Clemson may benefit if Phillips departs

By Bob Wilson  |   Thursday, February 22, 2007  |  Comments( 14 )

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Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips has announced that he is not interested in the same position at Arkansas, also saying he has not been contacted about returning to his alma mater. Because he played and coached under Frank Boyles, the Razorbacks' outgoing A.D., Phillips is rumored as a candidate.

Many feel there are obvious questions about Clemson's commitment to football (and to all sports) when the school is willing to turn away prospective players who meet NCAA and ACC entrance requirements.

Perhaps now would be a good time for Phillips and Clemson to have a clean break. Some feel that Phillips hasn't done enough to stand up for the Tigers' football program. To be fair, Phillips is a university employee and has to be careful about picking public fights with his employer. However, in some circles, he is being seen as a "yes" man.

Clemson appears to be at the threshold of a big fight. Athletics and academics are clashing, and something has to give. While it is admirable that the school wants to improve its academic standing, it will come at the cost of athletics -- specifically, football.

Clemson cannot continue to turn away qualified players and raise its admission levels above its ACC competitors and still expect to compete for the league championship. It just isn't logical. Clemson does not command the name recognition to allow it to pick recruits from all over the country and turn away qualified applicants. Until it can return to the glory years of the 1980s, the school must take the student athletes who are qualified and willing to make a commitment to being a Tiger.

Clemson needs an athletic director who is willing to lead this fight and stand up to the school's president and academic committee. If Phillips isn't that man, then Clemson would be better off losing him to Arkansas.

Furthermore, a new A.D. would likely want to bring in a new coach, thus putting Tommy Bowden on a short leash. Bowden would be forced to win immediately, and if the new A.D. was able to take the academic board head on, Tiger fans would see how well Bowden fares on an even recruiting field.

Clemson Tigers insight, courtesy of RealFootball365.com
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CommentsComments: 14  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
jz		02:21 PM
02/22/2007
Who are they going to pick up that would do those things mentioned? There isn't a potential employee on the planet who would...
No.2
hbk		12:55 AM
02/23/2007
Amen brother to that article. Yes man is an apt description. Clemson would be lucky if both of those clowns left. If all other...
No.3
Mark S. Smith Sr.		02:20 AM
02/23/2007
I agree , it is time for Phillips to depart, it will be great for Clemson Athletics. What a way for him to save face.We thought...
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