Throw out the fact that college football is out of control. Throw out the fact that it has become big business. Throw out the fact that intercollegiate athletics at the highest level is as much about student athlete as politics is about public service. Throw out the fact that it is win or go home, that coaches are paid more than the President, and that graduation rates, clean recruiting practices, and minimal off the field problems mean absolutely nothing if you do not meet expectations.
Throwing all of that out, Clemson did the right thing. Not only did they do the right thing, they did the shrewd thing. Now, the shrewd thing is not always the least expensive thing, but it is still the best way to go for all business decisions. And that is what this was, a business decision.
Anyone who watched Clemson play Wake could see very easily that this team was lost. The comments of some players only speak further to the fact that the team was fractured. When that happens, it's time to move on, and move on quickly. (And by the way Cullen Harper, you meant what you said, so don’t try to backpedal. Perhaps you and your dad need to think about the fact that the guy did give you a scholarship to a reputable university and the opportunity to play Division I football. Whatever your opinions are, you should confine them to the locker room and not text them to an ESPN reporter. One of the first rules of team is to keep everything in the locker room. Just as when players are suspended “for violating team policy” and the coach doesn’t come out and say what really happened.)
What Clemson did is allow themselves to be on the market before anyone else is. Interested coaches will now have their agents talk to Clemson. The negotiation process can begin without distraction. Clemson can position themselves with prospective coaches much earlier than other schools in their boat.
By placing Swinney in charge, the recruiting will largely be unaffected. At the most, they will lose a couple kids. Swinney is the recruiting guy anyway and with Scott still around, most of the recruiting contacts will remain intact.
In the meantime, Clemson is in the garden spot. If Swinney does well, they keep him and keep most of the staff in place without losing continuity. If he does poorly, they make use of the networking they build from now until season’s end to find a replacement – who will probably keep Swinney. It’s truly a win win situation.
The only thing that can hurt Clemson is if they go into a total nosedive that affects recruiting. Also, if Tennessee and Auburn are looking for a coach at the end of the year, they may be in danger of getting third pick. But even taking all of that into account, all of those alternatives are better than where they were.
Oh, and if you get the headline reference, you’re a sick person.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Parity and college football
As college football fans, we see it every week - games that make everyone scratch their heads. “How did they beat them?” Perhaps more importantly, “how did they cover?” Very slowly, college football has turned into the NFL, where any team can truly beat any other team. Case in point: look at all the betting lines for NFL games. Rarely do you see one over 8 points. Just as parity has consumed the NFL, it has crept into the college game as well. For the NFL, the defining moments were free agency and the salary cap. So what gives with the college game? Here’s a few guesses:
1. Talent everywhere – In the NFL, there is not a huge gap between the most talented and least talented football teams. Granted, this is not quite the case in the college game. For instance, there is certainly a tremendous talent gap between Texas and say, Syracuse. However, the gaps between the top level teams and the mid level teams are not that significant. As to why, one could point to the number of good high school players. As football has exploded in popularity, more kids are playing it in school. Other than cross country and swimming, football does not have to compete with any other fall sports. With the pool of good players increasing and scholarship limitations, the midlevel schools have more quality players to choose from.
2. Coaching talent everywhere – This is simple economics. Salaries for football coaches are sky rocketing out of control. With more money to be made, more talented people are staying in the profession. Good coaches plus good players equals good football teams.
3. Cable TV – Thirty years ago, the top level schools could get a lot of talented kids by pointing to the fact that they will get more exposure because their team was on TV all the time. Enter ESPN and the rest of the networks. Football is everywhere. You would almost have to try to not get on TV. Saturday, I watched Wofford play Chattanooga. Thirty years ago, kids wanted to go to Notre Dame and Alabama because they were always on TV. Now, kids are exposed to every team via television. That, and they know the NFL will find them no matter where they are. Listen to those NFL player introductions when guys say where they are from. Division II, I-AA, the Patriot League, etc.
4. The spread offense – Three yards and a cloud of dust is no longer the norm. Having a 220 pound tailback is great, but I watched Oregon State beat USC with a guy shorter than me. Florida plays a back that is less than 170 pounds. Quarterbacks can throw just as well as they can run. A bad day by your defense can equal a lot of points in a hurry.
5. Speed up rule changes – This is simple math. Let’s say Oklahoma plays Indiana. Blowout, right? Well what if you made the game four 3 minute quarters. Now Indiana has a decent shot. If Oklahoma turns the ball over just one time, that might be all Indiana needs. Both teams would get four possessions, max. Now change the game again – eight 15 minute quarters. Indiana has no chance. Oklahoma just wears them down, and depth becomes a huge factor. Bottom line – the shorter the game, the better chance for the underdog.
The next logical question is whether this is good for college football. In my opinion, it is. The “you never know” aspect of the NFL is one reason it has become so popular. Fans of lesser teams will always think they’re one year away from a great season. And then there is the sheer entertainment aspect of the Cinderella upset. (Just look at the NCAA tournament). Everyone loves the underdog.
1. Talent everywhere – In the NFL, there is not a huge gap between the most talented and least talented football teams. Granted, this is not quite the case in the college game. For instance, there is certainly a tremendous talent gap between Texas and say, Syracuse. However, the gaps between the top level teams and the mid level teams are not that significant. As to why, one could point to the number of good high school players. As football has exploded in popularity, more kids are playing it in school. Other than cross country and swimming, football does not have to compete with any other fall sports. With the pool of good players increasing and scholarship limitations, the midlevel schools have more quality players to choose from.
2. Coaching talent everywhere – This is simple economics. Salaries for football coaches are sky rocketing out of control. With more money to be made, more talented people are staying in the profession. Good coaches plus good players equals good football teams.
3. Cable TV – Thirty years ago, the top level schools could get a lot of talented kids by pointing to the fact that they will get more exposure because their team was on TV all the time. Enter ESPN and the rest of the networks. Football is everywhere. You would almost have to try to not get on TV. Saturday, I watched Wofford play Chattanooga. Thirty years ago, kids wanted to go to Notre Dame and Alabama because they were always on TV. Now, kids are exposed to every team via television. That, and they know the NFL will find them no matter where they are. Listen to those NFL player introductions when guys say where they are from. Division II, I-AA, the Patriot League, etc.
4. The spread offense – Three yards and a cloud of dust is no longer the norm. Having a 220 pound tailback is great, but I watched Oregon State beat USC with a guy shorter than me. Florida plays a back that is less than 170 pounds. Quarterbacks can throw just as well as they can run. A bad day by your defense can equal a lot of points in a hurry.
5. Speed up rule changes – This is simple math. Let’s say Oklahoma plays Indiana. Blowout, right? Well what if you made the game four 3 minute quarters. Now Indiana has a decent shot. If Oklahoma turns the ball over just one time, that might be all Indiana needs. Both teams would get four possessions, max. Now change the game again – eight 15 minute quarters. Indiana has no chance. Oklahoma just wears them down, and depth becomes a huge factor. Bottom line – the shorter the game, the better chance for the underdog.
The next logical question is whether this is good for college football. In my opinion, it is. The “you never know” aspect of the NFL is one reason it has become so popular. Fans of lesser teams will always think they’re one year away from a great season. And then there is the sheer entertainment aspect of the Cinderella upset. (Just look at the NCAA tournament). Everyone loves the underdog.
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