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Replies: 21
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Trainer [49]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Dabo' Issue - As I see it
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Sep 16, 2025, 4:10 PM
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As a Clemson fan since I moved to SC in 1983 I Have seen the ups and downs. Before Dabo, Clemson fans were happy or even overjoyed with 9 or 10 win seasons. Dabo changed that, he raised the bar higher and we as fans expected more. Now we are unhappy with 9 or 10 win seasons, we EXPECT ACC championships and playoff berths and anything less is a disappointment.
As a fan I am not happy about Clemson winning 10 games and missing the playoffs, but I also remember when it was much worse so I can deal with it when it comes as long as it does not become the standard.
The biggest issue I have and I think this is Dabo's biggest fault. At the start of the year Dabo talks about how great the players are how good things look and gives us fans a false hope. This happens because I believe Dabo truly loves his players and thinks they will give 110% on every play, but that is simply not the case and it is his orange colored glasses that cloud his ability to see that being a good man does not always make the best player (sad but true). Some peoples 110% is only equal to others 75% because they are simply not that gifted, another sad but true fact of life.
Dabo's failure in my opinion is mismanagement of expectations, he believes in his players and blocks out any other opinion or information to the contrary. This causes him to talk the team up so much that we as fans believe our Clemson Tigers are world beaters, when in reality we are not. If he would be more honest with himself, his players and us fans, I know I and a lot of other fans would be much more understanding and willing to cut him some slack for those years we are down.
And before someone says it has been five years since we have done anything, no matter how we got there last year we did get to the playoffs. I have seen 8 and 8 NFL teams get to the playoffs and make a run. Getting there is the hardest part and once there the slate is clean and everyone has a shot. So, I give him all the credit in the world for getting last year’s team there, I know midway through the season I did not see it happening. I do not think we will get that lucky this year, the holes in this team appear to be too big, but who knows, things change, other teams flop and I can still hope.
In the end I do not want Dabo to leave, I want him to learn to temper expectations and be honest with players and fans about what the season will bring. It is always better to keep expectations low and over perform than to have high expectations (as we at Clemson tend to have) and under perform.
Go Tigers!
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Clemson Sports Icon [54104]
TigerPulse: 79%
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Joined: 2003
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We made it to the playoffs and lost our first game by 14 points.
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Sep 16, 2025, 4:24 PM
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We were clearly not a top 12 team last year.
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Trainer [49]
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Re: We made it to the playoffs and lost our first game by 14 points.
Sep 16, 2025, 4:29 PM
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I didn't say we were and it doesn't really matter. We got in by the rules that were laid out. As I said, how you get there doesn't really matter, getting there is what counts.
If you expect every season to be perfect then you will never be happy with the results.
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Clemson Sports Icon [54104]
TigerPulse: 79%
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Joined: 2003
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I understand, but the point is making it and advancing.
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Sep 16, 2025, 4:46 PM
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We weren’t close.
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Gridiron Giant [15610]
TigerPulse: 99%
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The facts show you to completely incorrect.
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Sep 16, 2025, 5:10 PM
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I mean, are you ever genuine and/or correct about anything???
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Trainer [49]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: I understand, but the point is making it and advancing.
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Sep 16, 2025, 5:13 PM
[ in reply to I understand, but the point is making it and advancing. ] |
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To repeat myself, it doesn't really matter how we got there, we got there and had a chance. It didn't work out, but it didn't work out for 11 other teams either.
If you only look for the bad then don't be surprised when you find it. A season is full of good and bad, if you can't enjoy the good then why bother being a fan.
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Gridiron Giant [15610]
TigerPulse: 99%
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We finished #14 last year.
Sep 16, 2025, 5:09 PM
[ in reply to We made it to the playoffs and lost our first game by 14 points. ] |
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We were a defense away from possibly advancing to the final 8.
Not close huh? You’re not correct, like at all.
