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Texas A&M Football

Clemson's success highlights Texas A&M's ability to win championships

January 12, 2017
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Clemson proved it.

Yep, Clemson proved a small-town, historically mediocre, non-blue blood football program can rise up and win a national championship.

Therefore, coach Dabo Swinney’s Tigers proved that Texas A&M can, too.

Well, that’s what Aggies should take from Clemson’s 35-31 victory over Alabama on Monday night.

If Clemson can win a national title, there is no reason that Texas A&M cannot.

A&M and Clemson have more in common than despising a snooty state rival that competes in another conference.

For example, Clemson is less than two hours from a huge metropolitan area – Atlanta – that’s teeming with talented high school football prospects. That’s very similar to A&M’s proximity to Houston.

Clemson was once a perennial underachiever that routinely choked in big games.

Sound familiar?

Seriously, until just two years ago – when the Tigers finally first reached the College Football Playoff final – Clemson was known for starting fast and fading late.
Seriously, until just two years ago – when the Tigers finally first reached the College Football Playoff final and faced Alabama– Clemson was known for starting fast and fading late.

In fact, the term “Clemsoning” (verb, to underachieve or disappoint) came into existence.

But that changed because mediocrity would not be accepted there.

From 1999 to 2008 Clemson’s was a mediocre program under then-coach Tommy Bowden. The Tigers finished no better than 9-3 (2000) and were 8-4 or worse seven times during his tenure.

Then midway through the ’08 season, Clemson officials grew tired of that mediocrity and made the switch to Swinney, a position coach who previously had not even been a coordinator.

There have been some rough patches. There have been setbacks. But Swinney proved to be “the guy” who could turn Clemson into a national power.

Clemson was 10-4 in Swinney’s third season. The Tigers have not posted fewer than 10 wins since 2011.

The secret to his success? It’s just Dabo being Dabo.

“Dabo is a magnetic guy, and he has a high emotional IQ,” ESPN college football analyst Ivan Maisel wrote in an e-mail. “He likes people and, more important, he understands people. He also has the same drive to succeed that all the great coaches have.”

Chris Lowe, an ESPN college football writer, agreed that Swinney’s success stems from his genuine personality.

“He is a master at relationships – be it with his administration, players, parents of players and other coaches,” said Lowe, who recently penned an article about the secret of Swinney’s success. “You can look at that by the way their recruiting has taken off under him, the incredible staff he’s been able to assemble and the way Clemson, as a school, has bought into him and is now spending millions of dollars to make Clemson’s facilities as good as anybody’s.”

Hmmm …. good recruiting, a solid coaching staff and an administration that’s willing to raise millions to upgrade facilities.

“His blueprint is a little different than anybody else’s,” Lowe continued. “It’s such an upbeat, fun, family atmosphere. That appeals to a lot of kids.”

No doubt, Swinney is well-known as an excellent recruiter. But compare his last five recruiting classes to Texas A&M’s.

According to 24/7Sports’ annual team recruiting rankings, both Clemson and A&M brought in top 20 recruiting classes in each year from 2012 to 2016.

Clemson’s had just one top 10 ranked recruiting class in that span (9th in 2015). A&M had two (5th in ’14 and 9th in ’13).

In fact, A&M’s recruiting class was ranked higher than Clemson’s three times in that five-year span.

But while Clemson has flourished, A&M is stuck in a rut of three consecutive 8-5 finishes.

Perhaps Swinney and his staff are more adept at developing players. Maybe they’re more effective with in-game decisions and adjustments. It could be they’ve just had better luck.

Not playing in the SEC West could be a factor, though being in the ACC Atlantic Division with Florida State and Louisville is certainly no picnic.

Maybe A&M is on the brink of breaking through like Clemson did in Swinney’s third season.

A&M’s 2017 recruiting class is currently ranked ninth by 24/7 Sports. Clemson’s is ranked 13th.

Perhaps quarterback Kellen Mond will develop into A&M’s version of Deshaun Watson.
Perhaps quarterback Kellen Mond will develop into A&M’s version of Deshaun Watson.

Linebacker Anthony Hines could be A&M’s Ben Boulware. Receiver Jhamon Ausbon could be the Aggies’ answer to Mike Williams.

