Thursday Nuggets
By: Larry Williams & Paul Strelow
Safe to say Dabo Swinney hasn't had to do much selling in recent years when he's made coaching hires.
Whether pulling Todd Bates from Jacksonville State or promoting a succession of internal candidates, Swinney hasn't had to spend much time recruiting these guys.
It's quite possible that, before this week, January of 2012 was the last time he spent long hours on the phone courting a candidate (that being Brent Venables).
So Clemson fans should be heartened to know the guy can still go outside and reel in a big fish, as he did in convincing Nick Eason to return to his alma mater.
All signs point to there being some indecision on Eason's part over the past few days, and it was probably nothing against Swinney or Clemson and more loyalty to the coach and the place that just gave him a significant raise after his first season on The Plains working for Bryan Harsin.
New Clemson defensive line hire Nick Eason will begin talking with prospects within a few days. (AP)
In a way, the way Swinney reacted to Bates' departure was a smaller-scale version of the way Oklahoma reacted to Lincoln Riley leaving the Sooners in the middle of the night for Los Angeles.
At present we don't know the precise details of how things ended between Bates and Clemson. But we do know the decisions Bates made with his thumbs on social media were weird at best, unseemly at worst.
For anyone familiar with the culture Swinney has built, the harmony and camaraderie that seem to stand out more here than most other places, it was a jolt to see Bates leave on those terms -- or more precisely, in those terms.
So just as Oklahoma turned to something familiar and known in going after Venables, Swinney goes after a Clemson grad who is enormously popular here before we even get into his impressive credentials.
This feels like a home run. And if you suggested it's an upgrade you wouldn't get much argument from us. -- LARRY WILLIAMS
As Larry suggested regarding Bates and Clemson, the details matter.
Maybe this observer is being naive, but we're not convinced Venables would have done anything below board to Clemson or Swinney -- the respect was genuine and mutual.
Here's also agreeing this could represent a win-win for Oklahoma and Clemson.
Yet it has been fascinating to observe the competitive juices start flowing between the two on social media, with a hint of saltiness brewing.
Oklahoma produced a graphic three days ago lauding the sack and tackles for loss numbers under Venables since 2012. Defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis, formerly Clemson's defensive analyst, chimed in expressing they didn't leave the defense in South Carolina.
New Clemson defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin had been quoted saying that players have driven the defensive success -- a prudent recruiting comment, if nothing else.
So presumably in response, Clemson's social account posted a graphic Wednesday highlighting updated figures after the Cheez-It Bowl but proclaiming that "Players make plays," compelling several Tigers support staffers to then go on the rare public offensive in supporting Swinney's hires and the program direction.
Emotions eventually subside, and we'd caution about making too big of a deal about a couple of tweets. Furthermore, trash talk isn't our preferred methodology.
Yet it's been sort of refreshing to see Clemson bow up a little bit.
From what we've gathered, the Eason hire has been met with the same enthusiasm inside the football building as it has in the public spectrum.
The Tigers appear to be getting some of their swagger back. -- PAUL STRELOW
From THE TIGER FAN SHOP: More marked down officially-licensed Clemson apparel and gear! Visit The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
By: Larry Williams & Paul Strelow
Safe to say Dabo Swinney hasn't had to do much selling in recent years when he's made coaching hires.
Whether pulling Todd Bates from Jacksonville State or promoting a succession of internal candidates, Swinney hasn't had to spend much time recruiting these guys.
It's quite possible that, before this week, January of 2012 was the last time he spent long hours on the phone courting a candidate (that being Brent Venables).
So Clemson fans should be heartened to know the guy can still go outside and reel in a big fish, as he did in convincing Nick Eason to return to his alma mater.
All signs point to there being some indecision on Eason's part over the past few days, and it was probably nothing against Swinney or Clemson and more loyalty to the coach and the place that just gave him a significant raise after his first season on The Plains working for Bryan Harsin.
New Clemson defensive line hire Nick Eason will begin talking with prospects within a few days. (AP)
In a way, the way Swinney reacted to Bates' departure was a smaller-scale version of the way Oklahoma reacted to Lincoln Riley leaving the Sooners in the middle of the night for Los Angeles.
At present we don't know the precise details of how things ended between Bates and Clemson. But we do know the decisions Bates made with his thumbs on social media were weird at best, unseemly at worst.
For anyone familiar with the culture Swinney has built, the harmony and camaraderie that seem to stand out more here than most other places, it was a jolt to see Bates leave on those terms -- or more precisely, in those terms.
So just as Oklahoma turned to something familiar and known in going after Venables, Swinney goes after a Clemson grad who is enormously popular here before we even get into his impressive credentials.
This feels like a home run. And if you suggested it's an upgrade you wouldn't get much argument from us. -- LARRY WILLIAMS
As Larry suggested regarding Bates and Clemson, the details matter.
Maybe this observer is being naive, but we're not convinced Venables would have done anything below board to Clemson or Swinney -- the respect was genuine and mutual.
Here's also agreeing this could represent a win-win for Oklahoma and Clemson.
Yet it has been fascinating to observe the competitive juices start flowing between the two on social media, with a hint of saltiness brewing.
Oklahoma produced a graphic three days ago lauding the sack and tackles for loss numbers under Venables since 2012. Defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis, formerly Clemson's defensive analyst, chimed in expressing they didn't leave the defense in South Carolina.
New Clemson defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin had been quoted saying that players have driven the defensive success -- a prudent recruiting comment, if nothing else.
So presumably in response, Clemson's social account posted a graphic Wednesday highlighting updated figures after the Cheez-It Bowl but proclaiming that "Players make plays," compelling several Tigers support staffers to then go on the rare public offensive in supporting Swinney's hires and the program direction.
Emotions eventually subside, and we'd caution about making too big of a deal about a couple of tweets. Furthermore, trash talk isn't our preferred methodology.
Yet it's been sort of refreshing to see Clemson bow up a little bit.
From what we've gathered, the Eason hire has been met with the same enthusiasm inside the football building as it has in the public spectrum.
The Tigers appear to be getting some of their swagger back. -- PAUL STRELOW
From THE TIGER FAN SHOP: More marked down officially-licensed Clemson apparel and gear! Visit The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
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