The world according to Danny
posted by LW, Friday, December 04, 2009
You just can't beat a Q&A with Danny Ford.
I was able to have an extended conversation with him last year for a lengthy Q&A, and I was struck by his total willingness to speak his mind on whatever topic I brought up.
Today in The State, Bob Gillespie chats with Ford about a number of topics.
Ford, of course, is being honored in Tampa as part of the ACC Legends function.
Here's one of the most interesting parts of the interview:
Q: Clemson hasn't won an ACC championship since 1991. Why has it been so long?
A: In my opinion, a lot of them didn't play Clemson football. I mean, if you say Ohio State to me, I know what Ohio State football is, I know how they play through reputation, what it meant. And I know what Clemson football was about, and I never saw it (in recent seasons).
Clemson football isn't fancy. Clemson football is having a good kicking game, winning with the kicking game, hit(ting) you on defense, don't turn the ball over and be(ing) able to control the ball. Now, they do it different than we did; they control the ball with the pass better than we did; we did it with the run, shorten(ed) the game.
(In recent seasons) it was always trying to be too cute, outcoach you. You don't outcoach people. You might outwork people, might out-hit people, you might out-fundamental people. But if you think you're smart, there's always someone on the other side just as smart, maybe smarter. It ain't what you know, it's how those kids perform. You got to have that philosophy, and I think I've seen it more (this season).
They've gotten back to it a little bit - not enough for me, but I don't coach anymore (laugh). If they win (the ACC), more power to them, congratulations, and don't forget how you got there.
Here's a link to Part 1 and Part 2 of our interview with Ford last December.
Bart Wright also writes about Danny Ford and the 1981 team.
Travis Sawchik of The Post and Courier asks the question: How do you stop C.J. Spiller?
The answers vary: Kevin Steele says to load the box. Others say to sit back in a zone and try to cover one with two.
Steele's approach worked last year when he was at Alabama, but it's a lot harder with Kyle Parker's ability to rifle accurate, deep throws against gambling defenses.
Ron Morris looks at the ACC title game's struggles and says the other championship games went through growing pains as well.
Maybe, but not nearly to the extent of the ACC's problems.
And those problems won't necessarily be totally resolved when it moves to Charlotte.
Imagine the irony if, after five years in Florida, Miami and Florida State finally emerge to play each other on a cold, rainy day in Charlotte.
I'm partial to Dabo Swinney's idea of moving it to Atlanta and staging an ACC-SEC weekend at the Georgia Dome.
Doubt it'll happen, though. The SEC probably doesn't want to mess with a good thing. And the ACC probably doesn't want to play second fiddle.
Imagine if the ACC had a dud matchup and filled up half the Georgia Dome a day before the SEC filled every seat.
In the AJC, Jeff Schultz predicts a Georgia Tech victory.
Both teams are coming off losses. If the ACC is looking for a mascot, Schleprock would be a good start.
Tech coach Paul Johnson caught heat for cracking that if a Jacket fan is tired of getting razzed by a Georgia fan for last week’s loss, he should, “Punch him in the face.” But what did you expect him to say: “Thank you sir, may I have another”?
OK. So I missed on the Tech pick last week. But I gave you the upset special: South Carolina over Clemson. Here’s another lock: Dabo Swinney peaked at average. I did some research (go with it). That six-game winning streak that made everybody in Clemson forget momentarily that they lived in Clemson? Only one win came over an opponent that finished with a winning record. That was Miami, which lost in overtime and totaled 433 yards in offense.
The Jackets’ defense ain’t much. But I just don’t see the Tigers stopping Johnson’s offense. Nor can I bring myself to type the words, “outcoached by Dabo.” One ACC team has to bounce back, right?
Prediction: Jackets over Tigers and they cover the 1.
Also in the AJC, the benefits on winning a conference crown.
Winston-Salem columnist Lenox Rawlings says a Gator Bowl sendoff is the least we can do to honor Bobby Bowden.
In The State, a look at Ricky Sapp's magical recuperative powers.
LW
Click here for the "Eye On The Tigers" blog archive.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
You just can't beat a Q&A with Danny Ford.
I was able to have an extended conversation with him last year for a lengthy Q&A, and I was struck by his total willingness to speak his mind on whatever topic I brought up.
