Sunday Sermon: The future from a painful history

Oct 26, 2014, 11:00 AM

Five straight wins. Bowl eligible before Halloween for the third straight year. A ferocious defense that literally causes fear in foes.

Sounds like the good old days have returned to the Valley. Sounds like it, that is, until you find yourself wallowing in this circular argument.

Tiger Fan 1: Cole stinks! He's slow, can't throw the deep ball, telegraphs his throws, and no one respects his running.
Tiger Fan 2: But DW is out, and Cole's what we've got at QB. And he's not exactly getting stellar support from the line. As Clemson fans, we need to support him.
Tiger Fan 1: But he stinks.
TF 2: But he's what we've got.
TF 1: But he stinks.
TF 2: But he's what we've got.
(repeat until everyone is just sick of hearing it.....)

Both are Tiger fans, and both have merit in their feelings. Cole will never sway TF1, and TF2 will never see the value in denigrating the only QB we've got out there. Frankly I'm not a big fan of doing so, either.

And anyone who's been with the Tigers for a while has seen this before. For those who haven't, close your eyes and come back with me to the cusp of Clemson's golden era....1976. Mike O'Cain, a senior QB, was surrounded by young, blossoming talent. He also had a young QB (who, ironically, also wore No. 4) on his heels.

Mike was a decent QB and had a great mind for the game. But he didn't have Steve's skill set ... and he didn't have the defense that was to come. There was a lot of frustration in 1976, just like there is today. But I'm convinced that if Clemson had the '77 defense with the 76 offense, we'd see much of what we're seeing this year. Ugly at times, but successful.

That is why I'm optimistic, and why I may not enjoy watching this offense, I rejoice in where we're heading. We are where we are ... bowl eligible, despite losing a dozen key players on offense. So, let's try to reach a reasonable understanding so we can rejoice in the most impressive defense to defend the Valley in decades....

Given: Cole isn't DW, and he never will be.
Given: DW isn't coming back until GTech at the earliest.
Given: A multitude of injuries places even more importance on Cole's play. It also exposes some weaknesses on the O Line.
Given: Cole can't do anything about the injuries or exposed O Line issues, and there's no sense in deriding him for them.
Given: It's also pointless to retool the offense, since DW will be coming back.
Given: The current plethora of swing passes and short-yardage stuff is the most expedient solution to the task we currently have at hand.
Given: DW's return will cure a LOT of ills.
Then, resolved: True Tiger fans may have to grit their teeth a while longer, but with the defense we have, we should rejoice in the destruction of other teams while we await DW's return.

Folks intent on looking only for the bad this seaosn won't have to look hard to find it. But in the meantime, you're missing a he11uva tableau being painted in the pain and blood of our opponents.

In a few weeks, the offense will be fixed. And the defense will be insatiable.

And both, together, will be beautiful.

I promise.

Better days ahead.