And I’m wondering, were you all over Brad and the program for failing to achieve expected level last season? What about the other 14 years we failed to achieve at a level commensurate with the coaches pay?
You’re so very transparent. A total hypocrite and troll.
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Asst Coach [885]
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Re: We finished #14 last year.
Sep 16, 2025, 5:55 PM
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A defense away is a pretty good ways..
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Tiger Spirit [9438]
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To me its not the losing. Its how bad we look doing it.
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Sep 16, 2025, 4:30 PM
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Just a poorly, poorly coached football team across virtually all position groups.
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Trainer [49]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: To me its not the losing. Its how bad we look doing it.
Sep 16, 2025, 4:37 PM
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I agree that losing a game we should have won due to poor play and mistakes makes it much harder.
I am not saying I support whatever Dabo does, I am saying that if he managed expectations better most fans would be more understanding.
Loosing is always bad, losing badly is embarrassing.
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Head Coach [951]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Re: Dabo' Issue - As I see it
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Sep 16, 2025, 4:41 PM
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I remember my freshman year at Clemson (fall '87) Danny Ford said how bad the rb position was, unsure how they were going to move the ball. Season starts, and Terry Allen and Wesley McFadden ran all over everyone. Dabo might want to take a page from Danny's motivational handbook.
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Trainer [49]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Dabo' Issue - As I see it
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Sep 16, 2025, 4:44 PM
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Exactly, if all Dabo ever tells us fans is how great things are then when adversity comes we're all looking for reasons and explanations.
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Head Coach [951]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Re: Dabo' Issue - As I see it
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Sep 16, 2025, 4:58 PM
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I think Danny was challenging his rbs when he publically said they weren't any good. When Dabo says everything is sunshine and rainbows the players relax thinking were fine. Maybe making them question themselves would light a fire.
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Gridiron Giant [15610]
TigerPulse: 99%
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I heard him publicly calling out his QB and defense.
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Sep 16, 2025, 10:58 PM
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Nobody has said we are fine.
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Head Coach [951]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Re: I heard him publicly calling out his QB and defense.
Sep 16, 2025, 5:19 PM
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I am only referring to his preseason talk. Since he's been at Clemson. Preseason is always super positive, no matter what. I just think that sometimes a little more blunt honesty wouldn't be terrible.
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Gridiron Giant [15610]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Not saying he shouldnt temper optimism, maybe maybe not.
Sep 16, 2025, 5:02 PM
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But building up his team hasn’t been the reason we “only” 9th in wins since 2021.
He’s coaching the same way he did when we made 6 straight 4-team playoffs.
We have had a QB issue since basically 2021, along with a defense who couldn’t complement the 11th ranked offense last year.
The QB needs to play better.
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Top TigerNet [28437]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 2018
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Re: Dabo' Issue - As I see it
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Sep 16, 2025, 5:08 PM
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It’s a little more than managing expectations. The slide started when he used the friends and family program to fill key coaching positions. When asked why an elite program like Clemson would not look outside at best of breed coaches, his response was “i spent about 30 seconds thinking about that.”
Then, Dabo planted his flag on recruiting and developing high school players rather than using the portal, like every other elite program in the country. Which is fine, if you’ve actually hired an elite coaching staff to do that development. Unfortunately, a mediocre coaching staff is getting us mediocre results on the development side. And the best example of that is what we’re seeing right now.
All I want is for a humbler Dabo to look at some of the things that aren’t working and be open to the idea that maybe not everything he touches turns to gold. The “not invented here” style of coaching is not working right now. There are best practices out there that should be considered.
I’d love to see him, bring some coaches in that he respects to consult with him. Guys like Nick Saban and David Shaw would be two good calls to make.
In summary, if he can set his ego aside and open up his mind a bit, he is way smart enough to get this turned around.
