All-In [42197]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 38274
Joined: 11/30/98
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Gamecock fans, are you happy now?
Dec 2, 2003, 12:00 AM
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Nearly five years ago to the date, you brought in the man you claimed would be your savior: Lou Holtz. The response was an obvious counter to Clemson hiring the hottest up-and-coming coach in 1998.
Lou exited the airplane in Columbia to a cheering Gamecock crowd, and through a mouth full of spittle, he promised you national titles, victories over Florida and Tennessee. In fact, he said they were more important than beating Clemson.
People posted on FGF that Lou's speech made their daddies cry, sent chill bumps through their bodies and signaled the end of the Chicken Curse. You had hired a proven legend who lead you to greatness, and Clemson had hired an unproven who would lead us only into despair.
Now it's 2003, and here is what your legend has done for you:
-Your only 0-11 season in the history of your program.
-1-4 vs. Clemson, including your most embarrassing loss ever to us, 63-17.
-A combined record of 26-33, including three losing seasons out of your last five. That compares to Bowden's 37-24 record, none being losing seasons.
-Two bowl appearances and victories, however no bowl appearances in the other three years. Bowden has five bowl straight appearances with one victory and one game yet to be played.
-Continued interest in your program by NCAA investigators, with a possible LOI pending. All NCAA violations at Clemson under Bowden have been self-reported and had self-administered punishments.
-Failure to recruit a true leader at QB. The only real QB under Holtz's tenure was Phil Petty, who was recruited by Brad Scott's staff. The QB you fans touted as the next Woody wound up playing D-back.
-0-5 vs. Tennessee, 0-5 vs. Florida. 2-3 vs. Georgia. Losses to Vandy and Kentucky.
-An anti-littering campaign spearheaded by Holtz that has cost all of us taxpayers money and wasted law enforcement resources (don't believe me? Ask a cop and see how he feels). Oh yeah, what state does he reside in again?
-Complete overhaul of your traditional uniforms, with a shift also from garnet to red. That would be like Bowden taking us from our orange to Tennessee orange. Your old uniforms were unique. Now you look like Penn State and NC State rip-offs.
-Players in trouble with the law, including some for violent offenses.
-Disregard for and abandonment of injured players.
-Poor coaching decisions that have literally cost you games (Florida this year).
-Rumors of transfers looming and an empty stadium by the 3rd quarter on national TV vs. your rival.
-Panicky firing of four assistants after one loss.
-Helped cost one of your best recruiters, Gov. Jim Hodges, his job.
-Recently announced the implementation of the ##### THIRD offensive scheme, the option attack. Yeah, good luck.
Yeah, we've had some embarrassments under Bowden. The Wake game this year. Texas Tech. Near loss to Duke last year. We've obviously had some rocky situations under Tommy.
But Tommy has still led us to five straight bowls. He's maintained an overall winning record. He's run a clean program, despite what y'all claim. And he's dominated the hell out of you. And you can disregard the importance of our game each year, but you better believe this fact: If you can't beat Clemson consistently, you will never, ever conquer the SEC and make your program a national contender. That is a fact only the delusional will deny.
Lou Holtz has slowly been hammering at your program with a wrecking ball. He blinded you with empty promises and lies of greatness. He's given you a taste with two bowl wins, most done with Scott's stars. Tommy has had his struggles, but the numbers don't lie...
1999: 6-6 with overachievers, 31-21
2000: 9-3, 16-14
2001: 7-5, 15-20
2002: 7-6, 27-20
2003: 8-4, 63-17
Lou:
1999: 0-11
2000: 8-4
2001: 8-4
2002: 5-7
2003: 5-7
We're getting better. You're getting worse.
At least Brad Scott cared about USC when he was there. Lou Holtz took the job for himself and his son. And mark my words, when he leaves your university, your program will be in worse shape than when Brad Scott left it.
Still think Lou is your savior? Your fans in the 3rd quarter Nov. 22 didn't think so.
Go ahead, keep him. I speak for all of Clemson faithful when I say we hope you keep him and Skip for a long, long time.
[ This post was edited by the author on Tue Dec 02 19:28:09 EST 2003 ]
[ This post was edited by the author on Tue Dec 02 19:38:46 EST 2003 ]
[ This post was edited by the author on Tue Dec 02 20:32:41 EST 2003 ]
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