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Open Letter to Dabo (long)
Sep 26, 2021, 5:07 PM
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If I were to write a letter to Dabo, it would look something like this. I'm sure some will hate this, but these are my thoughts... they don't have to be yours.
Dabo, I've been a fan and IPTAY member since 1978. During that time, I have contributed just under a half million dollars in donations to IPTAY and to the University. You and I have met a few times. Each occasion, you were kind and friendly. You remembered my name, asked about personal things in my life - like my battle with cancer, my 40+ years in broadcasting and my love of fishing. I'm hoping I've earned a small measure of your trust and the honor of having you read this heartfelt, yet less-than-joyful letter.
Like most Clemson fans, I appreciate all you’ve done to bring Clemson Football to a place of national prominence and consistent championships. You were the man for that job and most believe you still are. You've exceeded our expectations and I'm certain you can take us to higher heights. In fact, you must.
One of your greatest assets is loyalty; to your friends, players, coaches and God. However, that same loyalty now appears to be having a negative return on this program. While your loyalty to players, coaches, friends, and former players is honorable, where is your loyalty to this program's future?
Loyalty involves putting the future of others ahead of your own desires. Loyalty to the future is now more important than loyalty to the past. We are living in a "what have you done today" world. We may agree that Yesterday matters, but yesteryear no longer has as much value. Right or wrong, today's kids and parents are looking at today and tomorrow. And today isn't looking that attractive. Every decision made today is affecting recruits for tomorrow.
No doubt your accomplishments have been impressive. But it is you who always says prior to the season, "this team hasn't won anything. This team has to earn it." Well coach, that applies to you too. You have not earned the right to rest on what brought you here. Those tactics haven't proven anything this year. In fact, they're proving to be a detriment.
Like it or not, the transfer portal is a necessary tool for winning today. Innovative coaches with new and evolving schemes are a requirement. Failure to embrace the necessities of today's competitive environment only ensures our inability to compete in the future.
In your post-game presser, you said "this is where we are right now." Well, coach, "here” is not a good place. We are "here" as a result of not making swift and difficult decisions. Decisions about coaches, players, and methods. What troubles me the most, is where we are today is not a quick jump from where we were the last 5 years. We've gradually seen offensive issues mount over time, yet we've seen no adjustments to address them. Now is not the time to defend your past or plant your flag on the mountain of success. Now is not the time to get back on track, but to create new tracks. Tracks to the future of college football.
The question many of us are asking today is, are you going to continue to be more loyal to your ideals, your past, your personal friends and former players than you are to the future of this program? Many are wondering if you see what the rest of the world sees. It's a bad look, coach. And we're left asking if you can make the swift and significant changes that need to be made. I believe you can. You know you must. We all hope you do.
I'll support and defend you as long as you support positive change. I'll continue to support this University and program regardless. That's what true fans do. That's what I did through the Ken Hatfield and Tommy Bowden eras. Trust me, I write checks without choking these days thanks to you!
If you've made it this far in my rant, I want to thank you for your time and for all you've done for Clemson football. I'm looking forward to watching the evolution of you, your staff and this program, starting now. Here's to hoping change happens quickly, because as you've said every year, this team (and staff) have not earned the right to anything yet. Only you can earn it, coach. We're all pulling for you and believing you can!
Look forward. Act swiftly. Do so unapologetically.
Sincerely,
JHS
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