We can learn a lot from the Brownell era

Dec 20, 2022, 4:02 PM

when questioning why DJ stayed in the SCar game. The parallel here is strong.

Early enough on in his tenure, it was apparent to most that Brownell was simply in over his head here and stood no chance of leading us to any kind of real success in hoops, the same way many felt about DJ.

However, Brad kept doing just enough at the opportune time to keep his job, just like DJ. Come Year 8 for Brad, he turned in his best performance with that Sweet 16 season to cement more time. DJ's Game 7 this season was a win on the road @ FSU that put him onto the Manning Award watch list, with stats to date that put him in rare QB air here. Not to mention we were 7-0.

Then with expectations high and the light shining ahead, each faltered after - Brad for two seasons, DJ for two games. In each case, the natives were restless.

Then lo and behold, Brad gets us to another NCAA in the Covid-shortened 20-21 season, while DJ turns it back around for two very impressive performances against very decent ACC squads, leading us back to the cusp of the CFP.

That leads us to Season / Game 12. Basketball drops back, again, but we stick with Brad as the conditions just weren't right with the program and prospects, and with a new AD, to make that switch. DJ's game vs SCar played out similarly. We're up in the game, take a comfortable enough lead to the half, show some success in the 3rd with a score, then taper off late on offense but still have a legitimate path to win. DJ had shown through the season that he can deliver late and in closing minutes. While Cade had shown similar resilience versus Syracuse, his last pressure time out versus ND exposed some rookie issues, and the coaches simply weren't comfortable making a switch in this one at that juncture. Each finished with disappointment.

In Brad's case, the AD, though knowing we weren't delivering that great, and on the edge of making a switch often enough, gets a surprise where it looks like the breakthrough you hope he is capable of arrives. With DJ, it was our coaches facing similar decisions, with similar performances mirroring one another.

So each gets a #13. With DJ, the coaches saw enough early on that delaying a switch no longer made ay practical sense. A great performance by Cade sealed the deal, and we're off to greener pastures. For Brad, it's totally in his court now to perform, to deliver. The expectations seem pretty clear ("it's a bottom line business"). Unlike a position player, I don't believe in coaching changes mid-season unless it's something just too abominable to stomach, or the coach quits on his own. Brad's prospects look okay for the remainder of the season ahead, but he is also aware that failure to capitalize on this opportunity ahead will likely lead to a change at the position.

For the AD and Brad, we've kinda gotten DJ'd over the years. With Dabo and DJ, we kinda got Brownelled. No weird hidden agendas or putting the interests of a single individual over the greater good - just bad timing mostly.

I certainly hope the AD can learn from Dabo finally pulling the trigger and trust making a change next time around if we simply get more of the same.

Go Tigers.

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Interesting comparison of situations, but I agree. Things will return to how they were in football because of that change to Cade. Only difference between the 2 is Brad doesn’t play on the court. But he is more responsible than the players, just as Dabo is. This basketball season, I’m just trying to enjoy the good moments. I know #### well in my heart what Brad will lead us to this season, no matter how good we look throughout ACC play. That said, he will be fired if not making the tournament and changes will happen in Clemson basketball.

Also with that said, we more often than not are in “contention” for a top 6 seed in ACC Tournament. Therefore, every year we have the right opportunity and situation to make a legit run at a Sweet 16 or maybe farther. Are we really thinking about the case where we end up making one bad hire after another and become a bottom ACC team for a bit?

We can learn a lot from the Brownell era

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Re: We can learn a lot from the Brownell era

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Re: We can learn a lot from the Brownell era

Re: We can learn a lot from the Brownell era

Re: We can learn a lot from the Brownell era

Re: We can learn a lot from the Brownell era

Re: We can learn a lot from the Brownell era

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