Maybe in the near future A&M will put it all together and finally win another national championship.

Aggies should aim for that. They should expect it. Heck, they should demand it.

Clemson did it. A&M should be able to do it, too.
Discussion from...

Clemson's success highlights Texas A&M's ability to win championships

15,222 Views | 50 Replies | Last: 7 yr ago by AggieDPT
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Franklin Delano Bluth
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Ummm....

Clemson's D knows how to tackle & their oline knows how to block....



Rick Flex
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One glaring difference - Head Coach

"Chris Lowe, an ESPN college football writer, agreed that Swinney's success stems from his genuine personality.

"He is a master at relationships be it with his administration, players, parents of players and other coaches," said Lowe, who recently penned an article about the secret of Swinney's success. "You can look at that by the way their recruiting has taken off under him, the incredible staff he's been able to assemble and the way Clemson, as a school, has bought into him and is now spending millions of dollars to make Clemson's facilities as good as anybody's."

This and developing players is where Sumlin fails.
Sponge
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A good recruiting class is a great starting point, but you still need to develop the players no matter how many stars they have. And certainly not have the entire class disappear like 2013.

I think KA's best game was against WV. I had a lot of hope for 2015 after an entire offseason of training.
Picadillo
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"made the switch" is the operative term
SquirrellyDan
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Is this supposed to make us feel better or worse?
LJF78
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1. Wow... This is the mother of all sunshine pumping.
2. Texags doing all they can do to keep people buying subscriptions
AGinHI
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Although Ray Kroc and Colonel Harland Sanders success highlight my ability to start a business that becomes a global franchise, I'm more akin to Abraham Lincoln's success which highlights my own ability to one day become President.
Meximan
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Quote:

Yep, Clemson proved a small-town, historically mediocre, non-blue blood football program can rise up and win a national championship.

TAMU's last consensus national title was 1939. Clemson won one in 1981, until a few days ago.

TAMU has 18 conference titles. Clemson has 22.

TAMU has 3 division titles (last in 2010). Clemson has 5 (with all coming since 2009).

Clemson has 25 consensus All-Americans lifetime. A&M 30.

All-time, A&M is 26th in win percentage (674-444-48), while Clemson is 33rd (647-444-45).

Except for sending players to the pros and a slight edge in all-time wins, edge Clemson all the way.

GoAgs92
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Quote:

You hear the comparison all the time. Clemson is the Texas A&M of South Carolina.

Who hears this?

HustlerAggie
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Quote:

From 1999 to 2008 Clemson's was a mediocre program under then-coach Tommy Bowden. The Tigers finished no better than 9-3 (2000) and were 8-4 or worse seven times during his tenure.

Then midway through the '08 season, Clemson officials grew tired of that mediocrity and made the switch to Swinney, a position coach who previously had not even been a coordinator.
Sooooo.....we need to find a good position coach that is a diamond in the rough and elevate him?
SEC Champs
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This is Homerism at it's finest.
tk for tu juan
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Meximan said:

Quote:

Yep, Clemson proved a small-town, historically mediocre, non-blue blood football program can rise up and win a national championship.

TAMU's last consensus national title was 1939. Clemson won one in 1981, until a few days ago.

TAMU has 18 conference titles. Clemson has 22.

TAMU has 3 division titles (last in 2010). Clemson has 5 (with all coming since 2009).

Clemson has 25 consensus All-Americans lifetime. A&M 30.

All-time, A&M is 26th in win percentage (674-444-48), while Clemson is 33rd (647-444-45).

Except for sending players to the pros and a slight edge in all-time wins, edge Clemson all the way.


http://www.winsipedia.com/texas-am/vs/clemson

Historically pretty even between the two.
The Chicken Ranch
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Good Lord, Clemson's NC doesn't translate to anything at TAMU. TAMU is light years ahead of Clemson in endowment, facilities, and support. However, none of those things translate to a commitment to winning. Clemson has committed to excellence both on and off the field. They have molded their program after Alabama, whereas we've modled our program after a Drake concert. We're cool, they win. Their program is disciplined and commits to the hard work and dedication that it takes to win, we don't do those things.

