Are We 60 Minutes Away From Picking Clemson's Next Football Coach?

Swinney doesn't know if win over SC gets the job

That was the headline for a story this week that left me pretty underwhelmed in advance of Saturday's USC-Clemson game. It's the final regular season game of Dabo Swinney's audition to fill Tommy Bowden's shoes on a full time basis.

So what was Dabo supposed to say as he make a case for the job; "shoot yeah, if I beat the Gamecocks I'm in!"

Swinney has done plenty of good things over the first five games as the interim head coach. It doesn't sound fair that one game could be a make or break 60 minutes for his candidacy.

But I think that's what it comes down to for Terry Don Phillips.

If Clemson wins Saturday it may be a tough sell to the fans to yank him out of there and bring in a new guy (Lane Kiffin, Gary Patterson, Troy Calhoun, Bud Foster, Mike Locksley, Brent Venables, etc.), but it might be just as tough a sell to the fans if he goes with Dabo coming off a loss to the Gamecocks.

Ten years ago Clemson was picking between Tommy Bowden (having lit up the scoreboard for undefeated Tulane) and Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer (this was just before the Hokies program went from really good to a national power) to take over the program.

Don't worry about that Clemson fans, Tennessee isn't lining up all kinds of "established winning coaches" to replace Phil Fulmer.

I still go with the notion that I would always rather have a guy become a great coach at your place as opposed to going out and trying to find the "E.W.C." and hoping he can recreate his success and actually have the drive to accomplish the task.

I turned to my good friend and recruiting guru Mickey Plyer of WCCP-FM, who knows Dabo. That's something I can't claim and he gave me this analysis:

"He is a great recruiter for two reasons. First is his relentless energy. He is tireless and his work shows it. Second is who he is. Dabo is one of the most positive and optimistic people I have ever met. He thinks he is going to sign every prospect he is recruiting and thinks he is going to win every game he is coaching. He has a magnetic personality that kids gravitate to. Dabo is honest and genuine. Kids sense his honesty. I said when he got the interim job that he will do well if he is just himself."

I will admit the possibility of Air Force's Troy Calhoun is intriguing. Calhoun is 17-8 (11-5 in Mountain West) in two seasons with the Falcons. His resume includes serving as offensive coordinator at Wake Forest and the NFL Houston Texans.

Calhoun's 2008 team went 8-4 after losing his starting quarterback (96% of passing yards) and top six rushers (89% of rushing yards) from the previous year. Yet despite those losses, Air Force was fifth in the nation in rushing this season.

Let me make one more point about "E.W.C." Take a look at some AP Top 25 teams and the job their current head coach had before taking over their program.

5. Southern Cal - Pete Carroll: Consultant for pro and college teams after being fired from his second NFL head coaching job.
7. Texas Tech - Mike Leach: Oklahoma Offensive Coordinator
8. Utah - Kyle Whittingham: Assistant head coach, promoted after Urban Meyer left for Florida
10. Jim Tressel - Ohio State: Head coach of Youngstown State (Division 1-AA or FCS as it's called now)
13. Georgia - Mark Richt - Florida State offensive coordinator

I could name five other Top 25 teams that are coached by men who had similar paths to coaching "established winning" programs.

I don't know who Phillips will choose as Clemson's next coach. I have no endorsement to give.

But I must steal another line (from memory) from my friend Mr. Plyler: "it's more important to hire a winning coach than to win the press conference that introduces him."

I wish I'd thought of that!