remember correctly
Nov 5, 2014, 11:42 AM
|
|
I think it was Terry Allen that was injured before that game and was not expected to play. I was sitting in the endzone with all the Clemson fans and before the rest of the team and he came out on his crutches and everyone noticed that he was wearing the orange pants. He walked over in front of the fans, threw down his crutches and sprinted to the sideline. Then the rest of the team came running out.
That game was over before the ball was kicked off.
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [2180]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 2690
Joined: 8/2/06
|
I just slammed my hand on my desk and let out a
Nov 5, 2014, 11:46 AM
|
|
GO TIGERS! Co-worker laughing and staring. Hahaha
I was 16 years old at that game and had never attended a game AT SC. I really enjoyed this read...I never knew that took place. We don't know whats said behind closed doors. Someone send this to Dabo. Go Tigers!
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [14233]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 13983
Joined: 2/8/11
|
Just found out Dabo Swinney has this and
Nov 6, 2014, 9:29 AM
|
|
has read it to the team before.
|
|
|
|
|
CU Medallion [55747]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 35292
Joined: 11/30/98
|
That's a classic from Joe Cobb
Nov 5, 2014, 12:31 PM
|
|
What was the web site?
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [14233]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 13983
Joined: 2/8/11
|
Re: That's a classic from Joe Cobb
Nov 5, 2014, 12:46 PM
|
|
Someone posted on TI's message board.
|
|
|
|
|
110%er [8244]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 7565
Joined: 1/1/11
|
Re: Nothing Left To Win....
Nov 5, 2014, 12:42 PM
|
|
Thanks If you don't mind and even if you do I'm going to share this with other members of our Clemson Family
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [14233]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 13983
Joined: 2/8/11
|
Re: Nothing Left To Win....
Nov 5, 2014, 12:46 PM
|
|
Not mine. Joe Cobb's work.
Go Tigers.
|
|
|
|
|
CU Guru [1003]
TigerPulse: 75%
Posts: 1165
Joined: 12/9/10
|
Re: Nothing Left To Win....
Nov 5, 2014, 1:00 PM
|
|
Holy crap that was awesome!!
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [4883]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 4949
Joined: 1/4/06
|
harlem nights was the movie
Nov 5, 2014, 1:02 PM
|
|
there was a scene when the boxing champ said dont take this a$$ whipping peronally. kinda a premonition i hope the coots did take it personally.
great post of coach ford and his motivation skills.
|
|
|
|
|
CU Guru [1052]
TigerPulse: 89%
Posts: 1977
Joined: 7/8/13
|
Really enjoyed reading that.
Nov 5, 2014, 1:04 PM
|
|
Thanks bro
|
|
|
|
|
CU Medallion [51531]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 43078
Joined: 8/10/04
|
GO effin' TIGERS!***
Nov 5, 2014, 1:26 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [3839]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 5055
Joined: 9/10/01
|
I was there. And the next day......
Nov 6, 2014, 8:14 AM
|
|
I went to the local grocery store, and bought every zero candy bar they had. I handed them out to every coot fan I knew of.
GO TIGERS ALL IN!
|
|
|
|
|
CU Guru [1537]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 1561
Joined: 7/27/11
|
OMG! All fired up now! GO TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nov 6, 2014, 8:58 AM
|
|
LOVE THIS TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
CU Guru [1617]
TigerPulse: 93%
Posts: 1787
Joined: 10/11/08
|
HOPE THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH ARE READY FOR CAPS LOCK!!!!
Nov 6, 2014, 9:27 AM
|
|
HIT SOMEBODY
|
|
|
|
|
110%er [7148]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 3799
Joined: 9/19/10
|
I just got goose bumps..
Nov 6, 2014, 9:29 AM
|
|
what a great story, what legends are made of...
|
|
|
|
|
CU Guru [1555]
TigerPulse: 97%
Posts: 2454
Joined: 2/10/06
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [14233]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 13983
Joined: 2/8/11
|
Re: Original...link:
Nov 6, 2014, 10:26 AM
|
|
Thank you. Joe Cobb is the man.
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [4441]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 6304
Joined: 10/26/05
|
Goosebumps!***
Nov 6, 2014, 10:56 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hall of Famer [24764]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 42486
Joined: 7/31/10
|
+1. Good find. Who actually wrote that?***
Nov 6, 2014, 11:06 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [14233]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 13983
Joined: 2/8/11
|
Joe Cobb***
Nov 6, 2014, 11:08 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hall of Famer [24764]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 42486
Joined: 7/31/10
|
Is that an excerpt from a book? TIA.***
Nov 6, 2014, 11:11 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [14233]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 13983
Joined: 2/8/11
|
I don't think so. Someone
Nov 6, 2014, 11:16 AM
|
|
posted a link where he posted this here on TNET. You could probably T-Mail him.
He's obviously a talented writer.
|
|
|
|
|
Hall of Famer [24764]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 42486
Joined: 7/31/10
|
Talented writer... No doubt.***
Nov 6, 2014, 11:20 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [3730]
TigerPulse: 97%
Posts: 4857
Joined: 11/4/03
|
Nothing like Ole Danny to bring a smile to your face...
Nov 6, 2014, 11:12 AM
|
|
...That guy is a legend. I am so happy that my entire student career at Clemson was with Danny at the helm and there to experience that magical year in '81.
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [2760]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 1578
Joined: 5/11/04
|
For those under 40, this post is for you
Nov 6, 2014, 3:14 PM
|
|
most of us old-timers revere Coach Ford because of stories like these. He encapsulated what we all felt inside, that yearning to push yourself beyond what you think you could, to fight a worthy battle with everything in your soul, to know that through all the ups and downs, you have what it takes. Gene Hackman says in the Replacements that greatness, whoever brief, stays with a man. Danny knew this and drew it out of not only his players, but ordinary fans alike.
I'm just thankful to be old enough to still see the greatness that he embodied and how it transcended through the entire Tiger Nation.
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [3590]
TigerPulse: 89%
Posts: 6987
Joined: 11/30/12
|
I hope the people who fired Danney Ford spend eternity
Nov 6, 2014, 4:16 PM
|
|
with c0cklovers in Columbia.
|
|
|
|
Replies: 31
| visibility 6,744
|
|
|