Sunday Insider Notes - Part 2
By: Larry Williams & Paul Strelow
Part of Dabo Swinney's job as the team gets back to normal operations and bowl prep is to continue to calm the waters that were rough last week in the midst of jolting attrition.
We can tell you that Trenton Simpson's initial reaction to Brent Venables leaving was ... let's just say less than enthusiastic.
As best as we can tell, the situation was managed and at last check Simpson's cooler head was committed to remaining in Clemson.
And we have to imagine that wasn't the only instance of damage control that took place last week as players saw a truly beloved figure depart for Oklahoma.
A disclaimer so we're not coming off as being excessively dramatic: This type of thing is natural in the immediate aftermath of major coaching turnover when emotions are extreme. More often than not the high tide of tension recedes, everyone gets back to their business and everything is fine.
The fallout from Brent Venables' departure has continued in Clemson and with the first signing day and bowl practices drawing closer. (US Presswire)
But the departure of coaches, plus the negativity swirling outside the bubble, plus the ability to transfer in a flash, makes this situation feel still fresh and acute as Swinney turns his attention from recruiting and hosting official visitors to leading his team on a daily basis leading to and through the bowl game.
When you're near the top of the polls and preparing for a trip to the playoff, that experience sort of sells itself and it's all business.
When you have new coaches in charge and you're asking your players to devote themselves fully to the Cheez-It Bowl, galvanization takes work. -- LARRY WILLIAMS
That essentially ties in to what we wrote earlier today.
If we're crafting Swinney's to-do list for between now and the bowl, driving player buy-in would have to stand as the No. 1 item. We keep throwing around the words "reset" and "refresh," and morale could use it, too.
Not only will you need many of these players for next season and beyond, of course.
But how Clemson does against Iowa State -- both in terms of results and eye test -- could well carry lasting implication.
There was rational question for how the Tigers would move into the future after Chad Morris left for the SMU job late in 2014.
When Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott summarily oversaw Cole Stoudt's ultimate game manager performance in the 40-6 Russell Athletic Bowl route over Oklahoma, not only were those concerns diminished -- suddenly there was reason to wonder if Clemson might wind up better off. And the rest was, quite literally, history.
Elliott and Scott didn't reinvent Clemson's offensive wheel during bowl prep. But they manipulated what was in the playbook and conjured different ways to cater to the personnel strengths, which with the element of surprise provided a huge boost.
The Tigers then went into the offseason with potential to sell to recruits, and that impression can make all the difference in the world.
Wes Goodwin and Mickey Conn aren't going to rewrite Brent Venables' defensive script; in fact, they're there not to, one would conclude.
Brandon Streeter isn't going to change the offensive schematic complexion or fix shortcomings at various positions in a matter of bowl practices.
But their task is to pull together a product from which hope can be derived and an upward trajectory imagined. -- PAUL STRELOW
*** Publisher's Note: Tigerillustrated.com will resume the Monday (Recruiting) Insider tomorrow.
From THE TIGER FAN SHOP: Happy Holidays! More marked down officially-licensed Clemson apparel and gear! Visit The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
By: Larry Williams & Paul Strelow
Part of Dabo Swinney's job as the team gets back to normal operations and bowl prep is to continue to calm the waters that were rough last week in the midst of jolting attrition.
We can tell you that Trenton Simpson's initial reaction to Brent Venables leaving was ... let's just say less than enthusiastic.
As best as we can tell, the situation was managed and at last check Simpson's cooler head was committed to remaining in Clemson.
And we have to imagine that wasn't the only instance of damage control that took place last week as players saw a truly beloved figure depart for Oklahoma.
A disclaimer so we're not coming off as being excessively dramatic: This type of thing is natural in the immediate aftermath of major coaching turnover when emotions are extreme. More often than not the high tide of tension recedes, everyone gets back to their business and everything is fine.
The fallout from Brent Venables' departure has continued in Clemson and with the first signing day and bowl practices drawing closer. (US Presswire)
But the departure of coaches, plus the negativity swirling outside the bubble, plus the ability to transfer in a flash, makes this situation feel still fresh and acute as Swinney turns his attention from recruiting and hosting official visitors to leading his team on a daily basis leading to and through the bowl game.
When you're near the top of the polls and preparing for a trip to the playoff, that experience sort of sells itself and it's all business.
When you have new coaches in charge and you're asking your players to devote themselves fully to the Cheez-It Bowl, galvanization takes work. -- LARRY WILLIAMS
That essentially ties in to what we wrote earlier today.
If we're crafting Swinney's to-do list for between now and the bowl, driving player buy-in would have to stand as the No. 1 item. We keep throwing around the words "reset" and "refresh," and morale could use it, too.
Not only will you need many of these players for next season and beyond, of course.
But how Clemson does against Iowa State -- both in terms of results and eye test -- could well carry lasting implication.
There was rational question for how the Tigers would move into the future after Chad Morris left for the SMU job late in 2014.
When Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott summarily oversaw Cole Stoudt's ultimate game manager performance in the 40-6 Russell Athletic Bowl route over Oklahoma, not only were those concerns diminished -- suddenly there was reason to wonder if Clemson might wind up better off. And the rest was, quite literally, history.
Elliott and Scott didn't reinvent Clemson's offensive wheel during bowl prep. But they manipulated what was in the playbook and conjured different ways to cater to the personnel strengths, which with the element of surprise provided a huge boost.
The Tigers then went into the offseason with potential to sell to recruits, and that impression can make all the difference in the world.
Wes Goodwin and Mickey Conn aren't going to rewrite Brent Venables' defensive script; in fact, they're there not to, one would conclude.
Brandon Streeter isn't going to change the offensive schematic complexion or fix shortcomings at various positions in a matter of bowl practices.
But their task is to pull together a product from which hope can be derived and an upward trajectory imagined. -- PAUL STRELOW
*** Publisher's Note: Tigerillustrated.com will resume the Monday (Recruiting) Insider tomorrow.
From THE TIGER FAN SHOP: Happy Holidays! More marked down officially-licensed Clemson apparel and gear! Visit The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
