Remember Phil Steele? He’s the “highly respected (college football) prognosticator” who predicted the Atlantic Coast Conference would “get the best” of the Southeastern Conference on Rivalry Weekend last fall. Oh, and that Clemson University would get “triple revenge” on head coach Steve Spurrier’s University of South Carolina Gamecocks.
Not only that, Steele went so far as to say it “would not shock” him if 6-5 Georgia Tech upset third-ranked Georgia …
Yeah … dude said that.
How did Steele’s predictions of ACC dominance pan out? Not so well. Our founding editor on the other hand? He just about hit the nail on the head …
Anyway, Steele got something right this week when he named USC defensive lineman (and 2013 Heisman Trophy candidate) Jadeveon Clowney to his first-team All-America squad. Obviously Steele’s selection of Clowney is a no-brainer (i.e. something people with limited faculties can accurately ascertain).
As a sophomore, Clowney recorded a school record 23.5 tackles for loss and a school record 13.0 quarterback sacks en route to becoming a unanimous first-team All-American. His season was punctuated with this highlight reel hit against Michigan’s Vincent Smith in the 2013 Outback Bowl.
Clowney is the best player in college football. Period. Had he been eligible, it’s likely he would have been this year’s No. 1 NFL draft pick – while the 2014 draft is already being referred to as the “Clowney Derby.’
Also on Steele’s first-team All-America squad? Returning Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and Clemson University wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who is hoping to rebound from an injury/ illness/ suspension-plagued 2012 campaign.
Interestingly, Steele did not list Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd on his first, second, third or fourth team All-American squads – which is a bit surprising considering the gutsy performance Boyd provided in the Tigers 2012 bowl victory over SEC powerhouse Louisiana State University.
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49 comments
Boys and Watkins are outstanding athletes. However, they do play in the ACC. Boyd would be a middle of the pack QB in the SEC. His Oline would be better, but the defenses would be much better. Watkins can score on every play when healthy.
Im a Gamecock 100%, and I cant stand Clemson, but talent is talent. Boyd is a very good QB. He would be in the top 5 in the SEC. The only reason I cant say higher is he has only 1 time in 3 years had a good game VS an SEC D (and I still say it was against an LSU D that didnt care but I cant take away his stats in the game). If he played week in and week out the kind of D’s they have in the SEC he would be good enough to adapt to make him better, but only seeing them 1 or 2 times a year, he isnt groomed to have to play that way. So I just dont know what to think he is or could be, but I cant take away the fact that he is good. Now Watkins could still be an All American, if healthy, anywhere in the country. This might be the only time I say someting nice about Clemson.
Taj would get knocked about by game 4 in the SEC…If an SEC defender hit him a few times, he’d break…it ain’t like the little ACC players…
Not to mention: The D-Backs week after week, in meaningful games, in the SEC would Eat Boyd’s @$$ alive, if the D-Line did not put him in the hospital beforehand…
“Taj would get knocked about by game 4 in the SEC…If an SEC defender
hit him a few times, he’d break…it ain’t like the little ACC
players…”
Break how, like Connor Shaw’s feet or head or like Latimore’s knees when they get hit by an SEC defensive player?
LSU says Hi!
See how far that gets you in the fall of 2013…
Boyd is ranked #3 QB is the country by most national sports publications. Hardly a “middle of the pack” QB in the SEC or any other conference for that matter.
Boyd was a blue chip recruit. 5 star! Boyd also will be a 2nd round at worst NFL draft pick. I did not see any “middle of the pack” QB’s drafed that high this year.
I bet Spurrier would give anything for a “middle of the pack” QB like Boyd.
I’m guessing Les Miles probably does not consider him “middle of the pack”. But then again I guess LSU is “Middle of the pack” also. One day perhaps CU and LSU can attain the level of greatness that USC has!
Boy what it must be like to have that a trophy case filled with the 69 ACC championship and the SEC East trophies and a couple of Pappa John trophies as your claim to fame.
If you hauled them all to the metal recycler you may could fill the tank with gas or pay for a weeks stay at the Whitney.
Touchy, touchy! Why so defensive?
“I bet Spurrier would give anything for a “middle of the pack” QB like Boyd.” I dont know, he seems to be doing just fine with his back ups against Clemson.