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Trainer [49]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Dabo' Issue - As I see it
Sep 16, 2025, 5:46 PM
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I do not disagree with what you said, but let me clarify my point about Dabo managing expectations. It is not just for fans. If he has to objectively look at the program to give fans an accurate portrayl of what expectations should be then it should also cause him to see the shortcomings of the program in a brighter light and work to address those shortcomings. That would be my hope.
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Tiger Cub [11]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Dabo' Issue - As I see it
Sep 16, 2025, 5:14 PM
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I agree about Dabo's overly high expectations. He should take a lesson from his hero Bear Bryant who never expected to score much less win. This was the public persona, not what he told his players. I come from the Frank Howard era and believe me, Dabo is the best coach in college football!! GO TIGERS!!!!
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Top TigerNet [29051]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 2011
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My Friend, during my long history with collegiate football, I don't
Sep 16, 2025, 5:35 PM
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really recall any HC at the beginning of a season saying that his team sucks and not to expect much.
Most all relate strengths and expectations; next to none ever say, "We probably won't win but four or five games this year, if we're lucky." Well, duh...................
Dabo himself has said repeatedly to take one game at a time; the wisest among us will do just that, and see how the season plays out. The same folks will understand part of his job is to uplift the morale of the team and fanbase, and that at times requires some exaggeration, embellishment, you name it. THEY ALL DO IT...ALWAYS HAVE...ALWAYS WILL.
When you understand the man, then you know to be very circumspect with expectations. He is always going to Rah Rah his team. What am I going to do? Exactly what he suggested: take one game at a time.
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Scout Team [81]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Dabo' Issue - As I see it
Sep 16, 2025, 5:42 PM
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As a Clemson fan since I moved to SC in 1983 I Have seen the ups and downs. Before Dabo, Clemson fans were happy or even overjoyed with 9 or 10 win seasons. Dabo changed that, he raised the bar higher and we as fans expected more. Now we are unhappy with 9 or 10 win seasons, we EXPECT ACC championships and playoff berths and anything less is a disappointment.
As a fan I am not happy about Clemson winning 10 games and missing the playoffs, but I also remember when it was much worse so I can deal with it when it comes as long as it does not become the standard.
The biggest issue I have and I think this is Dabo's biggest fault. At the start of the year Dabo talks about how great the players are how good things look and gives us fans a false hope. This happens because I believe Dabo truly loves his players and thinks they will give 110% on every play, but that is simply not the case and it is his orange colored glasses that cloud his ability to see that being a good man does not always make the best player (sad but true). Some peoples 110% is only equal to others 75% because they are simply not that gifted, another sad but true fact of life.
Dabo's failure in my opinion is mismanagement of expectations, he believes in his players and blocks out any other opinion or information to the contrary. This causes him to talk the team up so much that we as fans believe our Clemson Tigers are world beaters, when in reality we are not. If he would be more honest with himself, his players and us fans, I know I and a lot of other fans would be much more understanding and willing to cut him some slack for those years we are down.
And before someone says it has been five years since we have done anything, no matter how we got there last year we did get to the playoffs. I have seen 8 and 8 NFL teams get to the playoffs and make a run. Getting there is the hardest part and once there the slate is clean and everyone has a shot. So, I give him all the credit in the world for getting last year’s team there, I know midway through the season I did not see it happening. I do not think we will get that lucky this year, the holes in this team appear to be too big, but who knows, things change, other teams flop and I can still hope.
In the end I do not want Dabo to leave, I want him to learn to temper expectations and be honest with players and fans about what the season will bring. It is always better to keep expectations low and over perform than to have high expectations (as we at Clemson tend to have) and under perform.
Go Tigers!
it was the total sports reporting community that sold the country on the ability of this team. You and me and all the Clemson fan base swallowed their analysis hook, line, and sinker.
Don’t blame that on CDS.
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Trainer [49]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Dabo' Issue - As I see it
Sep 16, 2025, 5:49 PM
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What you say is true about the sports community, but I also do not recall Dabo ever trying to temper that narrative so fans might be a little less surprised by our current situation.
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Replies: 21
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