Today in The State, Bob Gillespie chats with Ford about a number of topics.
Ford, of course, is being honored in Tampa as part of the ACC Legends function.
Here's one of the most interesting parts of the interview:
Q: Clemson hasn't won an ACC championship since 1991. Why has it been so long?
A: In my opinion, a lot of them didn't play Clemson football. I mean, if you say Ohio State to me, I know what Ohio State football is, I know how they play through reputation, what it meant. And I know what Clemson football was about, and I never saw it (in recent seasons).
Clemson football isn't fancy. Clemson football is having a good kicking game, winning with the kicking game, hit(ting) you on defense, don't turn the ball over and be(ing) able to control the ball. Now, they do it different than we did; they control the ball with the pass better than we did; we did it with the run, shorten(ed) the game.
(In recent seasons) it was always trying to be too cute, outcoach you. You don't outcoach people. You might outwork people, might out-hit people, you might out-fundamental people. But if you think you're smart, there's always someone on the other side just as smart, maybe smarter. It ain't what you know, it's how those kids perform. You got to have that philosophy, and I think I've seen it more (this season).
They've gotten back to it a little bit - not enough for me, but I don't coach anymore (laugh). If they win (the ACC), more power to them, congratulations, and don't forget how you got there.
Here's a link to Part 1 and Part 2 of our interview with Ford last December.
Bart Wright also writes about Danny Ford and the 1981 team.
Travis Sawchik of The Post and Courier asks the question: How do you stop C.J. Spiller?
The answers vary: Kevin Steele says to load the box. Others say to sit back in a zone and try to cover one with two.
Steele's approach worked last year when he was at Alabama, but it's a lot harder with Kyle Parker's ability to rifle accurate, deep throws against gambling defenses.
Ron Morris looks at the ACC title game's struggles and says the other championship games went through growing pains as well.
Maybe, but not nearly to the extent of the ACC's problems.
And those problems won't necessarily be totally resolved when it moves to Charlotte.
Imagine the irony if, after five years in Florida, Miami and Florida State finally emerge to play each other on a cold, rainy day in Charlotte.
I'm partial to Dabo Swinney's idea of moving it to Atlanta and staging an ACC-SEC weekend at the Georgia Dome.
Doubt it'll happen, though. The SEC probably doesn't want to mess with a good thing. And the ACC probably doesn't want to play second fiddle.
Imagine if the ACC had a dud matchup and filled up half the Georgia Dome a day before the SEC filled every seat.
In the AJC, Jeff Schultz predicts a Georgia Tech victory.
Both teams are coming off losses. If the ACC is looking for a mascot, Schleprock would be a good start.
Tech coach Paul Johnson caught heat for cracking that if a Jacket fan is tired of getting razzed by a Georgia fan for last week’s loss, he should, “Punch him in the face.” But what did you expect him to say: “Thank you sir, may I have another”?
OK. So I missed on the Tech pick last week. But I gave you the upset special: South Carolina over Clemson. Here’s another lock: Dabo Swinney peaked at average. I did some research (go with it). That six-game winning streak that made everybody in Clemson forget momentarily that they lived in Clemson? Only one win came over an opponent that finished with a winning record. That was Miami, which lost in overtime and totaled 433 yards in offense.
The Jackets’ defense ain’t much. But I just don’t see the Tigers stopping Johnson’s offense. Nor can I bring myself to type the words, “outcoached by Dabo.” One ACC team has to bounce back, right?
Prediction: Jackets over Tigers and they cover the 1.
Also in the AJC, the benefits on winning a conference crown.
Winston-Salem columnist Lenox Rawlings says a Gator Bowl sendoff is the least we can do to honor Bobby Bowden.
In The State, a look at Ricky Sapp's magical recuperative powers.
LW
Click here for the "Eye On The Tigers" blog archive.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
Donnie Patterson. Donnie Patterson is the founder of Patterson Tax Service, located in Easley, S.C. He has been active in tax preparation since 1970, and offers a full range of tax and bookkeeping services.
Larry Williams. Larry has covered the daily beat at Clemson since 2004. Williams, who worked for the Charleston Post & Courier from 2004-08, joined Tigerillustrated.com in November of 2008. He may be reached by email at ldubya08(at)gmail.com. Replace (at) with @.