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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My take on the situation.

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