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Replies: 33
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Walk-On [141]
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The Tommy West Years
Mar 26, 2020, 10:52 PM
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I know what you are probably thinking. Why in the world would anyone want to go back and talk about the Tommy West years?!?
Well, I understand but since there isn't anything new to talk about right now, Alan and I decided to do a show reviewing Clemson Football from 1994-1998. We wanted to look back on those years to learn more about Clemson's history, better understand the team that we grew up watching, and show some love to the players who played on those teams.
These Tigers might not have built the Dabo Swinney dynasty but they gave their all for the team we love and cheer for.
So, if you are done watching Tiger King lol...check these clips out.
And let me know who your favorite Tommy West era player was. I'm picking Antuan Edwards. Alan went with Anthony Simmons.
1994
https://youtu.be/OqT8wkxxH-M
1995
https://youtu.be/DOjMp5Ap9Cw
1996
https://youtu.be/rNErdVYp1FQ
1997
https://youtu.be/9kJE1uol07E
1998
https://youtu.be/8U7NZ3E87-g
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Oculus Spirit [76919]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 26, 2020, 11:09 PM
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That was my school era.
I’m not going to comment on players or Tommy, as a coach.
I will share this... In 1998, I played Tommy quarters and whipped his A double. We both ended up wasted. No other details other than he took it like a man.
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Orange Blooded [2069]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 26, 2020, 11:13 PM
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I thought the ‘93 team was built strong enough to win the natty. i remember the year so well because of what didn’t happen. That defense today would still be dynamic
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Walk-On [141]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 26, 2020, 11:15 PM
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I think if you keep the same defense but change to a spread offense...those Nealon Greene teams would have been crazy good.
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All-Conference [442]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 26, 2020, 11:54 PM
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If my memory is correct we were in the running for Nebraska QB at the time know that would have been fun to watch
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Orange Blooded [4668]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 27, 2020, 2:15 AM
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Tommy Fraser?
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CU Guru [1722]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 27, 2020, 8:17 AM
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Yes. Tommy Frazier. National Championships at Nebraska. We were in final group in his recruitment. I remember Korncoot saying on his radio show back then “ if Frazier doesn’t go to Clemson I will walk from Columbia to Clemson”.
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All-Conference [442]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 26, 2020, 11:56 PM
[ in reply to Re: The Tommy West Years ] |
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Raymond Priester and Brian Dawkins, Emory Smith and Tony Horne were my favorites
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All-Conference [442]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 26, 2020, 11:58 PM
[ in reply to Re: The Tommy West Years ] |
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Also Tommy West gets a bad rap but Clemson was not putting any money into football at the time our facilities were grossly behind others in our region. I like Tommy he was a country boy like us and all he wanted was the best for Clemson and his players.
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Team Captain [460]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 27, 2020, 12:33 AM
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Agree 100%. Like him or not Bowden had the guts to come in and let the admin know how behind we were. Paved the way for where we are today. Tommy West was one of the nicest guys I ever met.
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All-Conference [442]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 26, 2020, 11:59 PM
[ in reply to Re: The Tommy West Years ] |
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1995 Clemson vs USC and 1997-1998 were my favorite games of that era
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All-In [46565]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 27, 2020, 4:25 AM
[ in reply to Re: The Tommy West Years ] |
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We lacked mean mad killer instinct OLinemen. If our OL recruiting & coaching was much better we could have been special.
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All-In [27366]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 26, 2020, 11:58 PM
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"What's worse than a quarantine?"
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All-Conference [442]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 27, 2020, 12:02 AM
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Being a Gamecock for life talk about your chronic illness
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All-In [46565]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 27, 2020, 4:30 AM
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Poor coots, Muscoot said he had the deepest talent since he had been at S.C. and they actually played a tough schedule and quit early 4-8 experienced team.
Beat UGA and got a raise lol
UGA got beat at home by the ,,,,hehe hahaha coots.....lol????????
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Team Captain [460]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 27, 2020, 12:30 AM
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My first 2 years of college. Anthony Simmons was my fav. Best LB in clemson history right ahead of Jeff Davis and Kirkland imo. Got my first taste of the rivalry in Columbia. 47-21.
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Rock Defender [53]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 27, 2020, 7:41 AM
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I lived in Chattanooga TN when UTC hired West to be the HC. He was a horrible, pitiful HC, and was surprised that he could even keep a job as a HC. He should have been a DC somewhere, and never attempt being a HC. Then, of all the ignorant blunders, CLEMSON bought out his contract and hired this clown. What the heck were they thinking when they did this. And I say 'they' because I would not want to be a party to agreeing to that decision. The ones making that decision should have been fired on the spot. Tommy went on to be a lousy HC at CLEMSON just as I suspected he would be. Good grief. I'm surprised that the CLEMSON football program survived that guy.
