Clemson Football: Traditional Powers fear facing the Tigers

The Clemson football program is being pounded by other fanbases, but could these insults and discredit attempts be happening out of fear?

The disdain for Clemson football is certainly a real thing during this 2019 season.

The Tigers, who started out the season ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll, have now dropped to No. 4 in the same poll- without losing a game.

Not only has Clemson not lost a game, the Tigers have played just one close matchup all season long. The past two weeks, Clemson football covered large spreads against Florida State and Louisville, but dropped in the polls in subsequent weeks.

Instead, voters and fans are screaming to ‘look at this year only’ and ‘see how weak the Tigers’ schedule is.’

Even though they say these things, they don’t hold Alabama to the same standard. The Crimson Tide, despite playing a fairly close game against a bad Tennessee team at home and not playing one team with a pulse all season, continue to be ranked No. 1 in the nation. For some reason, no one has a problem with that hypocrisy.

Could it be for another reason? Could it be that the ‘traditional powers’ fear playing Clemson football in the CFB Playoff? For some reason, they’d much rather an undefeated Tiger team get left out of the playoff. Why? Well, look at the history.

The last time Clemson played…

• Alabama: Tigers won 44-16
• LSU: Tigers (Clemson) won 25-24
• Ohio State: Tigers won 31-0
• Oklahoma: Tigers won 37-17

For some reason, these traditional powers love to boast their history, but then want to ignore and discredit history when it doesn’t suit their purpose.

I understand that a lot of things have changed since Clemson and LSU played, or even since the Tigers played Ohio State and Oklahoma. But one thing remains the same: Dabo Swinney.

Swinney has consistently won big time games in the CFB Playoff and beyond for quite some time. Even though the Clemson football program has come out slow for each of the past few seasons, the Tigers are always playing their best football when it matters most.

For some reason, I think that sticks in the back of opposing fan’s minds. They can pretend this is a different season and that the Tigers aren’t capable of winning a National Championship- as they do every year- but the truth is this:

• Clemson is just as talented as any team in the nation.
• Clemson has just as much depth as any team in the nation.
• The Tigers have experience winning CFB Playoff games and National Championships, unlike many of these other ‘powerhouses.’
• Clemson always plays its best football in November, December and January.
• While other things have changed, Dabo Swinney still remains.

There are plenty of opposing fans that respect what Clemson football has done. This post isn’t to say that the Tigers won’t get beat or that Clemson doesn’t have flaws, but the more I read on social media, the more I’m convinced that there’s an element of fear in the minds of many of these fans- and analysts with an agenda, for that matter- pushing so hard to get Clemson eliminated from CFB Playoff talks.

I mean, if you’re so convinced that Clemson is no good, wouldn’t you want to play them in the CFB Playoff? An easy road to the National Championship? For some reason, it seems that there are other thoughts in mind. Perhaps Clemson fatigue is setting in?

In the end, it all comes off as fear in my eyes.