Spurrier wouldn’t have Boyd as a QB. Has he ever had a black QB? He inherited one from Good ‘ole Lou and did everything he could to demote him.
Boyd and Watkins are outstanding athletes. However, they do play in the ACC. Boyd would be a middle of the pack QB in the SEC. His Oline would be better, but the defenses would be much better. Watkins can score on every play when healthy.
Im a Gamecock 100%, and I cant stand Clemson, but talent is talent. Boyd is a very good QB. He would be in the top 5 in the SEC. The only reason I cant say higher is he has only 1 time in 3 years had a good game VS an SEC D (and I still say it was against an LSU D that didnt care but I cant take away his stats in the game). If he played week in and week out the kind of D’s they have in the SEC he would be good enough to adapt to make him better, but only seeing them 1 or 2 times a year, he isnt groomed to have to play that way. So I just dont know what to think he is or could be, but I cant take away the fact that he is good. Now Watkins could still be an All American, if healthy, anywhere in the country. This might be the only time I say someting nice about Clemson.
Boyd is ranked #3 QB is the country by most national sports publications. Hardly a “middle of the pack” QB in the SEC or any other conference for that matter.
Boyd was a blue chip recruit. 5 star! Boyd also will be a 2nd round at worst NFL draft pick. I did not see any “middle of the pack” QB’s drafed that high this year.
I bet Spurrier would give anything for a “middle of the pack” QB like Boyd.
I’m guessing Les Miles probably does not consider him “middle of the pack”. But then again I guess LSU is “Middle of the pack” also. One day perhaps CU and LSU can attain the level of greatness that USC has!
Boy what it must be like to have that a trophy case filled with the 69 ACC championship and the SEC East trophies and a couple of Pappa John trophies as your claim to fame.
If you hauled them all to the metal recycler you may could fill the tank with gas or pay for a weeks stay at the Whitney.
Touchy, touchy! Why so defensive?
“I bet Spurrier would give anything for a “middle of the pack” QB like Boyd.” I dont know, he seems to be doing just fine with his back ups against Clemson.
Spurrier wouldn’t have Boyd as a QB. Has he ever had a black QB? He inherited one from Good ‘ole Lou and did everything he could to demote him.
I’m a Clemson fan, but the difference is on the lines (and somewhat at Linebacker too). SEC lines are bigger and faster overall – just a fact. I’m more excited when we have a veteran (and able) o-line coming back than I am when we have Sammy and Taj coming back. Look at Clemson’s best years (80’s and even their few really good years since then) and you’ll see dominating line play.
South Carolina’s dominance over us the last 4 years is related to their D-line and linebackers. I don’t think their skill athletes have been that much better and they still lack on the domninant o-line. IF they had an oline to match the d line, would have won the SEC by now.
Face it, regardless of what that Dumb@$$ coach is telling you…SC will kick your @$$ again…and again…
Clemson is a weak team that wins vs a D-II schedule. If you played REAL football, Clemson would lose 5 or 6 games a year…
PS: Winning the “SEC” is winning the NC…
A Clemson writes a post admitting that the SEC is better and that USC has been better than Clemson, and you still feel the need to rip him a new one. Does anyone anywhere ever write anything that you find acceptable?
In other news, how’s the food at G. Werber Bryan this week?
My point: He’s trying to explain it away as something fairly simple.
It’s a lot deeper and more complex than the quality of the lines. SC is WAY ahead of Clemson…It’s like the difference between D-1 and D-II….
Trying to simplify it….is the practice of wishful thinking…
You my sir are miserable. And an idiot. And a douchebag. 99% of the people would agree with me, and the rest are idiots.
99% (on this site) are leftwing drones. And even if they are not, I peg Clemson like I Nail the Liberals…so the Stupid Tater fans hear truth from me, they do not want to accept….just like you Leftwing Radicals…
You’ve actually been successful at suppressing truth and fair assessment…So you have no reason to be scared, just because
I’ve figured you out. There are still a lot of blind dumb@$$#$ for you to “dialogue” with……
No fuckface. It IS that simple. The team with the best offensive line wins.
So QBs, RBs and WRs make no difference. Neither do DLs and DBs…It’s simply the OL, and the OL only, is why Clemson gets its @$$ kicked by legitimate teams..
