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My take on the situation.

Dec 20, 2006, 9:52 AM

I started as a freshman at Clemson in 1968 which means that during my five football seasons as a student we never have a winning season. (Blame it on me if you want to). However during those five seasons and ever since I always enjoyed going to games, IPTAY meetings, other events and just meeting Clemson people in general while talking Clemson sports and in general. Clemson was a special place and I always thought about Rev. Dodd's saying "We're Clemson, We're better than that". My wife and I have even discussed moving to Clemson when she retired.

Lately I have started to rethink the situation as it seems that no one is happy about Clemson any more. It's not the team's record or play but people just find something to complain about. I met a fellow Clemson fan a while back and mentioned what a great time I had at the Peach bowl. The first thing he started talking about was how he got shafted by the ticket office. If you try to talk about how great the team played the first of the season to anyone they immediately come back about how sorry the teams were that we played. If you try to post something positive on the board someone will immediately post something negative to contradict you.

It has reached a point that we are as negative as any other group anywhere. We make fun of Alabama trying to resurrect the Bear and the coots worshiping SOS and at the same time talk about DF in those same reverend tones.

Right now out recruiting is going as bad as it was going good a few months back. People say that Internet boards don't influence recruits but attitude does and right now the attitude of the typical Clemson fan is turning off recruits. If you are a recruit looking at the next four years would you rather commit to a program where the administration just committed to the head coach by giving him a big raise or to one where they refused to even consider it. What kind of message does this send?

To counter the message that we didn't give our coach a raise we say that we refuse to accept mediocrity. But what are we willing to accept? When KH took over the program most people agree that he killed it. But it was more than just him, our fans didn't help keep the Clemson spirit alive. Right now I see a similar attitude among the fans that whether deserved or not they have deserted TB and unless he can pull off a miracle he has little chance of winning them back.

I don't have the answer but right now I feel more depressed about Clemson football than I ever have and it is not because of the team or coaches but rather the attitude of the fans. There are a lot of positives about Clemson football and they aren't hard to find so the next time you meet a fellow Clemson fan don't let your opening statement be a complaint. Jad Dean knows he missed some FG's this year, you don't have to tell him that. He made quite a few but few people seem to remember those. The team lost 4 games but the also won 8, focus on the wins and be happier. It won't solve all your problems but it will help with your ulcers.

A Clemson man needs no introduction especially if the first words out of your mouth are "Fire Tommy Bowden".

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I understand exactly what you're talking about, what I want to talk about is the reason fans are acting like they are. In some ways Clemson is a victim of its own success, much like Alabama. In other ways Clemson is a victim to the changing world of college football in general.

Many people would say the reason is that the coaching is bad, playcalling is bad, our QB is bad, Tommy's lost the team, whatever. That's what we read daily on Tigernet, but the reason for these attitudes goes much deeper and sadly, as with all things that make good people bad, it revolves around money.

There is a facilities race going on in college football right now and Clemson, from President Barker, to Bill D'Andrea, to Tommy Bowden have all been sucked in and consumed by it. So have the fans. We have to keep up with the Jones'. To do that we have to win games and fans and alumni have to give more money.

As fans, IPTAY members, and alumni are asked to fork over more and more money, the expectations of the fans begins to be tied to their contribution to the cause. They begin to see it as an investment. Many people spend as much as 1 out of every 5 or 6 dollars they make on Clemson football. Let's take a lok at a longtime Clemson family with a husband, wife, and two kids. Both the husband and wife have been clemson fans since the 70's. At that time their parents donated $100 bucks a year or less and sat on the 50 yardline. Now they are grown and want their kids to experience the fun of Clemson football just as they did when they were kids. SO....

The father and mother both work and make about $80,000 a year. Dad donates $2,500 a year to IPTAY to keep sitting in his father's seats. He then has to pay $2,400 for four season tickets. He lives in Columbia, as did his father, and has to drive 300 miles to the games. He then has to stay in a hotel room, which is about $400 per night in the same area where decades earlier he stayed with his parents. Then there's the food for tailgating and the $5.00 soft drinks. Alltogether, Dad ad family pay about $7,000, or nearly 10% of their income on Clemson football.

That's more money than they give to their church. It's more than they put in their savings account each year. It's more than they spend saving for their kids education.

Furthermore, they are told their increased spending will produce results on the field. It will produce a championship team. More money means better facilities, which means better recruits, which means more wins down the road.

Well, the next few years are going to be "down the road" and it will only get worse, much worsae, if we do not see the results we have been promised. Most Clemson fans enjoy the games just because they love Clemson. But when these same people have to give 10% of their income to enjoy what their parents enjoyed spending 3% of their income, they will act more like betting fans sitting at a sports bar in Las Vegas than the "fans" we all grew up knowing. Money can turn good people bad, even Clemson people.

My take on the situation.

Only those who were around for 68-72 seasons

I was not, but . . .

Fire Hootie!

Re: Fire Hootie!

Fire Hootie! I think we did....

Re: Only those who were around for 68-72 seasons

Well said, sir ...***

Haven't been around nearly as long as you...

It's all about the $$$ unfortunately***

I have only encountered the negativity on this board.

I think any player that goes to a big-time conference school

true, but is that their only motivation? If so, it can be

Re: true, but is that their only motivation? If so, it can be

you aren't reading my posts. I am talking about sole

Footballfan has a point

Re: you aren't reading my posts. I am talking about sole

Of course Spiller wanted to make the most of his opportunity

Re: Of course Spiller wanted to make the most of his opportunity

I still think that a lot of players want the best possible-

Well, more power to you, buddy

Agreed.. I think it's just PART of their motivation normally

POTY!!!******

I'm not sure I would base my opinion of Clemson and

I would die in Clemson if I have the opportunity

It truly is a great place to be***

If we didn't "drop the ball" so to speak so often under TB

Great post. For many years we long timers would simply

Re: Great post. For many years we long timers would simply

HOF.***

Good post!!! Spot on!!! I would like to add something too

Re: My take on the situation.

Great post!

I started being aware of Clemson football

Thumbs Up Frog!! Agree Wholeheartedly.***

Re: My take on the situation.

I do hold coaches accountable

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