Texas A&M is a great school and I am proud to have gone there. However, with an annual slip in academics coupled with uncontrolled growth, we are sliding. Ten years ago when we played at Clemson I saw a school that was TAMU, twenty years ago. It was pure and honest. We've lost that over the years. Clemson could easily teach us something about not only winning, but who we should want to be.

I'm proud for Clemson. I don't think we will ever win a NC in football because we simply don't have what it takes to do it. We "could" have what it takes, but we would need to take a step back to a simpler time and embrace a simpler work ethic and values - rolling up our sleeves and getting the work done. I'm just not sure we can do that.
Mr. Black
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So, Olin, your article begs a couple of questions:

(1) Who's our Dabo?

(2) When will he arrive?
zooguy96
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LOL, our admin cares nothing about anything other than bringing in $$ and mediocrity.

The proof is in the pudding.

Laughable to think anything other than that.

And most Aggies could care less.
HiWay6
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TAMU is the Harvard of Texas...which school is the Harvard of SC?
The Collective
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Talk about mining content out of nothing... holy crap, man.
sharpdressedman
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Quite a reach, Olin.
John Maplethorpe
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sharpdressedman said:

Quite a reach, Olin.
Not really. Member our home and home in the mid '00s? Two OK programs, trading home wins, two programs on equal mediocre footings. Clemson has way less to work with overall.
Buck Nasty
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FriscoKid
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The Chicken Ranch said:

Good Lord, Clemson's NC doesn't translate to anything at TAMU. TAMU is light years ahead of Clemson in endowment, facilities, and support. However, none of those things translate to a commitment to winning. Clemson has committed to excellence both on and off the field. They have molded their program after Alabama, whereas we've modled our program after a Drake concert. We're cool, they win. Their program is disciplined and commits to the hard work and dedication that it takes to win, we don't do those things.

Texas A&M is a great school and I am proud to have gone there. However, with an annual slip in academics coupled with uncontrolled growth, we are sliding. Ten years ago when we played at Clemson I saw a school that was TAMU, twenty years ago. It was pure and honest. We've lost that over the years. Clemson could easily teach us something about not only winning, but who we should want to be.

I'm proud for Clemson. I don't think we will ever win a NC in football because we simply don't have what it takes to do it. We "could" have what it takes, but we would need to take a step back to a simpler time and embrace a simpler work ethic and values - rolling up our sleeves and getting the work done. I'm just not sure we can do that.


First half was dead on.
FriscoKid
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And, what the hell Olan? That's a crap piece.
Bodhi
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cdowl38
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Flavius Agximus
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Typo in the title--should be "inability" not "ability"
JoeAggie1010
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I read the article as compare and contrast of programs' success, directly related to coaching. The subtly lies in the belief we have maintained mediocrity thereby necessitating a change.
MyComputerCareer
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45-70Ag
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Well this shows just how piss poor things are and how little there is to be hopeful for. Looking for anyway possible to claim a moral victory.

If Alabama had won, he would have written some love piece about sec pride.
rhtexfish
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A&M has the ability to win a national championship. They just need to find a different coach to take them there.
Tamu_mgm
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Franklin Delano Bluth said:

Ummm....

Clemson's D knows how to tackle & their oline knows how to block....




We had more rush yards per game than Clemson did this year by about 50 yards, so it's very difficult to argue their OL can block better than ours, especially while we are in the SEC West. https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/stat/rushing-yards-per-game

The main difference between Clemson and A&M this year was Clemson had Deshaun Watson and a better defense. Period. We need an elite QB and a better defense, both of which are certainly attainable.
Heisenberg01
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Two of the big differences between the 2 teams recruiting is class size and attrition.

A&M twice in the last 4 years signed 27 or more, once 32 players. Clemson hasn't signed more than 24 in a cycle in the last 4 years. Team Rankings are artificially inflated by class size alone in the point system these websites use.

We all know the issues with attrition that have essentially wiped out entire classes since Sumlin arrived.
AggieDruggist89
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HiWay6 said:

TAMU is the Harvard of Texas...which school is the Harvard of SC?


For real??
A is A
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BQAg84 said:

Typo in the title--should be "inability" not "ability"
came here to post this
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