Brownell has hit his ceiling, just like Bowden did...

Mar 7, 2020, 7:35 AM

I love what Brad Brownell has brought to the Clemson basketball program and what he has built while here - I don't think it's coaching IQ that is keeping us from the next level, I don't think it's lack of recruiting, I don't think it's bad luck with injuries. I think it's the exact same thing that caused us to hit a ceiling with Tommy Bowden in football and then start this slow, gradual decline back to mediocrity. It is a stubbornness to realize that in this day and age, you have to show more fire and passion for your players and your program.

While I can respect how he carries himself as a coach and person, it has always bothered me that he never gets technical fouls called on him. It may seem like such a small, unimportant point, but I think as a player, I would want a coach that shows a little fire and stands up for me and my teammates. I think this is why you see that same lack of fire in our players, outside of the big games against good opponents on our home court. They get that energy and fire from the crowd and the stage of a big time opponent on television. They don't get any fire, passion, or energy from Brownell.

This is where Dabo took us to a level we never dreamed of in such a short time. He connects to the players, he fires them up, he goes on rants to support them and the football program, and celebrates in ways I would describe as embarrassing to opposing fans (and maybe even just adults in general). But the players eat it up, as do the recruits. They lay it on the line in just about every minute of every game.

While Brownell gets a lot of criticism on this board, he is also the one getting paid millions of dollars and with that comes criticism and expectations and accountability. I haven't seen much criticism of the players, which is as it should be - they don't get paid, they don't control who their teammates are, they don't control who plays and how many minutes, what offense/defense to run, etc. They just go out and put it all on the floor as best they can.

Just as there are recruits and players that may be reading this board and getting a bad taste of Clemson, there could be potential recruits and players that would come to Clemson if they saw a coach that showed more fire and passion for them and the team. Maybe he has a fire and passion we never see - I never said he doesn't possess it, he just doesn't show it, and that is the talk I'd be having with him if I were the AD and had any thoughts of extending his opportunity at Clemson.

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Brownell has hit his ceiling, just like Bowden did...

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