This isn't to say interim Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who took over the Tigers after
Tommy Bowden "resigned" this week, has no chance of keeping the job permanently once the season ends. This is to say Swinney has
almost no chance of keeping the gig. In
a loss to Georgia Tech, Clemson played as bad as they had under Bowden, lacking any sense of cohesion or collective focus.
The Tigers gave up six turnovers, including four turnovers spread between three passers. But Swinney lost his tenuous hold on the job in final minutes, when Clemson A.D. Terry Don Phillips joined the team on the sideline. With 2-1/2 minutes left, down four and facing fourth and 22, Swinney called the ol' hook and ladder. FAIL.
After the shocking fumble, Phillips could be seen talking smack at a flustered Swinney, who looked more embarrassed than anything. Swinney paced, Lane Kiffin looked up South Carolina real estate, and Ga. Tech ran down the clock. Forced to punt with about 10 seconds left, the Jackets watched Swinney send all 11 Tigers in an attempt to block the kick. No one in orange got close, and precious seconds ticked down as Tech watched the ball settle to the turf with nary a Tiger around.
The Hail Mary got picked off. Swinney made various motions to get his team to huddle up and leave the field together. One player responded. Everyone else in orange wandered aimlessly. Something tells me the Clemson players aren't buying Swinney's continued leadership either.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
9 comments
Comments
Cheapest oceanfront real estate north of Georgia, is the Palmetto State.
by L'etat, c'est moi on Oct 18, 2008 4:08 PM EDT reply actions
What is a hook and ladder?
by Tigeroftheeye on Oct 18, 2008 5:55 PM EDT reply actions
Mr Ziller you are way off the results today. That team would not have lost to Maryland or Wake. Dabo did a good job with only 4 days to take over a team. Maybe you should cover UFO sightings instead of football.
by CousinClem on Oct 18, 2008 6:22 PM EDT reply actions
Tom, perhaps you should try asking Terry Don Phillips what he was really saying to Coach Swinney. The statement released shortly after the game by TDP says that he was expressing his frustration at the crappy holding call on 4th and 12 that negated a great reception for first down. He said he was very proud of Coach Swinney and the team.That’s the problem with the media in general. You sell your own preconceptions and biases as "news." Get the facts straight tool!
by pantera_tigris on Oct 18, 2008 7:15 PM EDT reply actions
Mr. Ziller, you’re off base and out of line. You should have the facts before commenting and not just repeat what some idiot not-know-enough announcer has assumed on ESPN. Facts: The AD was noting his frustration to Coach Swinney regarding an incorrect holding call on crucial play that went against Clemson and which replay showed to be a very, very questionable call (guess you weren’t paying attention to that) and Coach Swinney did get the team gathered at center of field after game to congratulate GT on the win, meet with fans (a Clemson tradition), and have prayer for those on both teams who wanted to join in. Maybe you should be righting for the trashy mags in the checkout at the grocery. They report made up garbage also.
by jaxtiger on Oct 18, 2008 7:27 PM EDT reply actions
Tom Ziller, We hardly knew ye……
"hook and Ladder"?
So let me get this straight. You are a writer with the Sporting News, but are so inept at your knowledge of football that you called one of the last offensive plays by Clemson at "Hook and Ladder". Wow. Things have really gone down for Sporting News.
May I explain. Its "hook and lateral". The receiver runs a hook route. After the catch, he laterals the ball to a teamate. There is no position, equipment or play in football called a "Ladder."
If you don’t know enough about football to know this simple terminology, then maybe you shouldn’t guess as to what the Clemson Athletic Director was saying to Coach Swinney.
I mean, has the internet made it that difficult for a former reputable sports media to find a writer that knows about the sport they are writing about?!
by TigerBubba on Oct 18, 2008 10:11 PM EDT reply actions
The Clemson Athletic administration has been less than stellar this week. Terry Don may be the real problem with Clemson athletics. While Swinney may be a good man, he’s clearly not the caliber of coach needed at this point in this program. Many of his comments have been weak and some just embarrassing, like the meeting on the field before the game with Ga Tech Coach Paul Johnson. His actions after the game trying to gather the team when they were interacting with their fellow sportsmen, while noble, showed a high level of immaturity and some of his statements to the press have also shown a lack of maturity.Coach Swinney should not be blamed for these actions, he doesn’t know any better. Unfortunately, the Clemson Athletic Director should know better. I would have hoped that Terry Don Phillips would have provided some positive influence this week to help the new coach be properly prepared for his debut. It doesn’t appear this happened.Quite honestly, I don’t think it matters what the actual statements were during the final minutes of the game, the very fact there was any discussion at all during the game is disturbing. Let the coach coach and keep the AD and coach discussions for after the game.Dabo Swinney really should be concerned about winning the remaining games – that’s a tradition that would be welcomed from his days at Alabama, not trying to start new traditions, like the Tiger Walk. Clemson already has traditions and they need not be diminished by a new interim coach. There’s clearly a problem at Clemson and its bigger than the football coach.
by TigerinMemphis on Oct 19, 2008 2:09 AM EDT reply actions
Clemson sux. Love watching the unraveling taking place before our eyes. Good luck trying to make it to the Humanitarian Bowl.
by 93cock on Oct 22, 2008 1:24 AM EDT reply actions
Beg pardon, but it is referred to as the Hook and ladder.
by Bobo the bee on Oct 22, 2008 2:20 AM EDT reply actions
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