I guess Bama cab fire Nick Saban and save $5 million a year….and Clemson screwed up by firing Tommy because his OLs were better than Dabo’s…
I’m sure the world will be shocked to know that Clemson’s OL was better than LSUs in the Peach…
Wow: If all schools were as genius as you, think of all the time and money they could save on recruiting…
Agreed. I am a Carolina fan, but always was amazed by the Olines Clemson fielded under Danny Ford.
Didn’t he once say he would take an offensive lineman over a quarterback any day?
I’m a Clemson fan, but the difference is on the lines (and somewhat at Linebacker too). SEC lines are bigger and faster overall – just a fact. I’m more excited when we have a veteran (and able) o-line coming back than I am when we have Sammy and Taj coming back. Look at Clemson’s best years (80’s and even their few really good years since then) and you’ll see dominating line play.
South Carolina’s dominance over us the last 4 years is related to their D-line and linebackers. I don’t think their skill athletes have been that much better and they still lack on the domninant o-line. IF they had an oline to match the d line, would have won the SEC by now.
Agreed. I am a Carolina fan, but always was amazed by the Olines Clemson fielded under Danny Ford.
Didn’t he once say he would take an offensive lineman over a quarterback any day?
FITS applauding Steele for picking JD…Wow: You think that is a reason praising this guy???
FITS, You’re just a F*#*ing simple-mided Dumb@$$…To peddle yourself as a media authority is laughable.
A journalist exposes himself w/ his work. All you do is reveal yourself as an idiot w/ what you post…
I took my little girl to the zoo Saturday. It was embarrassing because this ugly ass spider monkey was jerking his joint and dry humping another male monkey. My little girl asked the zookeeper what the monkey was doing. The zookeeper replied,” you mean Grand Tango, oh he’s just doing what he always does. Only today his mama asked if we could keep him for a bit while she went down to the donkey pen to get laid.”
I slap the P!$$ out iof Dumb@$$, because you’re a Dumb@$$…and this is all you got…
Remember: If you keep shut up, people will wonder if you’re an idiot or not…when you open your mouth, you prove to be a Moron….
Piss
Dumbass
Fucking
You are allowed to actually type curse words on the internet. It’s okay. Your mother won’t find out. Besides, if you think you are somehow morally superior because you don’t type curse words in full, then I have some oceanfront property in Greenville County to sell you.
Clue: You F*#*in’ idiot: Hate the game (because you suck at it) DUMB@$$…Not the player…
Realize: you look so stupid. Nobody cares about me…they care about what I say. But you have no intelligent response to the content…You just attack me.
In a courtroom (seems like you’d figure this out) you’d look like a lost and petty imbecile against me…kinda like you do on here…Hahahaha…
“Remember: If you keep shut up, people will wonder if you’re an idiot or not”
So how long have you been speaking English?
This is the funniest post I have ever read on FITS.
I took my little girl to the zoo Saturday. It was embarrassing because this ugly ass spider monkey was jerking his joint and dry humping another male monkey. My little girl asked the zookeeper what the monkey was doing. The zookeeper replied,” you mean Grand Tango, oh he’s just doing what he always does. Only today his mama asked if we could keep him for a bit while she went down to the donkey pen to get laid.”
This is the funniest post I have ever read on FITS.
Didn’t Phil Steele tell us FSU would win the National Championship last year???…That should tell you all you need to know about him…(He’s TOTALLY dis-credited as an authority)…
Steele reminds me of FITS: they have NO IDEA of how weak the ACC is…And FITS has a history of bashing Spurrier, and even took shots (his stooge did) at Clowney before he began playing…
FITS also claimed to have an on-field “source” (probably leftwing photog Travis Bell) speculate to him that Marcus’ FIRST injury looked CAREER-ENDING…
And remember, FITS soiled his panties because some porn-queen was speculating Clemson as a legitimate National Championship Contender in 2011…I had to set the clueless FITS straight, and still LMAO about doing that…
FITS: Pat yourself on the back if it makes you feel secure…but you have been pretty poor (or totally lost) @ chronicling SC and Clemson sports…
bitter kitties
We will never be bitter as long as Big T aka Grand Tango remains the USCe’s number one fan and chief spokesperson.
bitter kitties
We will never be bitter as long as Big T aka Grand Tango remains the USCe’s number one fan and chief spokesperson.