Sunday sermon: Clearing the temple

Oct 11, 2015, 1:29 PM

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As a few folks know, in my former pre-snake slinging life, I was a sportswriter. And one of the best pieces of advice I got was from fellow Tiger sports editor, long-time Tally newshound and much-missed Clemson grad Steve Ellis.

"Never be afraid to ask a question," Steve said as I was heading out for my first "real" interview. "It's the questions you didn't ask that will bite you in the end."

So I open today's missive with a nod to the chapped rear end of David Hale. He wasn't afraid to ask his question, and I respect that.

It was, however, a ridiculous question to ask in the wake of a thoroughly dominating effort by the Tigers over the Bees. And Dabo fielded it with just the right amount of umbrage and spice.

Saturday was the perfect day to clear the temple. All he needed was a money-changer dumb enough to start selling goats and doves. David was that guy ... not evil, not incompetent, but yea and verily, he picked the wrong question and the wrong manner to ask it.

The result: a stew that's been simmering the better part of four years, was ready to be served:

https://youtu.be/QG1JWJFGfOU?t=1m2s

It was time ... past time in the minds of many Tiger fans. We have seen the changes, rejoiced with the victories and wept with the losses. And none who follow Clemson can argue that the weeping has been far less than the rejoicing.

But those who do not follow Clemson ... or those who do and fear what they see ... cling to that word, that vision of a stumbling Tiger who cannot pounce without tripping over its own paws.

They want that ... deeply NEED that to be true. The alternative is far too unpleasant for those who would stand in the way of the Sons of Clemson.

So, after our 33rd straight win over an unranked foe our 13th straight win at home and a rare domination of one of the toughest outs on our schedule, that word came up again.

And in about three minutes, Dabo cleared years of a foul stench that has followed the Sons of Clemson like a cowbird pecking at the dung of a long ruminated meal.

I have no doubt that Dabo has been waiting for this chance. Next to that word, the notion that our coach is some aw shucks cross between Andy Griffith and Jed Clampett has been all that keeps our opponents from tossing and turning at night. After all, if the C-ing word is really dead, and Dabo is really a smart guy who, it turns out, is two steps ahead all the way, then Clemson is going to be a force in college football for quite a while to come.

Ace Evans has done a masterful job of chronicling the stumbles and bumbles of nearly 50 rankd teams who have lost to an unranked foe since we last did. And our chance to once again avenge that loss, to NC State in 2011, is coming on Halloween.

I fully expect to see Clemson still unbeaten at that point. I also expect to be accosted by inebriated Wuffies still desperately clinging to the forelorn hope that somehow, some way, the C-ing word still has some magic.

And I fully expect those hopes to be shoved down their alcohol and bile-greased throats by a team that has no fear, no slacking and no desire to ever hear that word again.

Dabo cleared the temple of the blasphemy of Clemsoning Saturday. There's nowhere to hide now. Anyone who brings it up now reveals themselves as lazy or vainly looking for a reason not to believe in Clemson. It's gone, dead and buried.

Now, it's up to us to tramp the dirt down, Tigers. Let there be no question to be asked.

And let the only "C" words to escape our opponent's lips be "Crap! Clemson's coming!"

Message was edited by: RevDodd®