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All-In [44041]
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But he was a good ‘ol boy who coached under Danny!!
Mar 27, 2020, 8:39 AM
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That was all that mattered to an embarrassingly large portion of our fan base then. These are also many of the same rednecks who went out of their way to sabotage Hatfield. It was a sad time for Clemson football.
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Orange Blooded [3136]
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I think Hatfield did enough on his own.I'd rather talk about
Mar 27, 2020, 9:28 AM
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the virus than the West years.
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CU Medallion [52307]
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All-In [44041]
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I agree, recruiting declined under Hatfield.
Mar 27, 2020, 11:07 AM
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I believe that was a combination of Hatfield not being as good of a recruiter as Ford, and also some boosters undermining him on the recruiting trail.
He did get some very good players for us though, including our only NFL Hall of Famer (Brian Dawkins).
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Heisman Winner [140455]
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110%er [9664]
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The third redneck looks like Lt. Dan at New Years...***
Mar 27, 2020, 1:20 PM
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Oculus Spirit [96841]
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You seriously have no clue about Hatfield...
Mar 27, 2020, 9:40 AM
[ in reply to But he was a good ‘ol boy who coached under Danny!! ] |
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I talked to a guy who played under both Ford and Hatfield. He said Hatfield's practices were like a walk in the park compared to Ford's. Our lack of toughness became more and more evident.
Also heard from multiple sources that Hatfield damaged relationships with high school coaches and administrators that Ford had worked years to establish.
OK I'll run along to change into my orange overalls.
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All-In [44041]
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Yes, I do have a clue about Hatfield.
Mar 27, 2020, 11:03 AM
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My comment had nothing to do about his coaching ability, but about the portion of our fan base who undermined him because they didn’t like him and/or were still mad about Ford being gone. Reacting that way about a football coach is immature, ignorant, and yes - redneck.
I’m aware that he could’ve done some things differently. I disagree with the way he ran practices, believe that he didn’t discipline well, and feel that he could have done a better job in his relationship with others. But he was a good football coach and believe he was treated poorly by some Clemson people. There was no excuse for him to be treated that way, regardless of how upset some people were.
And like it or not, he was definitely a better football coach than Tommy West.
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Heisman Winner [140455]
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Why discredit CTW?
Mar 27, 2020, 12:13 PM
[ in reply to But he was a good ‘ol boy who coached under Danny!! ] |
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He had a .53 overall winning percentage at Clemson.
He had a .53 conference winning percentage at Clemson.
He beat #19 UNC in 1994.
He beat #22 GT & #15 UVA in 1996.
He coached in the post season 4 times while at Clemson, winning the 1994 Peach Bowl against Kentucky, a school Clemson has an overall losing record against (5-8).
He ran a clean program and loved Clemson.
Another very important stat...
Best season: 1995
Record: 8-4
Average attendance: 71,297
Worst season: 1998
Record: 3-8
Average attendance: 68,313
That's on the fans.
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Oculus Spirit [96841]
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It's amazing to me
Mar 27, 2020, 12:26 PM
[ in reply to But he was a good ‘ol boy who coached under Danny!! ] |
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that you acknowledge the importance of administrative support, facilities, etc., but don't seem to care that West didn't have those things in place during his time at Clemson.
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All-In [44041]
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The support and facilities argument would be more applicable to Bowden.
Mar 27, 2020, 12:45 PM
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Bowden had some good teams. We were good but not great, and you could tell we were close.
In contrast, with West we were a bad football team. A good coach should be able to get his teams to play hard, be competitive, and at least be good. West couldn’t do that, and it was obvious that it wasn’t an issue of facilities or support.
Nice try, but you can do better.
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Oculus Spirit [96841]
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It is no coincidence to me that these successes
Mar 27, 2020, 1:31 PM
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have occurred since Clemson's AD made a commitment to improving the football program (new facilities, increased budget for assistant coaches, new support staff, etc.).
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Legend [16505]
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He knew how to win in Columbia. That's about it.......***
Mar 27, 2020, 7:59 AM
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110%er [6881]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 27, 2020, 10:55 AM
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I've been watching these and surprised how interesting it is. But some of those Brandon Streeter stats?? Whoa...!
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Oculus Spirit [76919]
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Re: The Tommy West Years
Mar 27, 2020, 11:37 AM
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Toughest QB I’ve ever seen suit up in orange.
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CU Medallion [55745]
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dem Tiger striped collars in '98 doh!***
Mar 27, 2020, 11:51 AM
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Commissioner [963]
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