All-In [49613]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 30357
Joined: 12/10/98
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Not quite a sermon, but a musing...
Oct 19, 2014, 11:29 AM
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After yesterday's win (and despite the tone of some posts here, it WAS a win ... and a win to be proud of!) I started thinking about why folks were down on this team.
Aside from those of us who are inerrantly optimistic, I think we all expected to be 5-2 at this point. Heck, a good many saw this or Louisville as a trap game, one which would drop us to 4-3. So, we're right where we logically should be with plenty of green grass in front of us, and another 10-win season well within the realm.
So, why so pensive, why pouring up draughts of doom and misery? I refuse to believe that so many Sons of Clemson are truly that miserable in victory, and I pray they aren't that unhappy in other aspects of their lives.
Then, it hit me: Perhaps we are conditioned to this sort of response. Not as Clemson fans, but as veterans of experience. A lot of the folks here aren't graced with the living knowledge of the days when Clemson could count on defense. We've become accustomed to having to outscore people to be sure of victory. The essence of our success had become "run so far ahead that they can't catch you."
Which works great, except for the games that involve people who can run just as fast, or have the rare defense to slow you down.
This winning with defense may take some getting used to for you new folks. But I promise it works. We built a dynasty on bludgeoning people in the 80s with it. And with it, your offense can be less-than-stellar (which, honestly, our's is right now) and you'll still be fine.
Case in point: Our last two games have been against two of the top defenses in the country ... not the conference, the country. And it showed on our offense, which suddenly has been required to shift gears. A new QB, running back injuries ... all while facing two Top 10 defenses.
And we won. We won with a defense that held Louisville and BC to half their usual points. We won with a defense that said "Not today!" and turned both away at crunch time.
Yes, Clemson won with defense. And, to me, if feels great ... nerve-wracking, but great.
After so long, it may be difficult for people to remember how to trust defense again. Think of it as a matter of faith in what WON'T happen, rather that what will.
They WON'T score.
They WON'T win.
We will.
Of course, a team with stout defense needs to have the heart and voice of its fans. Fans have far less of their own entity invested in an offensive juggernaut. But you have to get in the trenches with a defense. You have to be screaming and growling and clawing with them.
Are you willing to do so? Will you believe in defense again, Tigers?
Come get in the trenches with us. Taste the blood of our opponents. Hear their whimpers in pain. There are gritty, glorious moments in store.
And when the offense gets back on track, as I believe it will this weekend, there will truly be better days ahead.
We've been here before. And we've won.
We will do so again.
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