OK, since we are officially into Dark Territory, it is time

Jun 5, 2023, 8:31 AM

for us to flush the memories of the last season's endings in football, basketball, softball, and baseball. I cannot recall a single season over these many years when seemingly every sport ended with crushing disappointment like this year.

We are obviously spoiled when a football season that included an ACC Championship and a major bowl appearance bring up mostly bad memories. But, this past season was like that. The continued ineptitude of DJ as a passer, and Dabo's beyond dogged determination to stick with him, still bottles the mime. As a result, we gifted the Coots a win they never should have sniffed, and the bowl game just showed up how far behind the curve we have fallen. Flush it!

In basketball, our AD had promised to find a new leader for us if we did not make the NCAA Tourney yet again. But, alas, keep his word he did not. And, Brownell Brownelled yet again. It will be hard to flush that season, knowing there is at least one more like it coming up. But, Flush it!

In softball, the season began with the highest of expectations. Unwarranted high expectations, as it turned out. We had the best player in the country, but could not give her enough support to get to the World Series. The late season skid that got us offered up as a sacrificial lamb to Oklahoma in the Supers showed that we can compete, but we are not quite there yet. That last loss, when we had the lead, still stings. FLUSH IT!

Now, baseball. Our AD DID pull the trigger on de-cooting our baseball program, and anyone who was paying attention knew this would be a rebuilding year. And, so it started, with average play at best, but improvement all along, and suddenly, tremendous overachievement. This team showed incredible heart, and fought their guts out all the way to the end of that massive 14 inning game with Tennessee. But, that loss, combined with the utterly ridiculous ejection and subsequent suspension of our spark plug leader on the field, neutered us in our last game. A truly bitter end to a season that honestly exceeded expectations. FLUSH IT!

Things WILL be better this season in all these Clemson sports, I can optimistically say. The future looks bright, and the disappointments will fade as we get ready for the first season of Clemson's resurgence. GO, TIGERS!