🏈 This is one of the reasons I can't wrap my mind around the OU vs CU Semi-final game ...

[It Takes Eleven]

So, Terry, given your unsettled opinion of OU's performance in the last of the season, who is your pick to win Clemson/OU?

 

[Tidestalker]

If we set aside Dabo having to battle the "Ole Miss plan" with Nkemdiche, his recruiting ability has never been in question. Richt, at UGA, has been in the same boat (especially considering the plethora of talent in GA.) Both have had this "fun sessions" with teams that resulted in being ill-prepared for games.

What's that attitude done for Richt ... this "fun environment?" Better yet, look to that school a little southeast of Tuscaloosa who has been using the "fun vs business" attitude in recruiting as of late? Both situations in turmoil.

IF they think about having fun with players during national championship preparation or season preparation they both end up in the same place: losing games they shouldn't an often in embarrassing ways.



Ya know, both coaches (give or take a game or two) had @ 70 wins and 20 losses in their first nine years.

Both coaches have used package deals to entice recruits. Both failed with these approaches.

Both coaches are considered "nice guys, players coaches." Both have paid consequences for that having to dismiss players when push came to shove.

I suspect if you step back from the tree and take in the entire forest you'll see more similarities than I've mentioned.

All fair points.

I guess my point is that it's not that easy to recruit to Clemson. He's making that a destination school for hot recruits... Much easier to have great classes year in/year out at UGA.

He'd be a fool not to use the package deal pitch. I think he's done a great job with recruiting there - His QB is a great example.

Clemson being in the top 4 is surpassing expectations IMO. They should not be beating FSU and going undefeated. Mark Richt on the other hand consistently came up short... Should have been winning SEC East titles nearly every other year in the past decade. If we disagree on those 2 points, than the rest of our argument is pretty much moot and we just fundamentally disagree on what type of expectations those 2 schools are saddled with.

IMO Dabo is raising the bar at Clemson and Richt was lowering the bar at UGA... Which is why I wouldn't put them in the category.

 

[TerryP]

I guess my point is that it's not that easy to recruit to Clemson. He's making that a destination school for hot recruits... Much easier to have great classes year in/year out at UGA.

It's certainly not as easy as UGA or UF in the SE; but it's better than your UT's and UArk's.

DuBose has such a "no door" policy around the program when Dabo was coaching in Tuscaloosa it made it real easy to see how well he related to kids. His success recruiting comes as no shock. It's the team management I'm skeptical of. It very well may not show up on the 31st. But, based on history, I believe we'll see things we can attribute to this type of environment.

He'd be a fool not to use the package deal pitch.

The most widely know deal with Nkemdiche and two, or was it three, of his teammates (remember his brother was already at Ole Miss.) IF they'd landed that trio we'd likely see the same things we're seeing with RN at OM.

IMO Dabo is raising the bar at Clemson

If we are comparing his results to those of Tommy Bowden, or Tommy West, yes he is raising the bar. If we step back a bit and compare him to Hatfield or Ford? In my opinion he's returned Clemson to the Hatfield level of success; not Ford's.

(FWIW, with team management, I'd say he learned a lot more about that aspect with Stallings and DuBose than he's learned at Clemson under Bowden and very possibly on his own. Two completely different worlds.)

 

[We All Bleed Crimson]

Actually, both cases would support questioning the move by Dabo this past weekend.




I can't look at the Clemson win over OU last season as Dabo winning a "big game." That was an 8-5 Sooner team whose best win(s) in 2014 were against two 7-6 teams; Tennessee and W. Virginia.

Dabo has coached the Tigers in some "big games." He's had the HC job seven years now and played seven top ten teams. Out of those seven games, Swinney has recorded three wins with two coming this season: UNC and Notre Dame. You, and others, may look at the UNC win as a big one. I can't look at Clemson putting 45 on a UNC team whose defense is in the bottom third in the NCAA as impressive; or big.

Anyone can take up the banner for Notre Dame as one of Clemson's big wins if you guys would like to do so. I'm wondering how this juggernaut of a Clemson offense gets held to half its normal point production.

Funny, to me, the more we get into this conversation the more question come up ... leaving me having a hard time wrapping my mind around this game.

TP, I wouldn't call the UNC game a big win (other than it was a conference championship game) for the very reason you stated - UNC's poor defense.
I just think Clemson will play to the level of the competition - as much as they're able. As for the ND game, that was in a gully-washer of a rainstorm so I take that as is, a close win (at home) for CU. (BTW, that was the same weekend that Bama dominated UGa, on the road no less, in a pretty bad rain as well)
It seems later in the season, the Clemson D began to tire as games went into the 4th quarters. To me, that seems to be a depth issue as no one is able to step up and spell the starters enough. The question is, Has four weeks "off" been enough to revitalize their D?

Who knows, OU may have too much in the tank for CU... but for now, I'll stick with my pick of Clemson over OU in a close one.
This much I DO KNOW, and I think you and everyone else would agree, that IF Bama plays to its potential, no one in the playoffs can stop them.