Culture of competition bodes well for Clemson

By Lee Roberts  |   Wednesday, March 18, 2009  |  Comments( 2 )

Clemson Tigers
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When the Clemson Tigers named Dabo Swinney their head coach, he provided an energy boost to a program that seemed to be complacent. While some of Swinney’s sideline antics were unorthodox after he took over for Tommy Bowden last season, they did help rejuvenate a talented roster. The result was a dramatic turnaround and a trip to the Gator Bowl. In 2009, he must keep the energy level high to ensure another six-loss season doesn’t happen.

Swinney is now running his first spring practice as head coach of the Tigers. The first major move that he’s made is having an open competition for the quarterback position. While some may have expected highly touted recruit Willy Korn to assume the starter’s role after the graduation of Cullen Harper, Swinney has decided to let Korn and Kyle Parker battle it out for the No. 1 job.

Granted, this decision was also rooted in the struggles Korn had on the field in 2008. Many fans, and probably coaches too, believed that Korn would immediately be able to step in and lead the Tigers to wins. They were wrong.

The 2008 version of the Tigers lacked a sense of urgency. Harper, after a great 2007 campaign, never played to the same level he reached the previous year. Harper wasn’t alone, though, and Bowden is partially to blame. That is why he’s no longer coaching at Clemson.

So, Swinney has taken the most prestigious position on the field and told his quarterbacks to battle it out. Korn probably never imagined this scenario when signing with Clemson, but he’ll be a better player because of it. And Clemson will be a better football team.

The open competition at quarterback also sets the precedent that no one’s job is safe. This makes everyone from the running backs to the linebackers to the kickers work a little harder during spring practice. That extra effort in the spring will pay dividends in September and the Tigers might finally live up to expectations.
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About Lee Roberts

Born in Richmond, Va, I moved south to UNC-Chapel Hill for college and received a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. I currently live in Charlotte, NC and cover Auburn, LSU and the ...
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