FRIDAY NUGGETS
By: Larry Williams & Paul Strelow
"This ain't middle school."
Off the top of my head I can't remember exactly when Dabo Swinney said this during the season, but it was definitely after one of the two regular-season losses (Notre Dame and South Carolina).
Basically he was talking about the cold, hard reality that descends privately in the aftermath of getting your butt pushed up and down the field in South Bend, or getting outplayed and outcoached at home against the hated Gamecocks.
This was mostly in relation to the players who were on the receiving end of brutal truths in the Monday team meetings that followed these losses.
But anyone who watched those games, and the Tennessee debacle more recently, knows the breakdowns and meltdowns were not on the players alone.
You certainly feel bad for Brandon Streeter and his family. He had one year to inspire confidence that he could turn this thing around, and he didn't have the generational talent that was integral to the offensive glory from 2015 to 2020.
Garrett Riley's Thursday night arrival was just in time for today's initial team meeting of 2023 in Clemson. (Getty)
But just as DJ Uiagalelei showed us he ultimately wasn't ready for the big moments, Streeter showed us some of the same in some crucial moments -- most notably the three losses that brought legitimately head-scratching reactions to some of the game-planning, personnel usage and play-calling.
When Uiagalelei is injured and going into a shell late against South Carolina, it's not a great look afterward when Streeter blasts any question about going with backup Cade Klubnik. And it becomes a worse look a week later, after Streeter said there was "no question" DJ was the better option, when Klubnik is clearly the much better option in the ACC title game.
Yes, Klubnik showed in the Orange Bowl he still has lots of work to do (naturally for a freshman). But the decision to stick with Uiagalelei in the second half against the Gamecocks will go down in history as highly questionable at best.
Add that to too many revelations that should've come much sooner than after the game or halftime (as in: "Yeah, we probably should've given it to Will Shipley more"), and you can see why Swinney made the difficult but necessary decision.
Small margins separate an offseason of glory from one of tumult. A play here, a decision there.
But that's why they get paid the big bucks, and that's why so many of you give your passion to this stuff 365 days a year.
And that's probably why Swinney was saying earlier this season that this ain't middle school.
Not for the players, or for the coaches. -- LARRY WILLIAMS
First off, agreed on the empathy for Streeter and his family. It wasn't an easy afternoon for those who work in the football offices either; no matter how much one makes, no matter the nature of the business, these are still people involved, and ones with whom they all have relationships.
We can tell you Streeter was still talking to recruits on Clemson's behalf as late as Wednesday night. By Thursday evening, he was still processing all that had transpired.
Last month, we broached the subject that with such a homegrown coaching staff, what it would take for Swinney to part ways with a family member, so to speak.
We all witnessed Clemson's offense this season, the good and the bad.
Yesterday's developments weren't surprising in the football context. But they were profound in bringing to light that Swinney indeed saw what everyone else did -- reinforcing that coaches' words have their own purpose, and actions speak louder than press conference quotes.
It was a reminder of when Swinney let go of Billy Napier more than a decade ago now, and he shared the vision of a spread offense that would deliver a prolific passing attack.
There have been plenty of contributing factors to Clemson falling off the playoff race the last two years.
In this observer's estimation, the season returns illustrated that the biggest change needing to occur was offensive structure.
There were viable plays and plenty of instances of nice play-calling or creative adjustments.
But all in all, increasingly since arguably Trevor Lawrence's final season, possessions were rarely easy for Clemson's offense. The reliance on the same tough throws, the absence of middle-of-the-field utilization, a running game that rarely opened lanes -- it's more complicated than this, but so many other teams didn't have these troubles scheming guys open or in position to make plays.
We wouldn't even mostly characterize that as Streeter's fault.
It needed a reset ... an overhaul ... or to be blown up, whatever you want to call it. Start from scratch.
Aggressively snatching the coveted young gun in Garrett Riley stands as a significant admission from Swinney, as well as a statement hire.
As Swinney previously outlined, Clemson convenes for its first team meeting today.
It's a new day for the Tigers, indeed. -- PAUL STRELOW
NOTE: Please do not copy/paste or summarize any portion of this article to other sites/social media, as it is a direct violation of copyright laws. Thank you!
