Current Issues With Dr. Phillips - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Current Issues With Dr. Phillips Many reasons to be optimistic about football future

Dr. Phillips is writing to Tiger fans about opportunities and challenges facing Clemson

Oct. 11, 2005

The question has been asked of me: Why should I feel good about our future after our loss to Wake Forest? Good question. The purpose of this column is simply to answer that question. The following are the reasons why I am optimistic about the future of our football program:

Since mid-season 2003, we have beaten teams ranked no. 3, no. 6, no. 10, and no. 17 as well as winning the Peach Bowl Championship. In this current season, we have taken ninth-ranked Miami into triple overtime and 17th-ranked Boston College into overtime. Our issue is one of consistency. We already know we can and will play with the best, however, our goal is to more fully develop our overall consistency. We now play in a premier football league. When we take care of business in this conference, things will fall into place on the national level. That wasn't necessarily the case in the previous alignment. We are now in a great conference in all sports.

Our team plays hard until the last whistle. We were the only team in the country to have each of our first five games decided by seven points or less and all five were decided in the last minute. That speaks strongly to the attitude and character of our players and coaches. Those that have played and coached at this level well understand that this intangible is a direct reflection on how the players feel and believe about the coaches and their team.

Within the last year and a half, we have begun to address substantive infrastructure issues that have hindered the football program. The pieces of the facility puzzle are starting to come together. We have many wonderful supporters that understand the necessity of this issue. Many individuals and families have generously provided substantial resources, in addition to their annual giving to the IPTAY Scholarship Fund, in order to get the WestZone project started. We are also very endebted to the IPTAY Board of Directors, who have been very instrumental in this effort. These individuals, families and the IPTAY Board of Directors know that we need to work with a great sense of urgency. We are very grateful to each and every one.

Recruiting: In 2004, we had a good class. We are currently playing 13-15 freshmen or red-shirt freshmen this season. We are also having another outstanding recruiting class for 2006. Of ESPN's Top 101 High School Players for 2006, only three schools have more commitments than Clemson. The 2005 recruiting class and what appears to be happening in the 2006 recruiting class is strong evidence of the confidence that high school coaches, players, and parents have in the direction of our football program. This bodes extremely well for our future. Recruiting is the heartbeat of the future.

Our football program is very strong when it comes to NCAA compliance. We have had no significant NCAA issues for many years that will detract in any fashion from building our program for the future.

We have had minimal off-the-field conduct issues with our team. Certainly, we do have flare-ups and we do and will have issues, but underCoach Bowden's direction, these have been minimal.

Our coaching staff is adjusting in positive fashion to the direction the University has taken with regard to stronger academic standards and the new curriculum structure. Vickery Hall is being retooled to successfully work with the changing academic environment on campus. Also very importantly, under Coach Bowden's leadership, the football program has performed very well academically. For example, two years ago football was ranked 11th in the nation for graduation rates among 117 Division 1-A football programs.

And finally, we have tremendous people that support the overall program. When the West Zone is completed, we will have one of the most outstanding on-campus stadiums in America and what we already know, a tremendous environment that people and players enjoy being a part of.

The above factors are why I am optimistic and feel good about the future.

In Solid Orange,

Terry Don Phillips
Athletic Director

Past Columns
October 4, 2005
September 26, 2005
September 21, 2005
September 5, 2005
August 23, 2005
August 4, 2005
July 26, 2005
June 28, 2005
May 23, 2005
April 25, 2005
April 4, 2005
March 16, 2005
February 23, 2005
February 15, 2005
February 9, 2005
February 1, 2005
January 25, 2005
January 18, 2005
January 11, 2005
January 6, 2005
December 15, 2004
December 7, 2004
November 30, 2004
November 17, 2004
November 10, 2004
November 3, 2004
October 26, 2004
October 21, 2004
October 11, 2004
October 4, 2004

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