Hood's Article buried in a thread,needs to be read by everyone

Dec 20, 2023, 10:01 AM

Here is something I wrote for someone about Clemson and the portal and my thoughts....

Clemson and the transfer portal. I don't even know where to start. Let's start here...I've gotten maybe 15-20 texts, twice as many emails as that, and several FB messages that all kind of say the same thing (some of them are just angrier than others). Is Dabo serious about the portal or is he just saying stuff to placate the fans? Is he willing to write the big checks?

Let's start with is he actively in the portal..yes, he is. The Tigers have offered three OL and checked in on other guys, but like he's said, there has to be mutual interest. At a place like Clemson, where there are highly-recruited guys across the board still here, it makes it harder. Let's take a look at the two OL that have said no. Both want to play, and they want to play now. But Clemson returns guys have started a ton of games and accrued over 7500 snaps in Leigh, Sadler, Tate, Linthicum, Parks, Sewell and Miller. And they have guys like Flapjack Owens who will play. These guys want a sure thing, and that is far from a sure thing.

The coaches feel good about other spots, but we could see some movement before Jan. 2 when the portal closes. And don't forget, the portal opens back up in the spring when guys will have gotten to participate in spring practice. I don't think there's a huge rush to just go get guys. This staff feels like they have a legitimate shot at some 4-star and 5-star recruits right now, and they want to see what happens.

But you read about all of the nonsense going on.....Juice Wells wanted a cool million after not playing last season and quitting on his teammates. Carson Beck wants millions? Running backs wanting a guaranteed $75K per month? Clemson is not going to play that game. I talked to a HS coach Thursday who said he was told by a college coach they want to look in the portal first and build from there and great recruits are being left behind. Now these HS coaches want to see what schools are willing to be loyal and develop guys. And college coaches - at least the smart ones - are seeing that the portal is a money pit right now. Programs need to be built for sustained success, and in this day and time, yes it means using the portal, but it also means recruiting and developing your own players.

A coach like Dabo is playing the long game on this one - he has to look into the future and be forward-thinking. That means he knows he isn't going to make every fan happy, especially the keyboard warriors on social media. And like he's said before, if he let the fans coach he wouldn't be successful. The good news is that Clemson isn't suffering major losses and can be picky about who they get. Other schools are out there offering everybody and throwing money around, and at the first chance they will quit on their new team, whether that is before a bowl or a playoff.

And let's take a look at the two big instate schools - all of these transfers that have to be brought in for one year or however long, do you think they understand what "Forever to Thee" means to South Carolina fans? Do these players understand what "A Clemson Man Needs No Introduction" means to the Tiger faithful? They don't. But one of those two schools HAS to use the portal like it's a flea market, and the other doesn't.

So, in short, yes Clemson is going to use the portal and will keep using it. And will be selective in who they offer while also wanting to keep the focus on HS recruiting. And no, Clemson doesn't want the guys, the mercenaries, who will slip a piece of paper across the table and tell you to fill in an amount.

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