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Replies: 8
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Athletic Dir [1183]
TigerPulse: 97%
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Clemson Program Observations
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Oct 21, 2025, 10:30 AM
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1) Program in decline - agree
2) Identified Problems - Dabo has replaced Offensive Coordinator, Offensive Line coach, Defensive Coordinator and a number of other position coaches. Now, where do we go? What is our problem?
3) Recruiting - I truly don't believe there is a much better recruiter out there than Dabo - competing against $$ with schools without a salary cap. The evolution of College Football and lack of rules when it comes to boosters/pay for play puts Clemson at a real disadvantage.
4) Transfer Portal - along with #3, Clemson had (and potentially still has) one of the best brands in college football; the years that the whole country knew that either Alabama or Clemson will win the CFP could have been used to our advantage in the early years of the transfer portal. Even though we don't have the deep pockets like Texas teams, Miami, Ohio State, Michigan to buy the best players, Dabo could have recruited (from the Portal) based on "College National Championship" and "First Round Draft Pick" - money will come.
5) Stubborn - I have always been a supporter of the high school recruiting process. I thought that this would be the year that Dabo would prove naysayers wrong and win the "old fashion" way of developing players by recruiting out of high school. It's sad, but it's clear college football will never by what it once was. As one poster stated several days ago, I'm starting to like NFL (always hated compared to College Football). I was wrong about this year. Don't be stubborn and adapt to change.
6) Final Observation - Things are different; Dabo needs to adapt or be left in the dust. Transfer portal recruiting will be required. Vandy and Indiana each had 20+ transfer portal additions. Granted, this year has been crazy (Texas, Penn State, Clemson, etc) - we must adapt if we are going to compete in this new format that they call "College Football."
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Hall of Famer [8532]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Clemson Program Observations
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Oct 21, 2025, 10:38 AM
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Not sure if you’ve been watching, but we’ve already been left in the dust. Many of us were beating this drum years ago, but we’re being ignored. The nepotism, lazy recruiting hiring of unqualified coaches, has reared its ugly head. It will be years to dig out.
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Athletic Dir [1183]
TigerPulse: 97%
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Re: Clemson Program Observations
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Oct 21, 2025, 10:50 AM
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Hmmm. Not sure about the unqualified coaches comment. Hired the best OC and one of the best DC in the country - each one of the higher paid coordinators in the business. Interesting that both had much more experience than Jeff Scott and Tony Elliot, yet we were winning then.
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Game Day Hero [4540]
TigerPulse: 81%
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I give Dabo credit for tryouts to hire the best
Oct 21, 2025, 11:23 AM
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But Riley was simply a bad sale. He looked good on paper and a lot of big time programs wanted him, but he was selling a a bill of goods. He clearly was not the OC as advertised. But I give Dabo credit for trying. Riley had 3 years OC experience under Sonny Dykes, and now has 5+. But he clearly was not as advertised.
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Game Changer [1742]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Clemson Program Observations
Oct 21, 2025, 12:04 PM
[ in reply to Re: Clemson Program Observations ] |
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Riley was the "hot topic" coordinator at the time he was hired. He wasn't the best, but the quality of the available choices were few and far between that year. I still think he has been handcuffed by Dabo via the position coaches he has to work with and the running of the "Clemson" offense.
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Valley Legend [12775]
TigerPulse: 89%
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Joined: 2004
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^this^ except years to dig out
Oct 21, 2025, 10:56 AM
[ in reply to Re: Clemson Program Observations ] |
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If Dabo adapts then it can be fixed pretty quick.
If not then it will be years.
You’re right though. Several of us called this YEARS ago.
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Starter [264]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Clemson Program Observations
Oct 21, 2025, 10:53 AM
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I strongly agree with point #5. I was really hoping that this year's team was going to prove the naysayers wrong about Dabo's strategy regarding player retention and the transfer portal. The way this season has played out is still somewhat surreal. I sure didn't see the train wreck coming.
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Head Coach [940]
TigerPulse: 98%
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Re: Clemson Program Observations
Oct 21, 2025, 11:15 AM
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From my perspective Dabo's refusal to participate in the portal has been his largest mistake. By a mile. It's voluntarily tying one hand behind your back. He may have come to that same conclusion. MAY being the operative word. Up until now he has managed to keep his player retention at one of the highest levels in the country. My guess is that is about to change after this season. As for the coaches. As bad as the entire team (every position group) has looked, there needs to be changes to his staff. Whether or not he can or will is up for debate. One of the biggest changes needs to be in strength & conditioning. I haven't seen a team lose at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball in a long, long time. Dabo has recently said he does have any major changes planned. That better be coach speak for there will be a ton.
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CU Medallion [19044]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 2015
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Dabo is the problem. Nothing will change enough to be competitive.
Oct 21, 2025, 12:07 PM
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I don't mean competitive with the ACC, I mean on a national level.
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