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All-Pro [661]
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Joined: 12/2/01
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Jim Barker
Oct 7, 2013, 10:18 AM
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I finally got around to reading the latest issue of Clemson World magazine and in particular the segment devoted to President Barker's tenure as the leader of Clemson.
I know Barker takes a good bit of heat on this board for various ills - most of it probably unjustified. It may come as a surprise to some of us, but Clemson is far more than football or the other athletic programs. It's a university, a "seminary of higher learning", and it's a family. The section on the Barkers reminded me of what an amazing job he's done at leading our family. I strongly believe the value of my Clemson degree has increased substantially during his tenure as Clemson's reputation has been greatly enhanced nationally and internationally.
I know we didn't win the national titles or make the final fours that were on his punchlist when he took over, but we haven't done too shabbily athletically.
Now that I'm a few years north of 50, I realize my perspectives and priorities have shifted a bit. I still want to win, but I take just as much pride in seeing my university excel as a whole. The articles on the Barkers provided many reminders of their interactions with the students, both scheduled and impromptu, yet another datapoint that Clemson is special.
From my vantage point, we had a long dry spell after R.C. Edwards. Atchley, Lennon, and those other guys who followed R.C. didn't "get it". The Barker's clearly "get it" and Clemson is better because of them.
The Barker's have set the bar high - I hope the search committee is up to the task.
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Team Captain [454]
TigerPulse: 96%
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Joined: 11/1/03
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The citizens of Pakistan and India thank you.....***
Oct 7, 2013, 10:25 AM
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Orange Blooded [2532]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 9/3/10
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Re: Jim Barker
Oct 7, 2013, 10:25 AM
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Point well taken. I agree 100 percent.
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CU Medallion [51898]
TigerPulse: 100%
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I agree 100%
Oct 7, 2013, 10:35 AM
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I also worked at Clemson from Lennon - Barker. There was, indeed, a great difference for the better from the beginning with President Barker.
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CU Medallion [67686]
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Joined: 11/30/98
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Re: Jim Barker
Oct 7, 2013, 10:54 AM
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Its nice you like him and he has done some good but for a time we actually did pretty shabbily athletically other than golf and baseball. It is getting better but some of the lull came during his watch.
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All-Pro [661]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 403
Joined: 12/2/01
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Re: Jim Barker
Oct 7, 2013, 11:01 AM
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I hear you. I also believe it takes a whole lot longer to rebuild a culture than it does to wreck one. I was just saying Barker has done well in pointing us in the right direction.
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All-In [27366]
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His legacy will depend a lot on what comes next.***
Oct 7, 2013, 11:01 AM
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Legend [15907]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 11/15/09
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I agree with OP.. and 74tiger, though I
Oct 7, 2013, 11:01 AM
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respect your point, sometimes things have to get worse before they get better. Across the board, athletically and academically Clemson is better right now than it was 15 yeara ago.
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Freshman [7]
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Joined: 10/3/12
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Are you kidding?
Oct 7, 2013, 12:49 PM
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We can and must do much better than Barker this time around. Clemson deserves a dynamic leader who will guide real improvement in substantive areas--not just trumping up some artificial statistics for the sake of the US News rankings.
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