The comparisons between the Deshaun and VY and Texas/Clemson are kind of uncanny.
· They’re both orange, which is unfortunate.
· I’m pretty sure Deshaun and VY are the same player. Just so smooth. They had IT in college. Means nothing for the next level. Stafford didn’t have IT in college, but has it in the pros. But some guys just have it for Saturdays in the Fall.
· Deshaun is the first Heisman runner-up QB to win the Natty since VY.
· Both kids had a phenomenal game in the ‘same game’ the year before. Remember VY’s performance in the Rose Bowl his sophomore year. Same for Deshaun’s in last year’s title game.
· Clemson won its first title in 35 years. Texas had not won either a Coaches or AP poll title in 35 years.
· Both Mack and Dabo were in their 8th year.
· Texas and Mack lost 5 straight to OU. Dabo and Clemson lost 5 straight to the Cocks.
· They both beat an undefeated (and unbeatable) defending champion. 2005 USC and 2016 Bama were the only teams I can remember being talked about before the game as the greatest ever before winning it all. Neither turned out to be.
· Both Mack and Dabo were both kind of “Mr. 10 wins.” Clemson had won 10 for 5 straight years coming into this one. Texas had won 10 four straight coming into 2005. Mack averaged 10 wins his first 7 seasons in a mostly 11-game schedule. Dabo average 11.7 in a 12 game schedule and the benefit of the playoff in 2015.
The question is what will happen next. Colt McCoy beat out Jevon Snead for the starting QB job in Austin. Snead eventually transferred. Colt went on to a sterling career, but the injury in the title game vs. Bama left them unable to compete. From that moment on, they were never the same. They had a great follow-up to VY, who ALMOST took them back, but not quite. They never replaced McCoy and the wheels came off for Mack and never got on for Charlie Strong.
Dabo has Hunter Johnson coming in this spring and Lawrence the next. 2017 will be a transition year. They have some kids on campus, but not a redshirt like McCoy to go to. And if one of those kids beats out Johnson, does that muddy the water in 2018 and beyond. Will they see similar transfers that Texas did?
Clemson has built something akin to a Richt model on steroids. There’s much more attention to detail and better recruiting, but the train still runs on a QB. I believe Kirby is trying to build a system that gets you there without a guy that has IT. But it never hurts if they do.
The interesting thing to me as the commentary flowed after the game was thinking on Texas and Clemson. It’s so easy to say that it was the game that got them over the hump. They’ve been among the best the last 3-4 years and won some huge games. But…so had the Horns. They’d won the Rose Bowl 2 straight years. They’d finally beaten OU. They’d slayed the giant that no one thought they could slay in USC. Texas looked poised to make a run. And they did a little, but could never get it all the way back.
If there is cause for hope, it’s that #10 seems to have it. He made the plays in the 4th Qtr vs. UNC, Mizzou, UT, UK, and even Vandy (remember we hit a 4th down on that drive and he hit Chigbu right between the numbers on the last 3rd down). Kid doesn’t feel the pressure.
BTW, who you got in the FSU/Bama opener next year? Whew, Nick loses 2 straight to the ACC and things might get a little uncomfortable down there.
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