I feel really terrible about this.

Sep 11, 2009, 11:16 AM

I mean, first of all that you each had to endure that heartbreaking loss last night. And then...you all had to wait all night and most of the morning before you could get my thoughts and opinions on the game. I've just been busy at work this morning, and I'm sorry. I can't say it won't happen again.

I spent the first half of the game last night just completely sick. I just get this way. I was sweating and shaky and feverish just sitting on the couch. I was concerned not for the game (which was all but lost) but that we had shown zero signs of having a football program. At all. The national embarrassment was bad enough - to be concerned that we were going to be that way all year long was just not something I could take.

But I wasn't angry. Or bitter. Or venemous. I certainly wasn't happy like so many of you who just live to see other people fail so that you can take the cheap shot at them. If you think I'm about to get up on my soapbox and talk down to you like you're a lesser form of human being...well, you're probably right. And if you feel that way already, then you can just about rest assured that I'm talking to you.

You, the target of this portion of my missive, may kiss my rear end at your earliest convenience. Not because we came back and made it close at the end. But because you, Mr./Ms. I'm-So-Insecure-All-I-Can-Do-To-Make-Myself-Feel-Big-And-Bad-Is-Take-Cheap-Shots-At-Better-People-Than-Myself, were HAPPY last night when the Tigers looked awful. You were EXCITED that you could call out our coaches and administration for an awful hire, or an awful performance. And that's just sad. Even more sad than I was when we turned it over on that last 4th down. Boys and girls, I was awfully sad. And before you call me out about taking cheap shots...yeah, I'm probably doing it right here. But I don't think you're better than I am.

Get a grip. If you can't be a Clemson fan during good times and bad - if you're so thrilled with others' failures and problems - there are plenty of seats available at Williams-Brice this year. Better jump on the bandwagon while there's room. There's plenty of love to hate to go around.

Now I'll admit it. I yelled at the TV some last night. I frustrated. Sick. Sad. Never angry. Never bitter at our coaches and players. Never. I was never bitter at Tommy Bowden. Just frustrated and disappointed.

I don't believe in moral victories. Clemson is 1-1, 0-1, and that's awfully tough right now when your goal is the ACC Championship. The good news is that FSU already has a loss too.

But I do believe you can take positive things away from a loss. I saw a bunch of positive things.

I saw three things we would NEVER have seen under Bowden (and I'm not trying to throw him under the bus, this is just the truth). I saw us get up off the mat - in every phase of the game - and absolutely annihilate Georgia Tech. I also saw (heard/read) our Head Coach say the words, "I got my butt outcoached in the first half."

Hell yes you did, Coach. But you and your assistants also did something we haven't seen in 10+ years. You made adjustments, and then you outcoached the other side in the second half.

Who among you would have thought after 24-0 that GT would have only 6 more points in the game? Or that Clemson would score 27 straight? In DOMINATING FASHION? Clemson dominated this game, if you look at the whole package. We gave up 3 stupid plays, all of which went for touchdowns. We were a little unlucky at that...but mainly we were outcoached and outplayed on those 3 plays.

Georgia Tech needed another great play, combined with another totally BS holding call to win that game. I am so incredibly disappointed that a call such as that just changed the whole game. I certainly don't throw this game at the feet of the officials, but what horrible timing for a horrible call. Without that call, chances are excellent that the worst-case scenario is overtime. Give something up for Nesbitt - he showed no ability to make that last throw the entire game, but he laid that one in there. I almost lost a $3,500 TV when he did.

I thought our OL started out poorly, but improved. They wore down the GT defense, when I thought the exact opposite was going to happen to us. They may have taken a giant step towards manhood last night.

I thought our defense was powerful last night. I don't know how many other defenses will be that effective against GT all year.

I thought CJ Spiller was the man again last night. I can't believe they kept talking about how they kept CJ in check during the game. Sure, he only had 230 all purpose yards. I usually rather like Chris Fowler, but he was pretty full of it last night.

I remain impressed with Kyle Parker. He's a freshman, and certainly that shows through from time to time. That, and the fact that he got hammered in the play before really showed up on that last 4th down. A good throw has the first down, but I think he just couldn't get it there. That was tough. And I like the fact that he's apparently tough on himself, and his helmet. I think his helmet learned some new words.

I was just heartbroken last night. You should never have a comeback like that fall short like that. But I'd far rather lose that way than 40-0. I don't pretend that a loss is anything other than a loss, but I think you spend your day being proud that our team and coaches are men you can be proud of.

I can't get away from this - when was the last time you saw our coaching staff make in-game adjustments?

I'm upset about losing last night, but I feel better about the state of the program. A lot better. If that's a growing pain, I'll take it. Not gladly, but I'll take it.

Oh, and guys: I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings with some of that stuff earlier. Just take a couple of Midol and go to the water cooler to say more hateful things about a co-worker or something, and you'll feel better in no time.

Give 'em hell, Tigers.