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Phillips, Swinney scene much ado about nothing
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The fans who packed into Memorial Stadium Saturday saw a gritty if mistake-filled effort by the Clemson Tigers, and they witnessed a young interim coach who displayed plenty of passion.
TV viewers saw the same thing, plus something that caught the attention of ESPN talking heads as well as fans watching from the comfort of their homes.
As time ticked away and the Tigers failed in their efforts to rally for a victory against Georgia Tech, Clemson athletics director Terry Don Phillips appeared upset with Dabo Swinney.
Andre Ware, the color analyst on the telecast, berated Phillips for “micromanaging” and said he should be up in the press box talking to alumni.
It wasn’t long before my inbox was filled with e-mails from fans who thought Phillips was out of line and were embarrassed by the display.
But looks can be deceiving. And a second look shows it was much ado about nothing.
“I have always come to the sidelines at some point during a game my entire career as an athletic director,” Phillips said. “At the conclusion of the game ESPN announcers made comments about me micromanaging the football staff during the game.
“I don’t make comments to our football staff during the game and I stay out of the way. I certainly do not micromanage.”
It’d be easy to glance at the scene and think Phillips was doing his best Jerry Jones imitation. After all, the guy was a graduate assistant football coach at Arkansas in 1970 and 1971 and from ’71 through 1978 worked at Virginia Tech before trading in his whistle for a suit — and career in administration.
And in a crazy week that saw Tommy Bowden step down and Phillips catch heat for giving the former coach a contract extension late last year, he made for an easy target.
ESPN, which grows increasingly less credible by the day, took the opportunity to pounce on a situation they knew nothing about.
Hey, if I was a casual observer, I’d have thought Phillips was dissing Swinney, too.
But in an age where we’re supposed to be first with news, I think it’s still important to be right with the news first.
“When coach Swinney came to the end of the team box where I was standing I did comment about the holding against an offensive lineman on the fourth-and-12 play at the end of the game,” Phillips said. “That frustration was directed at the call, and not anything our coaching staff or players had done.”
Phillips, in fact, had high praise for Swinney.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of coach Swinney, the staff and the football team, for the way they handled this entire week, especially today.”
This past week has been bad enough for Clemson faithful. There’s no reason for ESPN or the rest of us to make it any worse by jumping to conclusions.
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I watched the game on TV and got very tired of the ESPN commentators talking about the coaching change. None of their business - they should stick to announcing the game and do some analysis (less is better than a lot). I heard their comments about TDP also and at once wondered if that was normal for TDP. Thanks for clearing that up. I of course was disappointed in the first half play, but not surprised - delighted with the level of play in the second.
"“When coach Swinney came to the end of the team box where I was standing I did comment about the holding against an offensive lineman on the fourth-and-12 play at the end of the game,” Phillips said. “That frustration was directed at the call, and not anything our coaching staff or players had done.”"
That does NOT cut it.. He shouldn't have been down there...esp. for the first game of the season.
Seems like He told Dabo "to be a Head Coach & act like one."
He needs to start acting like an Athletic Director.
Otherwise, great game,,,,Yabo Dabo Doo.!!!!!!!!!
People are just looking for someone to blame for yet another loss. Phillips was an easy target.
I thought the ESPN guys did a good job and I enjoyed their comments.
You're right lamanamanumi, the fans must lash out and blame someone. It's a Clemson tradition.
in response to grantfield
As a Clemson fan, it pains me to say this, but you're right.
Clemson,Clemson,Clemson...never pleased.Ken Hatfield was fired w/ a 9-3 record,Tommy West was fired w/ a winning record,Tommy Bowden had a winning record until this year & took Clemson to 8 bowl games in his tenure.Clemson will never be pleased w/ a coach until the coach can surpass the legacy of Danny Ford.Those type coaches are once in a blue moon.Until Clemson can let go of the legacy of Danny Ford.They will never be pleased w/ any coach.
When a coach feels that his job is threatened, he usually will fire a couple of assistants - the change of staff will typically give him an extra year or two. TDP must be feeling that his job is in jeopardy to have fired TB midseason, especially after giving him an extension at the end of last season. He should be the next to go, and soon. GO DABO AND GO TIGERS!
It's pathetic, but if a head coach can't win at least 7 1/2 to 8 games out of 10 consistantly he'll eventually be fired at Clemson. Why anyone would go there to be a head coach is beyond me. It would have to be a tough, skinned person who simply wanted the money. I don't think a smart coach would want the job.
in response to origrethnk
Origrethnk,
You're right. It would seem to me that Clemson's coaching situation seems to mirror that of another team, just minus the winning part . . .
Clemson Tigers - Oakland Raiders
Terry Don Phillips/IPTAY - Al Davis
If you can keep the donors who armchair quarterback EVERYTHING and TD from being their puppet, you MIGHT get a successful, sustainable program in Clemson.
- SSHM
So we are supposed to be like Carolina and be glad to have an 7/5 or 8/4 season every year and a trip to the Boise Blue Field Mediocre Bowl? TB had WAY longer than any coach since Ford to get the job done. Hey if you don't do a good job at work you get fired. It doesn't matter how nice you are.
I still say Boise State's head man is The Man for Clemson...proven track record, proven big time winner when it counts, and offensive genius...they can keep the Blue Field Mediocre Bowl, give us the Boise Bronco Buckler to take us to the Orange Bowl.
in response to tecman
God Bless the true Clemson fan, he's one reason Clemson will get no more money from me, but my comment was more toward the coach who would consider the job rather than the fan. I'm a graduate and an IPTAY member for over twenty years and I've simply had enough.
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