Ever since Dabo came into our locker room after Dino, Dungey and company beat them, I tend to root for him when they aren’t playing Syracuse. It is really hard to sustain the level of success he has had in Clemson. I was surprised he didn’t leave for Alabama when Saban retired. It felt from the outside looking in that a former player who has won national titles would be the ideal candidate for the next coach at Alabama.
That said he has proven his loyalty to Clemson and earned the right to try to build his program the way he always has done it. He was upset at the roughing the passer calls because it is so hard to rush the passer now. I don’t know how these guys can hold up and still be aggressive at the same time. The second hit was close to targeting but it did appear to this viewer that he led with his shoulder and kind of hit the qb in the head. It was a close play and he was trying to be loyal to his players which I kind of respect. You can rip me if you want to but I think it was admirable that he was trying to defend his guys. I think Fran would have had a similar reaction.
Syracuse seems to have the right coach for this new model of always recruiting. You are recruiting your current roster and prospective players at all times right now it seems. Fran seems to really understand the current climate of college football. He has done so many of the right things since he started. He is active in the community both the city neighborhoods and the university. His free football camp was such a great gesture. I loved when he played pick up football with SU students in Walnut Park.
Dabo was a position coach with no coordinator experience as I recall before he took over the head coaching job at Clemson. I see a lot of similarities in Fran and Dabo. Dabo like many tenured coaches has to realize that the world has changed and he needs to embrace the portal and NIL as it is not going to be the same landscape as 2016 and 2018.
I loved today’s game. I think the first half was the best coached half that Fran has had since he arrived. The rest of the game had some moments that can be second guessed. Throughout the game. He was playing to win. Something we haven’t really had at SU for a while. Mac was like that not being satisfied and frustrated with the tie against Auburn. Going for two against West Virginia that same year. Coach P, Dino, Shafer and Marrone made a lot of less risky plays. Punting on their own side of the 50, trying for field goals to make a game close when going for the td was the risky, play to win effort.
I hope Angeli injury is not a season ender for him. If it is and Collins or another QB can’t keep the course and ensure a successful season, I have seen enough to say that Fran is our guy after today.
Sorry for the long post. I am so pumped about today’s game and hope it is the springboard for a bowl season this year. Couldn’t be happier having Fran lead us!
Go ORANGE!