By: Larry Williams & Paul Strelow
"This ain't middle school."
Off the top of my head I can't remember exactly when Dabo Swinney said this during the season, but it was definitely after one of the two regular-season losses (Notre Dame and South Carolina).
Basically he was talking about the cold, hard reality that descends privately in the aftermath of getting your butt pushed up and down the field in South Bend, or getting outplayed and outcoached at home against the hated Gamecocks.
This was mostly in relation to the players who were on the receiving end of brutal truths in the Monday team meetings that followed these losses.
But anyone who watched those games, and the Tennessee debacle more recently, knows the breakdowns and meltdowns were not on the players alone.
You certainly feel bad for Brandon Streeter and his family. He had one year to inspire confidence that he could turn this thing around, and he didn't have the generational talent that was integral to the offensive glory from 2015 to 2020.
Garrett Riley's Thursday night arrival was just in time for today's initial team meeting of 2023 in Clemson. (Getty)
But just as DJ Uiagalelei showed us he ultimately wasn't ready for the big moments, Streeter showed us some of the same in some crucial moments -- most notably the three losses that brought legitimately head-scratching reactions to some of the game-planning, personnel usage and play-calling.
When Uiagalelei is injured and going into a shell late against South Carolina, it's not a great look afterward when Streeter blasts any question about going with backup Cade Klubnik. And it becomes a worse look a week later, after Streeter said there was "no question" DJ was the better option, when Klubnik is clearly the much better option in the ACC title game.
Yes, Klubnik showed in the Orange Bowl he still has lots of work to do (naturally for a freshman). But the decision to stick with Uiagalelei in the second half against the Gamecocks will go down in history as highly questionable at best.
Add that to too many revelations that should've come much sooner than after the game or halftime (as in: "Yeah, we probably should've given it to Will Shipley more"), and you can see why Swinney made the difficult but necessary decision.
Small margins separate an offseason of glory from one of tumult. A play here, a decision there.
But that's why they get paid the big bucks, and that's why so many of you give your passion to this stuff 365 days a year.
And that's probably why Swinney was saying earlier this season that this ain't middle school.
Not for the players, or for the coaches. -- LARRY WILLIAMS
First off, agreed on the empathy for Streeter and his family. It wasn't an easy afternoon for those who work in the football offices either; no matter how much one makes, no matter the nature of the business, these are still people involved, and ones with whom they all have relationships.
We can tell you Streeter was still talking to recruits on Clemson's behalf as late as Wednesday night. By Thursday evening, he was still processing all that had transpired.
Last month, we broached the subject that with such a homegrown coaching staff, what it would take for Swinney to part ways with a family member, so to speak.
We all witnessed Clemson's offense this season, the good and the bad.
Yesterday's developments weren't surprising in the football context. But they were profound in bringing to light that Swinney indeed saw what everyone else did -- reinforcing that coaches' words have their own purpose, and actions speak louder than press conference quotes.
It was a reminder of when Swinney let go of Billy Napier more than a decade ago now, and he shared the vision of a spread offense that would deliver a prolific passing attack.
There have been plenty of contributing factors to Clemson falling off the playoff race the last two years.
In this observer's estimation, the season returns illustrated that the biggest change needing to occur was offensive structure.
There were viable plays and plenty of instances of nice play-calling or creative adjustments.
But all in all, increasingly since arguably Trevor Lawrence's final season, possessions were rarely easy for Clemson's offense. The reliance on the same tough throws, the absence of middle-of-the-field utilization, a running game that rarely opened lanes -- it's more complicated than this, but so many other teams didn't have these troubles scheming guys open or in position to make plays.
We wouldn't even mostly characterize that as Streeter's fault.
It needed a reset ... an overhaul ... or to be blown up, whatever you want to call it. Start from scratch.
Aggressively snatching the coveted young gun in Garrett Riley stands as a significant admission from Swinney, as well as a statement hire.
As Swinney previously outlined, Clemson convenes for its first team meeting today.
It's a new day for the Tigers, indeed. -- PAUL STRELOW
NOTE: Please do not copy/paste or summarize any portion of this article to other sites/social media, as it is a direct violation of copyright laws. Thank you!
